Cardboard Bear

Birthday Bear

2011-03-08T22:43:00.003Z

It is my birthday today, I am 25. Here is my favourite birthday card ever (that i got today also).

Drawn by Pete Willis, who can be found here, here and here

Rocks

2011-03-06T21:34:00.001Z

FOLIO issue zero

2010-11-26T22:26:00.002Z

Some TurnHurst Books were featured in the launch night of FOLIO magazine tonight. FOLIO is a new publication presenting the work of 4 artists per issue. The magazine acts as an exhibition space on paper. It's interested in offering a future platform for three-dimensional, time-based and de-materialised work to be realised on the flat page.

FOLIO will be published on a six monthly basis and distributed freely in independent shops across the UK, Istanbul and Paris. Pick up a copy!

Limoncello Editions Launch Night

2010-11-20T16:12:00.002Z

Opening Thursday 25 November 2010, 7pm – 9

Vanessa Billy ‘Man Moves’
“The ‘meaning’? Really? An oversimplified view, to match the oversimplifiction of the image, is that it places man in relation to his surroundings, determined into the three categories of Air, Land, and Sea. Man’s territory is everywhere.”

Sean Edwards ‘I saw something else:’
“In 1974 Jon Landau, contributing writer to Rolling Stone magazine, proclaimed “I saw my rock'n'roll past flash before my eyes. I saw something else: I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.” Columbia records hijacked the line to build a campaign that capitalised on the rumours of the arrival of a saviour of rock and roll in the shape of this young musician from Aysbury Park, New Jersey. What’s interesting is the idea of a proclamation. An expectation heaped upon something; the distillation of an idea, succinct and accurate. Pre-design and prediction. The present using the past to predict the future and then being used in making it so. It’s also a bloody nice line that looks great on the page. No wonder Columbia used it .”

Jack Strange ‘Fingers Crossed’
“Some people cross their fingers to nullify promises or to wish for good luck.”

The Hut Project ‘Gecko Tape’
“OK, but no dangly bits”
“We’ve no intention for balls to be present. Maybe we’ll wear cod pieces? Yves Klein’s production of the event and the document were a starting point, and recently we’ve become interested in ourselves – or rather us becoming tools we can use to discuss the relationship between performativity and the object. The ceiling prints will nod to Klein’s ‘ Obsession with Levitation ’ and perform through their being suggestive of a performative moment (three men with their arses painted blue on a step ladder...). The title is a product that is in the process of sceintific invention. It will be the strongest tape in the world, able to dangle a human from the ceiling by a tiny piece on a glove.”

Vanessa Billy (B. 1978, Geneva, Switzerland, based Zurich and London) gained her BA Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art (2001). Recent solo exhibitions include Limoncello, London (2010); The Photographer's Gallery, London and BolteLang, Zurich (both 2009) as well as international group shows. Billy's Cahier d'artistes monograph was published by Pro Helvetia earlier this year.

Sean Edwards (B. 1980, Cardiff, based Abergavenny) gained his BA Fine Art at University of Wales Institute (2003) and his MA Fine Art from Slade (2005). Recent and forthcoming solo shows include Spike Island, Bristol (2011); Outpost, Norwich (2010); Tanya Leighton Gallery, Berlin (2009); ICA, London; Super, Paris; Limoncello, London; and MOOT, Nottingham (all 2008); and Associates, London (2007).

Jack Strange (B. 1984, Brighton, based London) gained his BA Fine Art at Slade School of Art (2007). Strange’s recent and forthcoming solo shows include Arthouse Austin, Texas (2011); Limoncello, London (2010); Galerie Maribel Lopez, Berlin (2009); Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York (2008); and MOOT, Nottingham (2007).

Chris Bird, B. 1971, Birmingham; Ian Evans, B. 1982, Glasgow; Alec Steadman, B. 1983, Sidcup, and all based London, UK . The Hut Project is an artist collective formed in 2005. Evans and Steadman completed their BAs in Sonic Art and Fine Art respectively in 2005, while Bird graduated BA Fine Art in 2006, all at Middlesex University, London. The Hut Project are currently in residence at Art House Foundation, London. Recent shows include Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin (curated by Adam Carr), BolteLang, Zurich, and ‘Nought to Sixty’ at ICA, London.

Each will be an edition of 50 + 2APs priced at £50 (+VAT where applicable). Editions will be available online and viewable in the gallery office after the launch.

In association with Wade Frames www.wadeframes.com

Whoopie Pies!

