The World of Mr. Somebody & Mr. Nobody marries the distinct sensibilities of a Wes Anderson film and an African souk. For two weeks during Art Basel, this artful living and retail space presented a singular aesthetic of clothing, art and treats selected by founders/designers Sharon Lombard and Heidi Chisholm, and curated with Cathy Leff. Perhaps most endearing was the familiarity and communal aspects of the Mr. Somebody & Mr. Nobody marketplace, which along with offering things for sale, offered special pods for snacking, talking with friends, and even napping (much needed during Miami art week!)
A visit, for one, might begin with tea, biscuits, and a conversation about wooden chickens. When asked about the curious display of poultry at Mr. Somebody & Mr. Nobody, Lombard explained how they think of their plucked chicken as tchotchkes made in Africa, to be hung on walls and used just about anywhere and anyhow. Prettied with the collective’s insignia, these chickens were one of several symbols that demarcated the space as an oasis of its own imagination.
Photo: The World of Mr. Somebody and Mr. Nobody radios
Lombard explained how her South African roots and travels to markets throughout the continent influenced the concept store, and in thinking about what to present during Miami art week, teamed up with Leff and MDD to bring her special brand of indigenous-cum-contemporary objects, fashion and textiles to the neighborhood. Think garments by Walter Van Beirendonk and Bernard Willhelm, and in the ultimate show of art cred, a clothesline with snapshots of Thelma Golden of The Studio Museum in Harlem, gallerist Anthony Spinello and other notables.
The World of Mr. Somebody and Mr. Nobody lives on in the interwebs, just visit and shop at www.mrsomebodyandmrnobody.com.
