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.

Kit Merritt's 'To Do List'

Art Licks is the latest website on the block to establish itself into a magazine, and had it's exclusive launch party last week at the Sasoon Gallery. Artist Kit Merritt, one of the many involved with the launch, asked attendees to write on to her To Do list as part of her interactive work.

Each written task had to be something that genuinly needed to be done by whoever was writing it and throughout the following week, Kit set about completing all the tasks herself. Her blog, called 'Things We Both Need To Do' shows evidence of this and includes the receipt from buying a train ticket to Brighton, a print out of car tax renewal and a map of Bethnal Green drawn from memory.

Kit focuses her works on archival practices and a 'compulsion to document autobiographical actions' which is evident in her seemingly obsessive preoccupation with lists. Another of her blogs called 'To Do' was started in 2008 after Kit continuously found herself writing list after list of things she had done and things she had to do.

Selfridges Shoe Hall

This September, Selfridges launched a mega 35,000 square feet shoe hall, displaying 4,000 shoes from over 150 brands. As I flip-flopped my way through the maze of suede boots, leather pumps and shiny stilettos, my attention was actually drawn to this colourful cascade of paper trainers and heels, which is hung in between the escalators, right from the tip of the ceiling down to the yellow tables below.

The shoes are intertwined using wire, along with banners that read 'what's your shoe story?' I was unable to find out who created the work, but I did notice that it ties in with Selfridge's online competition. The latter invites you to share the story of your favorite pair of shoes to potentially win a year's supply of them.

James Mylne at Canvas Gallery

Last night I headed off to Canvas Gallery in Wimbledon village to see James Mylne's solo show. To give you some background to this talented and very obliging artist, Mylne is renowned for his detailed ballpoint biro drawings that appear wholly photo-realistic in quality; so much so that visitors were having to take a very long second look.

I was intrigued to see his works up close and they definitely didn't disappoint- if anything I would have loved to see them on a larger scale, simply because of the clever craftwork involved. His subjects range from portraits, to horses, to buildings to abstract graphics and Mylne combines his love of Japanese print with portraiture; the former often livening up the backgrounds with subdued coloured patterens. Mylne kindly talked me through the laborious process of each piece claiming with a sense of tired satisfaction that his horse works take up to 40 hours to complete.

Mylne has grown quite a reputation of late. Having finished his MA in 2006, he exhibited last year in The Maverik Showroom in Shoreditch and The Coningsby Gallery in 2008. He says he finds his process calming: "because you can't make a mistake, it forces a certain kind of focus of mind that feels like meditation". I'm looking forward to what James will produce next.....who needs yoga when you've got a biro?

http://www.jamesmylne.co.uk/

Emotions in Motion

I'll admit I love people watching, so chance had it that a small photography book, 'Emotions in Motion' arrived on my desk this morning helping me indulge in this passive pleasure without having to leave the office. The book features work by self-taught photographer Toufic Beyhum, who positioned himself on the U-Bahn in Berlin and captured photographs of passengers unaware of his lens.

Throughout the 50 pages, we're presented with a series of touching, real-life snapshots of families, lovers, lost souls, punks, travellers and the elderly; some very emotive, while others simply interesting portraits. There's a real fascination about the vulnerability that stems from an un-posed shot- something that Behum clearly heroes. "Portraits are far more interesting when a subject isn't posing' he says, "that's when you capture their essence, the real truth behind their eyes'.

Beyhum has moved back to London after a stint in Berlin where he set-up and ran the FEN Gallery specialising in Middle Eastern Artists. His work (above) has also been featured in The National Geographic magazine.

The Human Printer

Louise Naughton Morgan, aka The Human Printer, takes on the role of the digital printer by breaking down images into their basic CMYK halftones, then spending up to 12-15 hours laboriously re-constructing them using felt tip pens, one layer after the next. Morgan's recent solo show at Shoreditch's KK Gallery was a great success and amidst all the hype and-dot-after-dot-after dot...I managed to tear her away for a quick interview.