2010-09-22T09:29:00.003+01:00

I had been meaning to try baking some Whoopie Pies since seeing them here, here, here and tasting a great one on Brick Lane a few sundays ago. They are pretty easy to make but a lack of electric hand whisk made making the filling pretty difficult (but worth it). We adapted this recipe from Cakespy for the tastiest ones.

Photos from The Poundshop

2010-09-19T23:19:00.003+01:00

Following on from my last post, here are some photos from the opening of The Poundshop. We got there at 7pm and it was already super busy with some items already selling out! It was so exciting to see people buying our item and talking about it and saying how much they liked it - we're having to drop some more off tomorrow! If you can make it down to Roman Road, you really should (it's worth it) the shop is open for another week.

The PoundShop

2010-09-18T08:36:00.003+01:00

Some of my handmade goods are in this brilliant shop (everything, a pound...seriously) under the alias 'Puffin and Pies'. Come on down tonight to the opening, it's at 49 Roman Road, Bethnal Green, open 3pm-9pm.

Pictures from Blackhorse Road Presents....

2010-09-12T07:56:00.004+01:00

Last chance to see the show today (Sunday 12/09) Venue 11 on the E17 Art Trail.
Work by Ruth Uziell-Hamilton, Nick Town, David Willis, Alessandro Servini, Turnhurst and Ana Sekulic.

e17 Art Trail

2010-08-26T10:13:00.002+01:00

'Blackhorse Road Studio Presents...'
A new artists' run space is having their inaugural show. Opening their studio and presenting their individual practices for the first time collectively. A variety of artistic practices and media are presented as an overview of a new generation of contemporary art. All use their selected materials to generate a materiality distinctive to the ideas and dialogues being proposed. Artists; David Willis, Turnhurst, Alessandro Servini, Ruth Hamilton, and Nick Town are all 2009 from Kingston University. This open studio acts as an one year anniversary of their independent practices outside of Institutional rigors, and is subsequently a poignant moment to reflect on their development.

Private view Friday 3rd September, includes live music performed by participating artists.

Paper Artistry

2010-07-14T13:40:00.000+01:00

Some of TurnHurst's work is going to be exhibited at 'Paper Exchange', an exhibition at TOandFOR, 720 Holloway Road, N19 3NH. The Private View is Friday 23rd July (7-9pm) and the show runs till Sunday 8th August. Exciting! Photos from the show as and when I have them!

Cerbyd

2010-07-07T13:45:00.002+01:00

I am very excited to announce that TurnHurst have been accepted onto the Cerbyd Project! Along with 8 other artists from across the UK, we will be partaking in a 9-day bus tour around Wales meeting various community and social groups, learning a lot and hopefully having a lot of fun. For more information, check their website, and our website (once we've got back!)

ArtQuest Jumble Sale

2010-07-07T13:32:00.002+01:00

TurnHurst present 'TurnHurst Tat' at the ArtQuest Jumble Sale, next Sunday 18th at the Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage St. Come on down to pick up some bargains!

Early Bird

2010-06-02T23:51:00.005+01:00

TurnHurst are currently in an exhibition entitled 'Early Bird' at Standpoint Gallery, London. We're showing all new works alongside the brilliant Indiana Audunsdottir and Owen Bullet. The gallery is open wed-sat 12-6pm and the show runs till 27th June.

TurnHurst, The China Had Never Been Used (2010)

Art Car Boot Fair - Next Weekend!

2010-06-02T11:04:00.000+01:00

TWIG (52)

2010-06-01T15:02:00.002+01:00

]
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Karla Black, Wish List (2008)

Collecting? At this age?

2010-05-31T13:05:00.001+01:00

I've recently been lucky enough to afford a few pieces of art and start my own collection. When i tell people (gallerists, curators, other artists) their eyes light up in surprise, 'oh, you have money?' they say to me. The answer is no, i save a little and always tend to ask for artworks as presents. I would much rather have something on my wall that is timeless and i will love looking at forever rather than some shoes, or some jewellery that i'll grow out of or will go out of trend (or that i'll lose). It's better than having money which i'll just fritter away eating out and buying silly things off eBay. Working in the commercial art sector, and seeing the amount of reasonably priced, fantastic art kind of makes me angry there is still this massive stigma attached to 'collecting'. No we're all not destined to become Saatchi or Zabludowicz but there's still the opportunity to own a piece of art created by an artist you admire. Many galleries are now offering a range of editioned work to the masses, which is a great way of starting out. Here are a few off my current wants list;

