David Shrigley 'Brain Activity'

‘Brain Activity’ couldn’t have been better timed. With 2012 promising little but a gloomy economy and even more uncertainly ahead, we could really all do with a bit of laughter. Shrigley’s aim behind ‘Brain Activity’ was just this: to make people laugh, and he does it very, and somewhat surprisingly, successfully.

As visitors walk around the upper rooms of the Hayward Gallery, they really are laughing out loud and it doesn’t take too long to understand why. Shirgley has a skill of observing life and it’s banality from an absurdist point of view, taking familiar items and transforming them into obscure objects of comedy. Take the taxidermy squirrel, which holds it’s own decapitated head as it would a nut, or the stuffed dog that bears a sign simply stating, ‘I’m dead’. Perhaps you’ll glance upon the photographs on the wall, one of which depicts a tiny container in the middle of a building site labelled ‘leisure centre’. Another is the image of a note stuck to a tree with the words: ‘Missing pigeon. Normal size. A bit mangy-looking. Does not have a name’.

Shrigley’s works are doused in irony and there are definite influences of the surreal amongst the 240 pieces on display. A gigantic cup filled with real tea sits in the middle of one floor, whilst the animation of a headless drummer is projected onto the back wall. Filling a quarter of one of the rooms is an unnerving sculpture in which hundreds of black, metallic, ant-like forms appear to be crawling hurriedly to and fro carrying weapons and disturbing objects on their backs. This is the kind of work that makes your skin crawl and is reminiscent of nightmares of a dark underworld.

Shrigley’s simplistic black and white drawings are also very funny. His depiction of ‘career’ is an endless tunnel with a bemused stick man at the beginning of it, whilst on another we see a cat shaking hands with a mouse after it agreed not to kill it, to which the mouse replies “thanks”.

Unlike some contemporary art exhibitions ‘Brain Activity’ has no ego and absolutely no pretence. There is a ’matter of fact’ air about the exhibition, conveyed even through its very title, yet he juxtaposes this objectivity with a sense of fantastic hilarity and we become transported into another world.

Perhaps this is the point. Shrigley asks us to forget the doom and gloom of our own reality by inviting us into a world where imagination runs rife and laughter is irrepressible.

‘Brain Activity’ currently runs at The Hayward Gallery until 13th May.

Bristol Arts Week

Bristol University student, Rosanna Wollenberg, discovered a burgeoning opportunity for budding artists to showcase their talent through a student-run festival: Bristol Arts Week. The art extravaganza aims to celebrate the creativity of students who often produce compelling art outside of their studies. "So many of my friends are incredible artists, and there is so much talent here that simply doesn't get seen" she says, "I thought it was time to invite people to exhibit their works in a festival that is wholly focused on students and their fresh artistic expression".

Bristol Arts Week, which is relying solely on donations, sponsorship and the assistance of volunteers, will showcase a variety of works including original short films, photography workshops, open-mic nights, live graffiti and poetry readings in venue 'The Showroom and Parlour'. Rosanna is running the festival in conjunction with Bristol council's 'Capacity' initiative, in which local empty spaces are loaned to promote the work of local artists. Despite the fact that Bristol Arts Week is launching on the 20th February, Rosanna is still hotly pursuing participants, "I am very much looking for local artist support as well as sponsorship from local companies who want to get involved. My aim is to unite student artists with Bristol's established art scene so that we have one huge celebration of creativity".

On the 25th February the Showroom and Parlour will host an event for The Bear Pit Rejuvenation Project which seeks to transform an old, blighted underpass in Bristol into a brand new, multi-functional, creative space. "I am so excited about collaborating with The Bearpit project. I share their vision of heralding the arts within Bristol and am looking forward to seeing what they will do with the space".

Bristol Arts Week launches on the 20th February and runs until the 25th. If you're in the area, get done there, and get creative. You can follow the Bristol Arts Week blog for a schedule of events.

If you would like to sponsor this event, please email: Bristolartsweek@gmail.com

Cathedral Lights Up The Sky

An Italian family business have dressed the Luminarie Cagna, Belgium's biggest cathedral, with over 55,000 LED lights. The cathedral drew over 200,000 people from across the globe, and illuminated the night sky at the second annual Festival of Lights in Ghent, Belgium.