Me: You said in a recent interview that our society has got too scattered with machinery and we've lost the essence of 'hand crafting'- can you explain this further?

I don't really want to dwell too much on this particular subject as I think there's been a lot said and written about it already. Its a subject people are very aware of. As a generalisation, my work reflects how our society is changing in to a more solitary and sterile place to live due to the reliance and use of technology. Though it has enhanced our communication opportunities and speed to complete tasks, it has removed the essence of the human touch.


Artists have often explored the idea of the 'reproduced'. Is this a continual theme we're going to see in your works? What else interests you?

I think the idea of the reproduced is a good communication tool. It is not something I wish to focus on or have as a continual theme, but mo something I utilise where I think necessary. My work is focused upon occurrences of every day life, through the creation of systems and processes, focusing on comparisons, analytical studies and humour.


Do you think artists rely too much on technology to help produce their work?

I wouldn't say so. Unlike traditional art which was concerned with skill and craft, contemporary art relies more often upon the concept. If the use of technology makes sense within your concept - helping to convey your message and aiding the development of an art work- I see no reason why it should not be used.


How long does an average print work take you?

Most of the prints that I do are around A4/A3 size. In general these take me about 12-15 hours, though the time alters due to the darkness and complexity of the image. Technology is an integral aspect of modern day life, so much so, that without it we may not be able to function.

You're style is similar to Pointillism, was this an influence?

No not at all. The process I developed was based upon the digital printing process and was developed as a reaction to the over production and over reliance on technological output. It just happens that the output is very similar in nature to pointillism.


You've just exhibited your work at the KK Gallery- was this your first solo show?

It is indeed, although its exhibiting as 'The Human Printer' rather than Louise Naunton Morgan. The project is not about me but rather a team of people providing a service.


What's next on the agenda?

Flags, symbols, degeneration, construction, production, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition.........

You can read more about Louise and The Human Printer at any of the following links:

http://www.louisenauntonmorgan.com/
www.hatopress.net
www.thehumanprinter.org

Kisses From Australia

Kisses From Australia is a month long celebration of Sydney's creative spirit that brings art, performance and music to colour the streets of the capital. This year's theme is the city itself, and artists will explore and question what it means to live in the bustling, busy environment, famous for succulent sushi, the opulent opera house and a shed load of sunshine.

The festival's Creative Director, Gillian Minervini says:

"You will see our diversity, strength, wit, ingenuity, quirkiness, vulnerability and most of all humanity, through the eyes of our talented artists, curators and creative communities. Vastly experienced voices have worked alongside more recent ones, and they have all brought an exciting and distinctive flavour to this event."

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/ArtAndAbout/About/

The Paintings of Andrew Salgado

Canadian artist Andrew Salgado focuses his tactile paintings on themes of identity, sexuality and human nature, exhibiting them worldwide from Africa to New York. In Salgado's words, "my paintings present a perspective of a brutalized male body in heightened, melodramatic states. I am interested in depicting banal subjects as elevated and allegorical'.

Banal should certainly not be a term placed anywhere near these works- they appear to breathe with life through each swirl of every brush stroke. Next year, Salgado is set to exhibit at 10 Vyner Street Gallery, London, I will certainly be there.

Papa Issue

Papa Issue is a website displaying all kinds of art from the Latin world, covering every district in and between South and Central America. Papa Issue believe the art of the Latin world has it's own identity and characteristics, setting it apart from the rest of the world and the website allows you to scroll through illustration, performance, graphics, street art and the handmade. (To name but a few). Above, I've highlighted the work from two artists, Argentinian artist Diego Spivacow and fashion photographer Marta Julve Obon.

Manuel Vason

Italian photographer Manuel Vason says:

‘I live and observe the world as a huge museum with peculiar beauties and oddities’

Vason’s photographs focus on the human form and performance, often appearing as if taken straight from the stage with costumes, make-up and choreography still intact; all poised as if about to take the next step forward.