Misused Pronoun by Matthew Brannon (available for £200 from the ICA)

Dusk Notice by David Osbaldeston (£295 from Matts Gallery)

Flightpath by Keith Tyson (£200 from Parasol Unit)

NOT YET TITLED by Phyllida Barlow (£50 from Studio Voltaire)

The World Once Again by Mark Titcher (£300 from Project Space 176)

The Monochromatics by Amy Stephens (£380 from Project Space 176)
Platonic Moon by Franz West (£95 from Whitechapel Art Gallery)

There's also the Art Council's 'Own Art' Scheme which a number the galleries i've mentioned above are actually participating in (and some others including BISCHOFF/WEISS, Fred and Rokeby). You can take out a loan (interest free) of up to £2000 to buy a piece of work and then pay back the loan within 10 months. It's a really great way of supporting galleries and young contemporary artists and i think i may be looking to loan some money very soon.

The Last Book I Read...

2010-05-31T09:41:00.001+01:00

The Last Book I Read...

2010-05-16T10:32:00.001+01:00

It has a horrible chick-lit cover but it was actually quite good.

The Last Book I Read...

2010-04-29T09:09:00.000+01:00

GI Festival Highlights

2010-04-27T17:58:00.011+01:00

Velo

2010-04-25T23:13:00.005+01:00

NEW mix cd (with elaborate hand-stitched cover) featuring the talents of Shonen Knife, Freezepop, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, Rosa and Kimya Dawson

Hard copies available from me (£2)
Free copies available HERE

The Last Book I Read...

2010-04-19T09:40:00.000+01:00

Prism Vol. 1 Issue 2

2010-04-18T17:36:00.001+01:00

The next issue of PRISM is out now! (PRISM Vol. 1 Issue 1) In this issue, the group of 10 artists made a piece of work, inspired by the artist they wrote about in Issue 1. There's documentation of performances, site-specific time based work, collage, posters and photography in it, and it's really good!
Henry Ireland designed the cover again and may have been found selling them at Ffotogallery Book Art Fair yesterday.

If you would like a copy they cost £2 each, email me or message me in the comments for more details.

TWIG (51)

2010-04-18T17:32:00.000+01:00

Åsa Sonjasdotter
Potato Perspective, 2005

TWIG (5O)

2010-04-17T21:00:00.000+01:00

Hin Chua
By the Darent River, Kent, UK, 2008

Kick-Ass (15)

2010-04-17T17:13:00.004+01:00

The last comic>film crossover is Kick-Ass, a close mixture between goof-ball 'SuperBad' comedies and ultra-violent 'Kill Bill'. Based on the marvel comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr, the film follows the story of teenager Dave Lizewski who sets out to become a real life superhero, only to find himself in a much bigger fight. Fed up of not being able to help people, and not wanting to carry on standing by when crimes occur, Lizewski gets his outfit, sets up a myspace and thanks to youtube and a street brawl, becomes a big hit. He quickly teams up with Big Daddy and his ruthless vigilante daughter Hit-Girl and becomes embroiled in their quest to bring down evil drug lord Frank D'Amico (and his son, superhero Red Mist).

It's a funny, charming film, and has a lightness that a lot of these comic book/film crossovers fail to have. Nicholas Cage plays a rather strange part (as Big Daddy) but I can't fault the other performances.

TWIG (49)

2010-04-13T20:40:00.000+01:00

Pete Dungey, Pothole Gardens
Public Installation

'If we planted one of those in every hole, it would be like a forest in the road'

TWIG (48)

2010-04-12T20:14:00.000+01:00

Eelko Moorer, White Bearskin Rug, (2009)
Urethane Rubber

Goats in Spitafields

2010-04-11T21:32:00.000+01:00

In a field of artists such as Ryan Gander, Tod Hanson and Nick Hornby, the winner of the inaugural Spitafields Sculpture Prize is Kenny Hunter, and it's a goat, I Goat.
Yes, a big white goat on a number of big, white packing crates. In the middle of Spitafields (Bishop's Square).

Apparently it symbolises the waves of immigration that have settled in the area over the centuries. It represents 'how each successive group of immigrants have faced their own combination of conflict, oppression and poverty' and looks utterly ridiculous.
Thankfully it's only up for 18 months.