Andy Warhol at The De La Warr Pavilion

I was surprised to see that The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill is currently playing host to an Andy Warhol exhibition, and a very impressively curated one at that. Displayed over three floors in the historic pavilion that overlooks the seafront, the exhibition guides viewers through a detailed journey of Andy Warhol's varied works and accurately documents the influences behind each stage of his artistic career. I would usually expect to see a Warhol exhibit hanging within a major London gallery, but instead it was a joy to visit the De La Warr exhibition so free from crowds and chaos; even when I turned up on Saturday morning the rooms were still quiet.

It was interesting to learn that Warhol's obsessions included not only the infamous commodification of celebrity and American culture, but also the subject of assassination and death, which hugely explains his fascination with skulls and guns. His eye-catching works ranged from huge photographs, to drawings, to prints (see my dodgy i-phone pics) and the exhibition was colourful to say the least. In one room his huge prints of hamburgers and army prints were juxtaposed against a wallpaper of Warhol's pink cow.

The exhibition will be on display until Sunday 26th February and it's well worth the visit. Entry is free, however a £2 donation is requested.

The Most Scandalous Muses in Art History

Flavorpill have written a fascinating account of the 'enchanting, free-spirited, tortured men and women' that inspired artists to do great work. Ranging from Marie-Therese Walter whose love affair with Picasso influenced his emotive Cubist style, to Francis Bacon's twisted companionship with his gay lover George Dyer all the way to Leonardo Da Vinci's patient servant Gian Giacomo whose serenity and calm translated into beautiful portraits. They tell a curious story of the true influence behind these great works of art. Definitely worth a read.

Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin is an example of an artist who works at the most intimate level: her life is her work and her work, her life. It is nearly impossible to discuss Goldin's photographs without referring to their subjects by name, as though the people pictured were one's own family and friends. It is this intimate and raw style for which Goldin has become internationally renowned. Her "snapshot"-esque images of her friends -- drag queens, drug addicts, lovers and family -- are intense, searing portraits that, together, make a document of Goldin's life. Goldin herself has commented on her photographic style and philosophy, saying, "My work originally came from the snapshot aesthetic . . . Snapshots are taken out of love and to remember people, places, and shared times. They're about creating a history by recording a history."

Life-like Illustration by Cath Riley

As an artist aiming for ultimate realism, you know you've got it right when viewers double take. In the case of Cath Riley, I would not be surprised if she fooled the lot. Her skin-tight illustrations appear so much like photos you really do have to look twice. Applying the simple medium of pencil to paper, Riley creates exquisitely detailed hand-drawn portraits, focusing specifically on depictions of the flesh and the human body with a confident definition I've never witnessed before. Riley has recently exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition with commissions from big brands such as The Economist and Nike.

Pop-Art Mountains

These colourful photographs were taken by Mexican artist Sara Marjorie Strick who plays with layering and textures to create captivating images of mountainscapes. Through the contrasting materials, Strick seems to be demonstrating nature's magnificent colour palette, by positioning the images as paintings against the equally bright man-made fabrics. The prints are fairly kitsch in style with hints toward Pop-Art. I can safely say Andy Warhole would have loved these.

Lake Baikal Land Art

Whilst we're somewhat used to seeing art crafted upon some rather unusual canvases, nothing quite beats the latest project by Land artist Jim Denevan. Spanning 31-km-sq, Denevan's project is a 'drawing' on the frozen surface of the Siberian Lake Baikal, in the form of beautifully symmetrical crop circle designs. The series of patterns are actually based on the Fibonacci sequence; a number pattern present in many of nature's forms. As is the way of the natural world, Denevan's drawing dissolved after a few months, but his works were captured on film by Director Meredith Danluck for the Art Hard documentary, screened at The Nevada Museum of Art.

The Museum of Everything - Selfridges

I popped into the Museum of Everything located in Selfridges, to see what all the press hype was about. The generous exhibition, hosted within a dimly lit basement room that resembled a secret grotto, displayed various painted and sculpted pieces by untrained artists in studio workshops. Some of these studios were based in hospitals throughout the world from Japan to Brazil to Germany to Australia.

