The Dara Allen Miami Design Week Diary

Miami isn’t just a place for spring break and tan lines. A couple of weeks ago, Miami Design, a global forum and marketplace for design, took place over the course of ten days at the Moore Building in the Miami Design District. Collectors, curators, gallerists, designers, and curators alike came together to showcase their stylish and innovative exhibits and collaborations. Over 139 pieces of art were exhibited this year, with 57 being shown as part of Podium, a showcase featuring design objects that explore the theme of “America(s),” curated by Design Miami’s Curatorial Director Aric Chen. To capture the moment, we sent the model Dara Allen to sunny South Florida to scope the scene, mask in tow. Below, she takes us inside and gives us her raw, unfiltered take on everything from the launch of Louis Vuitton Men’s to Harmony Korine‘s installation. —JULIANA UKIOMOGBE

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DAY ONE

Not sure what this art means, but it matched my outfit.

The vultures are waiting to pick your bones.

I swear the camera just went off, I’m not a model. (The sculpture garden of the Miami ICA.)

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DAY TWO

First stop: Harmony Korine did four paintings for DesignMiami and they were made into masks, sold on BasicSpace. Yes, I will be posing with everything as if I am Dovima and the art of DesignMiami are the elephants.

Finally to the main show. Safety first! This year, DesignMiami was held at the historic Moore Building. Craig Robins, founder of the Miami Design District and Design Miami, says that during the pandemic, both artists and collectors have flocked to the city because of how open-air and spread out it is, so he wanted to move forward with an art week that was right for the moment. “The intention was not to have a normal art week,” Robins says. “We know that we’re in a different time. But it doesn’t mean that the choice is to do nothing or to do everything. I believe the first priority is that whatever you do has to be responsible and has to involve social distancing, and therefore by definition, there would be no big parties, but at the same time people can still celebrate art and design.”

This lamp was created by taking apart real dandelions and re-assembling them around lightbulbs. Kinda major.

This piece won a prize at DesignMiami. The brightly painted colors on this traditional straw caning are so sickening.

Miami is a parallel universe, I swear.

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DAY THREE

Starting with a morning bath. Either join me or go. Don’t just stand there.

Fast forward to our evening events. World domination at the Louis Vuitton Men’s pop-up.

The fitting rooms were fierce.

We did it, Joe! Last stop of the week, Maison Martin Margiela’s upcoming storefront, featuring a projection entitled “Nude descending a staircase No. 3” by artist Marco Brambilla.