TWIG (47)

2010-04-11T20:10:00.001+01:00

Steve Bishop, 'Φ', 2010
Listerine 'Cool Mint' mouthwash, stainless steel

Not A Bike

2010-04-10T20:44:00.005+01:00

Having cycled around Central London every day now for almost a year, I'm getting pretty used to the ways of the road, but still there is one thing that really gets me annoyed... when vehicles other than bikes go in the bike lanes. They shouldn't, they know they shouldn't, there's clearly enough room on the rest of the road for them, and they should really back off.

To try and deal with my anger I have started a project called 'Not A Bike'. We will begin by documenting various bicycle lane infringements and shaming them on here and my website we will also be handing out flyers to these vehicles to let them know that we are not prepared to stand for their behaviour. Stickers are coming next.

If you would like to be involved, please drop me an email at chipped(dot)potato(at)gmail(dot)com and I will dispatch some flyers pronto.

TWIG (46)

2010-04-10T20:05:00.004+01:00

Jorinde Voigt, 'WV 2009-306 bis 321'
Botanic Code - Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Australia, Sydney / Berlin 2009
Aluminium, Industrie-Autolack (Realisation: Lackdoktor Tegen), Lumocolor permanent, Faber Castell Indian Ink, Fixativ, Ø 1,2-3,5 cm, Länge 300 cm

The Last Book I Read...

2010-04-06T21:36:00.001+01:00

The Last Book I Read...

2010-03-21T22:43:00.001Z

The Last Book I Read...

2010-03-16T13:00:00.002Z

TWIG (45)

2010-03-01T23:08:00.001Z

Baster
No Gear (2009)
Also available on a t shirt

The Last Book I Read...

2010-03-01T21:00:00.000Z

Lost In A Good Book by Jasper Fforde
Second in the Thursday Next series, Lost In A Good Book is approximately 3 months on after the last novel by Fforde, The Eyre Affair.
Literary Detective Thursday Next is enjoying married life to Landen Park-Laine when she discovers an original manuscript of lost Shakespeare play Cardenio, that is suspiciously donated to a politician named Yorrick Kaine who instantly gets 'the shakespeare vote' amongst the British public. Meanwhile the shady Goliath Corporation are trying desperately to get Jack Schitt out of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven, and decide to erradicate Park-Laine in order to get Next to do the business for them. So follows an exciting trip through classic novels, with famous characters, fights in BookWorld for trashy novels, wild car journies through Swindon and the threat of the world turning into a mysterious pink goo....
You have to read it to believe it, Lost In A Good Book follows Fforde's trademark style of in-jokes, cheesey links and neccessity for prior literature knowledge. You have to read everything twice because if a name sounds like a joke, it probably is. Fforde's detective books tend to follow a pretty standard detective plot but luckily are definately no standard detective books. The Thursday Next novels, and the Nursey Detective novels are funny, relevant and incredibly clever, and definately worth a read.

Dewi Sant Hapus

2010-03-01T13:46:00.003Z

It's Saint David's (the patron saint of Wales) day today, and what better way to celebrate than by baking some Welsh Cakes. They're really easy to make and taste great!

Ingredients
8oz self-raising flour
4oz butter
1 egg
handful of sultanas
milk
3oz caster sugar

Method
1. Rub the fat into flour to make breadcrumbs. Add sugar, dried fruit, and egg. Mix to combine then form a ball of dough (using the milk if it's not sticking)
2. Roll out the dough until it is a 5mm and cut into rounds
3. You now need a bakestone or a heavy iron griddle, if you don't have one a large frying pan will suffice. Put it on to a direct heat, wait until it heats up, and place the Welsh cakes on the griddle, turning once. They need about 2-3 minutes each side. Each side needs to be caramel brown.
4. Remove from the pan and dust with caster sugar while still warm. Some people leave out the dried fruit, and split them when cool and sandwich them together with jam.

mwynhau!

TWIG (44)

2010-02-28T23:00:00.002Z

Hank Schmidt in der Beek
In den Zillertaler Alpen (2009)

(Photo: Fabian Schubert)
Winner of Szpliman Award 2009

Prism Vol. 1 Issue 1

2010-02-28T21:49:00.008Z

Prism is a new project I've been working on with a group of nine other very talented artists. In the first issue, we each chose an artist, wrote about them and drew a picture of them.

The exceptionally skilled Henry Ireland designed the front cover, provided graphic assistance, and also sold them at the Stour Space Market on Saturday.

For a copy (£2) please contact me!

A Little Air On Earth

2010-02-20T08:49:00.002Z

Whilst flicking through Wallpaper* last night I spotted the new Lacoste adverts for their Spring/Summer 2010 catalogue campaign. The photos for 'Un peu d'air sur terre' are absolutely beautiful and manage to celebrate the preppy, colourful, but elegant style the brand upholds. This one is predicitably my favourite, with the models all dressed for tennis on their gorgeous bicycles.

