Inside ECCO x Illya Goldman Gubin’s Avant-Garde Soirée
It’s not every day you come across an event where two worlds collide. Last week, however, we had the pleasure of witnessing first hand how much creative force came from the marriage of ECCO's innovative and technical know-how with the artistic minimal vision of a Berlin-based artist Illya Goldman Gubin.
Set against the backdrop of Berlin Art Week, artist Illya Goldman Gubin extended his 2019 STRUKTUR art practice in this collaboration giving ECCO METROPOLE SEOUL Derby’s timeless silhouette an industrial twist. With Thursday’s scene set, over 200 guests gathered at our very own Highsnobiety Flagship Store to celebrate the partnership and drop of the new Struktur ECCO MS-B Derby and ECCO METROPOLE SEOUL range.
Accompanied by a vinyl-only performance by DJ Marcelle—a cult figure in the avant-garde electronic music scene—guests were invited to view an expansive arrangement of the collab’s shoes. While the dancefloor swayed, those there soaked in a space that was also treated to a clean, minimalist composition and meticulously arranged showcase of Gubin’s STRUKTUR art pieces: a single leather table, chair, crate, and handrail all geometrically arranged. The artist’s own poem was also displayed next to the installation to describe the idea behind the installation.
The showcase was a continuation of the artist’s practice ‘Struktur’ that he began in 2019, the shoe and art pieces were all covered in his signature tarry texture, dark and volcanic in appearance and wrapped in ECCO’s premium leather. Other touches contributing to Gubin’s minimal sense for depth and mystery were characterized by the cheffed up snacks by CheHub, including Tomato ‘On Fire’ with burnt skin, ‘Burnt’ Black Carrots, and Duck ‘Sandwich’ served between two charred crisps. Fearless and effortlessly smooth, DJ Marcelle provided the perfect backdrop for proceedings, with a set at once danceable and experimental.
Guided by Gubin’s approach to art, ECCO’s event at the Highsnobiety Flagship Store built a thoughtful and introspective space, for the whole Berlin Art Week period. The bonds made between guests were genuine, the conversations winding, and the aesthetics stark. Be in no doubt, though, that a few gorgeously presented espresso martinis, some shapes were still thrown later on.
The full ECCO Metropole Seoul range is now available at ecco.com ecco.com and at ECCO stores. The Struktur ECCO MS-B Derby is now available at igg-atelier.de and in Highsnobiety Flagship Store.
