Viviane Sassen’s vibrant colours combine with abstract shapes and contorted lighting to create a surreal landscape where down is up, bodies turn green and nothing is quite what it seems. Born in Amsterdam, Sassen spent seven years studying fine art, photography and fashion design.

A new exhibition at Mode Museum, Antwerp, curated by Dries van Noten, encompasses his wide-ranging influences in an intimate exploration of the designer’s creative process.

Our 5 to See provides plenty of opportunities to interact with the artists, whether it’s discovering the quiet life of photographer Vivian Maier or catering to Bruce Asbestos’ marketing whims.

There’s plenty to get involved with this weekend. Ronchini Gallery, London, is home to the UK’s first solo exhibition of Pier Paolo Calzolari, an influential figure in the Arte Povera movement.

The world’s leading museum devoted to architecture and design, The Hasselt Fashion Museum, takes audiences behind the scenes of Paul Smith’s world, which is dominated by intuitive creativity, in Hello, My Name is Paul Smith.

For the fourth year in a row 130 emerging designers from 30 countries will come together in the largest public fashion exhibition of its kind.

Described as a “grotto of visual excess” Julie Verhoeven’s exploration of gender identity past and present is a disturbing explosion of kitsch and womanhood.

With his trademark stripes, printed shirts, slim-cut suits and quirky trims, Paul Smith has created an inimitable style that transcends each season’s trends and flippancies, always with quality at its core, always with humour in its design.

This exhibition in the Marais district of Paris looks at Bettina, the signature model of the 1950s, in photographs and sketches from an array of practitioners. The work studies her life, beginning with her childhood spent in Normandy.

The December/ January issue of Aesthetica is available to purchase online and in stores internationally. In Issue 62, we focus on the unconventional. It’s a celebration of practitioners who are experimenting in their field.

Knitting Nottingham places the spotlight on the Nottingham’s position as a world centre of creativity and innovation. It has been organised by Nottingham Trent University, as part of this year’s 170 anniversary of art and design.

Fashion in Motion showcases the work of leading international designers through one-off catwalk events. This innovative programme strives to show fashion as it is meant to be seen: in motion.

A new solo exhibition of the work of American photographer and filmmaker Alex Prager, opens at the National Gallery of Victoria. Founded in 1861, Australia’s oldest public gallery introduces audiences to Prager’s photographic projects.

Women Fashion Power at the Design Museum celebrates the exceptional and influential women from the spheres of politics, culture, business and fashion, and features cutting-edge creatives who have had an impact on the world stage.

A new Jewellery Gallery has opened at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. With an outstanding contemporary collection of jewellery, the institution has opened a special space for the fascinating pieces to be appreciated by the public as one whole collection.

Horst P. Horst is one of the most iconic fashion photographers of the mid-20th Century. Known by the one-word photographic byline “Horst”, his oeuvre of photography was a collaboration of talent, glamour and imagination.

Mary Nighy and Karen Millen teamed up to produce No More Tiaras for the launch of the company’s two global flagships. The 3 minute short celebrates style and looks at the brand’s recent evolution.

The Fondation Louis Vuitton is a new Parisian centre for contemporary French and international artistic creation, contained within a building commissioned by Bernard Arnault, and designed by the American architect Frank Gehry.

Nestled in a small gallery adjacent to Manchester Art Gallery’s shop is a display of obscurely beautiful contemporary jewellery, which teeters on the edge of being fearsome. This is the world of contemporary artist Bernard Schobinger.

Photo.clothing combines the fad of prints on t-shirts with art, to produce vibrant and unique items of clothing. The team have joined up with Magnum photographers Martin Parr and David Alan Harvey and created 500 t-shirts.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Dover Street Market holds The Next Ten Years: a series of events, installations and products. For the duration of September, the basement and second floor of Dover Street Market will be transformed.

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival is delighted to announce it is now a BAFTA recognised festival, an achievement that is unprecedented for a festival in its fourth year. Programme released in September.

Johny Dar approaches his artistic practice from an innovative angle, painting directly onto his models’ bodies. Dedicated to pushing boundaries, he works across fashion, installations, multimedia and events.

Artist Filmmaker and Designer Sarah Jane Palmer was selected for the Aesthetica Art Prize longlist with her film Net. The work is an ongoing performance/installation in which she continues to produce a net drawing.

With the Aesthetica Art Prize call for entries deadline on 31 August 2014, we look in depth at the work of longlisted artists from the latest edition. Anyes Galleani is an Italian-born, Los Angeles based visual artist that uses photo montage and collage to create unique images and paintings.

In the countdown to the Aesthetica Art Prize call for submissions deadline on 31 August 2014, we look in focus at artists from the latest award. Conceptual artist Marie Brenneis was featured in the Video, Installation & Performance category.

Lizzie Cawthray is challenging the outdated notions of knitwear with her fresh, stylish and playful company, Needle. After working as the knitwear product developer at LK Bennet, Cawthray decided to focus her attentions on the versatile material.

The Fashion and Textile Museum has recently opened its new exhibition Made in Mexico. Curator and artist Hilary Simon has sought to explore and reveal elements of the narrative of Mexico’s history.

This weekend is full of fascinating exhibitions, utilising all sorts of media. Sebastian Errazuriz uses a 3D printer to create his sculptures, while Sonic Social in Sydney harnesses sound to create site-specific works and Stan Douglas’ Mise en scène blurs the line between photography and film.

Synesthesia is a combination of digital innovation and timeless fashion. Teaming up with Fred Perry for the SS14 campaign, the website is an exploration of synesthesia, when one sensory response induces a sensation in another.

The Aesthetica Art Prize is a celebration of excellence in art from across the world and offers artists the opportunity to showcase their work to wider audiences and further their involvement in the international art world.

The Aesthetica Art Prize, which is now open for entries, is an annual award given by the international art and culture publication Aesthetica Magazine. The prize celebrates excellence in art and design from across the world.

Aesthetica Issue 59 is now available. The edition explores the idea of the unexpected and the notion that what actually happens is different from what was originally planned.

The creative hub of East London, the Old Truman Brewery arts and media quarter on Brick Lane, plays host once again to Europe’s largest graduate art, design and fashion show, Free Range.

Degree Show season is upon us once more and art students across the UK are in the process of preparing their final projects for examination. The concluding shows offer audiences an insight into new talents at work in the art industry.

Mei Liu is the Design Director of fashion house Priory of Ten. Born in Northern China, Liu has lived in Canada and the USA. Priory of Ten was formed in 2012 and aims to produce quality pieces exuding harmony and balance.

Today there is one month left to visit the Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition at York St Mary’s. The show represents the breadth and quality of work being produced today in the UK and internationally.

Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki (b. 1940) has spent the entirety of his life capturing the female form. With his wife as his central muse, the artist has shot over 250 books of women, flowers and city landscapes.

Karen Mabon’s designs are beautiful, bold and brash. All hand-illustrated, her scarves combine drawing with playful aesthetics. With designs that cover everything from a British garden to a stationary cupboard, Mabon transforms everyday clothing into works of art.

Bringing together simplicity, contemporary design and experimental form, Isabel Wong is a luxury womenswear designer based in London. Interested in translating conceptualism into wearable products, Wong is often inspired by paradox and enigma.