Boys & Girls

2010-02-15T12:25:00.000Z

NEW mix cd featuring: Peaches, Miranda July, Chicks On Speed, Samiam, Sons and Daughters, I'm From Barcelona, Jane's Addictions and Furslide.

Hard copies available for £1 from me
Free copies available HERE

TWIG (43)

2010-02-10T17:16:00.000Z

Everything is Everything (2006)
Koki Tanaka

Up In The Air (15)

2010-02-09T16:39:00.003Z

Up In The Air stars George Clooney as Ryan Bingham working for an Omaha-based company who specialise in 'Career Transition Councelling'. In other words, he's employed to fire people and travels from state to state giving the bad news to hundreds of people every week. He flies 320 days of the year and on top of having an unhealthy number of frequent flyer miles, has perfected the art of his capsule life; his relationships with his family and friends are non-existent, his 'home' is a flat with little to none of his possessions in and he doesn't even want this to change. When his company hires young chancer Natalie Keener (a great Anna Kendrick last seen in as Jessica in the 'Twilight' films) who wants to revolutionize his perfect life by using the internet to fire people, instead of flying, his life is flipped upside down. The two form an uneasy friendship and by sharing in her life, Bingham begins to see the flaws in his own.

Up In The Air is a film hotly tipped to win a handful of Oscars this year and despite enjoying it I still can't figure out why it is so. It was funny in places, and pretty sad and 'thoughtful' in others but left me with no lasting feeling or emotion. There are some great performances by the actors but I think the original script didn't leave them that much to work with.

Love-A-Fayre @ BWMC

2010-02-08T20:05:00.003Z

Bethnal Green Working Men's Club was the perfect venue for the plush, sparkly, silky, satiny event that was the Love-A-Fayre on Sunday. Unlike a few of the craft events I'd been to recently this one had dancing, and burlesque dancing at that, which I have to say was a bit of a suprise for a slightly drizzly sunday afternoon. The venue was packed out for the lovely ladies, who ranged from a clown to an indian princess to a regal countess.
As for the shops there were some old favourites like Lady Luck Rules OK and Garudio Studiage, and some new faces (for me) like HeartZeena and Be-Bop-A-Lula. I finally bought the bicycle necklace that I'd been swooning over for ages and some vintage threads from Supermarket Sarah. It was a great way to spend the afternoon, and I hope the WMC do another one very soon!

TWIG (42)

2010-01-11T13:28:00.000Z

Peter Sandbichler
Pace (2003)

Nowhere Boy (15)

2010-01-10T22:07:00.000Z

Now I'm not sure whether this film was good because of Sam Taylor-Wood's directing, Aaron Johnson's performance, or the excellent screenplay by Matt Greenhalgh. Whatever it was, it was thorougly engaging and poignant, and really impressed me.

The film is a chronicle of John Lennons childhood in a dull, depressing post-war Liverpool. Lennon lives with Mimi (the excuriatingly good Kristin Scott Thomas) his tightly strung aunt who has raised him fom the age of 5. He spends his days rebelling against her and against the formal education he must abide by. It's not until he reconnects with his mother-Julia who is spirited, fun and most importantly musical, he starts realising what his life could really be like. He escapes into music and performances with an ever-changing line up of fellow friends and musicians. Whilst his mother and his aunt fight over him, he fights with himself and the truth that is yearning to come out.
The film's tone was excellent, casting and acting superb, and costumes spot on. I was glued to the screen throughout, not wanting to miss a bit and would gladly return to the cinema to see it again. Top marks.

TWIG (41)

2010-01-09T19:52:00.000Z

Stephanie Syjuco
Unsolicited Fabrications: Shareware Sculptures (2009)

some strange shapes

2010-01-08T10:57:00.000Z

Nine (12A)

2010-01-07T12:04:00.000Z

Nine - the film with, annoyingly, eight stars in it. In fact, a line-up to die for including Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren and Judi Dench. The latter drew me to the film itself, a chance to see Ms. Dench glamming it up was an opportunity not to be missed!
The film tells the story of Guido Contini (played by a dodgy Italian sounding Daniel Day-Lewis) who is a film director loved and adored by the people of Italy. He is in the midst of a mid-life and mid-career crisis; his new film is going to be shot in 10 days and he hasn't started the script, his wife is unhappy, his mistress too demanding and his muse, well, being a muse. The film flits dramatically from fantasy to reality with the many women in his life performing raunchy, provocative numbers whilst including 'flashbacks' of Contini's difficult childhood.
The musical elements were probably what saved this film in my opinion, they were over the top, glamorous and totally extravagant - exactly what you expect from 'the director of Chicago' Rob Marshall. Unfortunately the storyline is weak, predictable and sometimes led to quite awkward viewing. As there are so many female leads it's hard to form a relationship with any character, apart from perhaps with Contini's wife, the wonderful Marion Cotillard who was criminally under-used.