The works ranged from hand built miniature cranes, to paper mache Frankensteins, to scribbled drawings of ice creams to painted portraits, but despite this brilliant variety, each piece lacked an adequate description. Of course some would argue that art is all about individual interpretation, yet I do feel that the effort behind each piece would have been more greatly appreciated had we known more about who created it, or what their story was. The only saving grace was the iPads attached to a few of the walls, showing films of the methods by which each individual created their art.

The scenes were actually very touching to watch, making you realise that art provides a crucial outlet for those unable to speak or communicate in a normal fashion.

If you're in the area, I would recommend popping for some creative inspiration. There is a small donation request of £2 as you leave and the guestbook is worth looking through too.

You're Not Unique In Dying

I got sent this pencil drawing series "You're Not Unique In Dying" by Chris Oliver a few weeks ago. The four detailed, hand drawn images are titled "Varanasi (Ribcage)" "Bodh Gaya (Thigh Bone)" "Mecca (Teeth) " and "Jerusalem (Pelvis)". Each piece has a set of coordinates based upon the area it is titled after as well as a series of geometric patterns overlaid onto the bone structure. Oliver has intentionally used Winsor & Newton architectural paper for the large scale drawings; an insightful way to examine the structure and formation of the human body, which like any building, is made of firm foundations and a strong skeletal structure.

Wimbledon Art Fair

A few weeks ago, the Wimbledon Art Studios opened their doors to the public, inviting art enthusiasts to browse four never-ending floors of seperate studio spaces, each enlivened by the work of individual artists.

I was really impressed by a few of them, including Linda Smith's paintings depciting obscure, suited figures, who appeared to stride into the foreground from even hazier backgrounds, and Carol Knight's painting 'Chinese Whisper's', where thick brushstokes depict two young girls sitting next to eachother, their shapes created through a merge of electric blues and hearty reds which bled into eachother.

Gemma Wightman's hand thrown wonky pottery was also extremely charming. Glazed over with turqoise colouring, the mis-shapen cups, plates, and jugs were appealing in their imperfections. Other artists well worth checking out are the colourful paintings of Paul Lemmon, Rupert Dixon and the illustrations by Millie McCallum.

X-Rated Lego Pieces

I found these brilliant porn star lego pieces on American art and culture blog 'Annals of Americus'. The blocks of stacked Lego cause a pixellated effect, heightening the x rated theme.

Tea and Make Pop-Up Shop

Ten designers are featured in this craft-centered Christmas shopping event which also offers workshops to make a seasonal present or decoration (keep an eye on the blog - link via the website - or chalkboard outside the shop for times), plus of course tea and cake. Featured artists include Random Studio with screenprinted accessories, Laura Laura with embroidered reclaimed knitwear and Jill with cards and bags.

Very Cool Design Company

The simple yet artfully crafted coat stand (above) explores the way in which people interact with their natural surroundings. It's made of 100% plywood and would compliment any room, whether traditional or modern. I love the idea of bringing something from the outside, inside and this concept works really well here.

The design company behind the tree coat hanger, Wedid-id, have also created a rather humorous plate series, entitled 'What We Eat'. The plates are printed with designs of animals alongside the food that they 'turn into'. For example there are pigs made of bacon, and a cooked chicken is placed alongside one that is living. Again a simple concept, but an interesting, (and in this case rather blunt) result.

Incredible Billboard Design

Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo are professional architects and artists who utilize unconventional architectural systems and new media to explore issues of spatial perception.

They are the principals and founders of the Seattle architectural and installation art firm 'Lead Pencil Studio' and the 2008 recipients of the Prix de Rome in architecture. In their words, "The spaces, objects and buildings resulting from our studio process establish new territories that surprise and altar perceptions".

This incredibly designed billboard is made from carefully twisted and tangled metal, and was created to represent the reamins, or 'ghost' of one of the many billboards that populate the area. Check out this website for more images and film clips, or the official Lead Pencil Studio Site.