Vason has a fascination with movement and intricacies of the human body which he twists, distorts, compresses and elongates in various shapely ways. It’s not surprising that Vason’s work have been featured in ID, Dazed and Confused, Whitechapel Gallery and The Tate Magazine amongst others. Once again, a photographer has stolen my heart.

The British Art Fair

A swarm of tweed jackets, large price tags and gentle lah-dee-dah’s of polite conversations greeted me as I stepped hesitantly, (brushing the cat hairs off my jumper) into the opulent world of the British Art Fair.

Held at The Royal College of Art, the fair was organised by fine art gallery owner, Caroline Wiseman, also author of play ‘The Leonardo Question’. The latter re-lives and parodies the world of Modern Art through short sketches featuring major artists including Picasso and Duchamp, through to Pollack, Warhol and finally, Hirst and Emin.

Book aside, The British Art fair displayed a host of London galleries and after meeting and greeting Caroline, she kindly gave me a signed copy of her play and sent me on my merry way to explore the exhibition, which had paintings peppered upon the walls of two floors.

I’ll put my hands up now and admit that traditional fine art isn’t really my thing, but nevertheless there were definitely some more contemporary works that stood out, most especially Anna Gillespie’s Antony Gormley-like sculptures (see last image above). These depicted human forms in various poses made entirely of beech-nut casings. Turns out Gillespie trained as a stone mason in Bath before travelling to Italy to study with the sculptor and master carver Nigel Konstam.

Also from Bath was artist Nathan Ford, whose large scale portraits (also above) were extremely impactful. Ford focuses on identity and longing within his works and uses large, manic brush stokes to create emotive portraits that appear un-finished in quality but completely gripping.

The British Art Fair is a definite 'must' for all avid fine-art collectors with cash to spare, although perhaps the Affordable Art Fair might be more my style.

Save The Arts!

The Save the Arts campaign is organised by the London branch of the Turning Point Network, a national consortium of over 2,000 arts organisations and artists dedicated to working together and finding new ways to support the arts in the UK.

The Save the Arts campaign needs you to sign this petition to Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt. The petition points out that it has taken 50 years to create a vibrant arts culture in Britain, which is subsequently the envy of the world.

By slashing arts funding, the government risks destroying this long-term achievement and the social and economic benefits it brings to all. They need 100,000 signatures to make an impact, so get signing!

The Tate Movie Project

I headed to the Thames Festival this weekend and came across an interesting project run by The Tate called 'The Tate Movie Project', which encourages 5-13 year old kids to contribute their ideas to an animated movie. Under a large marquee, a professional animator taught children how to mould plastercine figures into different poses, taking a screen grab of each pose, and then editing the sequences together into a full animation. There were a lot of kids watching, but also plenty of adults, who were equally fascianted by how animation works.

The Tate Movie project encourages children to create every aspect of the final film, from the hand-drawn characters and plot twists, costumes and comic sound effects. The website is a virtual film studio that forms the hub of the Tate Movie Project online community. Children can upload their pictures and ideas as well as voting on those already on the site

The Tate and Aardman Animations are running hundreds of similar production workshops across the UK from the Tate Movie Truck, a state of the art mobile learning space where children explore art and animation as well as generate ideas and drawings for the film. Galleries nationwide will also be hosting workshop. You can find out if there’s a workshop near you by looking on the site.

Biscuiteers

On my birthday last week, a great friend of mine sent me this biscuit card from Biscuiteers, an adorable London based biscuit company who provide all sorts of hand decorated biscuits for all occasions, sent straight to your door.

Some particular favorites of mine are their City Break box, which contains Paris or New York themed treats, and the Safari biscuit box which is full of giraffes, lions and zebras, all covered in multi-coloured icing sugar.

Biscuiteers pay a great attention to detail; each biscuit comes in it's own box, with coloured tissue paper and a small card that says 'Enjoy Your Biscuits'.

What more could a girl ask for?!