Thomas Mailaender

I love the playful nature of Thomas Mailaender's photographs, which focus on a real range of subjects, right through from Chicken Museums, to poka dotted old people to emblazoned bottoms. There's a real sense of 'giggle' to the pieces of this French multimedia artist, and check out his Fun Archive for what he calls a collection of the 'Worst Image Bank Ever'.

Tree Light Installation

Farm Singapore created this beautiful, sculptural light installation called 'The Tree' at The National Museum of Singapore. The intricate and complex sculpture is said to represent a huge archaic Banyan tree, and represents the histories, stories and magic of the The Museum and the area itself . The lights on the tree are held together between metal frames, pulsating gently at night; dimming or lightening up depending on the level of visitor's voices below it.

Kiss-Mass Tree

The UK's first ever interactive kiss-mas tree is being launched in the UK today in Covent Garden on behalf of the Prince's Trust charity.

Rising star of lighting design, Paul Cocksedge Studio (together with partner Joana Pinho), is the architect of the technically ingenious lighting system, which is activated when two people hold the mistletoe under the tree and kiss eachother. The 'electricity of their touch' spectacularly lights up 50,000 red and white LED lights, creating a sensational light installation. If those lips are a tad dry, Body Shop are on hand hosting ‘pucker up’ stations, giving your lips a free makeover.

Merry Kissmas aims to raise over £25,000 for youth charity The Prince’s Trust, changing the lives of disadvantaged young people in the UK, through practical and financial support. An auction will be held today for the opportunity to kiss Christine Bleakley, who will officially turn the lights on and together with the money raised from this, organisers of Kissmass are also encouraging visitors to donate a minimum of £1 for every kiss they share under the Christmas tree.

Visit The Princes Trust website for more details.

Can You Draw The Internet?

Saint Creative have come up with a competition aimed at young kids as well as adult creatives to draw a picture of the internet. Seem fair? Well, the point of the challenge is to gauge who is more creative; the kids and their wild imaginations or the wisdom and experience of the creative industry. Working in the latter myself, I'm tempted to pick the former. The vast and never-ending realm of cyber space is clearly hard to define, which makes this compeition really interesting and there are some unique and pretty funny entries. Click here to have a browse of the others.

Lesley Flower Photography

Lesley Flower took a degree in photography at Southampton Solent University and bases her work around themes of passing time and contemplation. Just like the infamous landscape photography of Richard Long, Lesley is also interested by the objects people own and the traces they leave behind. Her large scale travel photography captures quiet yet dramatic scenes, void of human life, but full of nature's nuanced colours, rough textures, and gentle light. Click here to see more of her works.

Street Art Sketch Book- Tristan Manco

Just like this very happy lady above, I too got my hands on a copy of Tristan Manco's 'Sreet Art Sketchbook: The Journey' yesterday in Nottinghill. The book is really well put together combining plenty of sketches, visuals and interesting text from the secret world of artist's sketchbooks. This particular publication explores and captures practically every piece of graffiti art in South America.

Tristan Manco is an author and designer based in the UK specialising in art direction, curation and publishing.You can see more images inside the book here.

Look What I found

On a night out in Camden's Lock Lounge, I spotted this colourful parrot painting, spread between two canvases and the wall itself. The birds sit, play and fly off what appears to be a washing or power line, creating movement and an striking focus to the room. What a great way to fill a placid wall space. (Shame about the disco lights..!)

The 7/7 Memorial

I've been really suprised to see how much art is buried in Hyde Park, hidden in leafy corners or secret gardens. Aside from all the Anish Kapoor hype, (his sculptures are drawing crowds of tourists and security guards patrol around them) I've found some pretty amazing, and in this case touching, pieces that deserve just as much recognition.

One of the most profound I've seen was the 7/7 memorial, that consists of a number of tall, concrete poles, each emblazoned with the name of a victim and the location at which they died. On this particular day, the sun was shining and eerie shadows were cast on the floor, making the human-like sculptures seem like they were standing tall from the ground.

The way this sculpture is built allows you to weave in and out of it like a maze, and despite seeming simple in design, there was something compelling about it's symmetricality.

Thinking back to the calamity of that day, this memorial cleverly embodies the calm after the storm.