N.B. The film is called Nine for two reasons; Guido Contini has had 9 top films up to the one he is about to write and throughout the film there are black and white flashbacks to when he is nine years old.

'tis the season to be thankful

2010-01-06T21:53:00.005Z

Here are my thankyou letters for this year, they are felt tip, biro and typewriter on paper. Sent out this week so if you're expecting one, expect it soon.

The Cove (15)

2009-12-02T17:19:00.000Z

This documentary film, focuses on the barbaric killing of dolphins in Japan, the knock-on effects, and how the man who gave the world Flipper,Ric O'Barry is now determined to undo what he started.
In Taiji every year over 23,000 dolphins are slaughtered. Fishermen capture panicked dolphins by using walls of intrusive sound and herding them into a bay. It's here that dolphin-trainers come from all around Japan to capture the healthiest looking specimens to take back to their water parks. The others are moved to the Cove, brutually slaughtered and sold on for meat. This meat in turn is reconstituted into other meat, and ignoring the fact that dolphin meat has a dangerously high mercury content, sold on throughout Japan. This meat was responsible for many pregnant ladies damaging their unborn children in Minamata Bay.
O'Barry hand picked a team of film makers, free-divers, technical guys and assistants to catch out the men who are responsible for these actions. The film follows them, their plans to hide high-definition camera in the rocks of the bay and the eventual uncovering of Japan's secret at the International Whale Meeting. Mainly constructed with one-on-one interviews with various prominant figures in the uncovering attept and in the wider world of anti-animal cruelty, the film's fast, exciting pace is utterly compelling and the style lends itself well to revealing the truth. It's as if everything has a direct, knock on, even more devasting effect, and by the end of the film I couldn't make any sense of why this monstorous act occurs.
It's a powerful piece of film-making that, if seen by enough people could actually make a great deal of good and actually make a difference.
Go to http://www.takepart.com/thecove for more details.

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (15)

2009-12-01T17:03:00.002Z

Set partly in dingy London wastelands and partly inside of the mind of immortal Dr. Parnassus, Terry Gillingham's film was never meant to be easy to paraphrase into a review. Add to that the untimely death of one of the lead characters and the addition of waif-like model Lily Cole it is indeed a strange, surreal experience.

Having made a deal with the devil thousands of years ago, poor old Dr. Parnassus is down his luck, nobody wants to listen to his stories, no matter how much his assistant Anton or daughter Valentina bat their eyelids and jump about encouragingly. One night, as they are travelling around London in their theatre-come-caravan-come-carriage, they come across a man who's been hung upside down Blackfriars Bridge. This man turns out to be Tony (Heath Ledger) who begins to help them turn their luck around, much to the dismay of Anton who no longer has any attention from young Valentina (Cole).
Meanwhile, old 'Parn' has struck another deal with the devil, to stop him collecting on yet another deal from long ago (when Valentina was 16 she was to become his). The group take on the challenge and thanks to some dubious re-branding (courtesy of Tony) start off successfully, thrilling middle-aged ladies by entering into Parnassus's mind and revealing their fantasies! It is only when Tony meets some people from his past they begin to question where he came from, who he is and why exactly was he hanging from a bridge.
The sets and costumes are lavish and magical, the surreal, dream-like quality of the fantasies inside Dr.Parnassus mind incredible, and the transformation within these of Tony from Heath Ledger, to Johnny Depp, to Jude Law and to Colin Farrell-genius. Lily Cole ain't half bad either, her exquisite doll like feature enhance this other-worldly fantasy, it's as if she too comes from a completely different land.
Sometimes the film was convoluted, hard to follow and down right silly but I believe with many of these type of films, that is exactly the point, and you just have to go with it. Unfortunately I found the ending weak and cheesy which let this film which otherwise would've been thoroughly impressive down.

Guest Projects Christmas Market

2009-11-29T08:16:00.003Z

TURNHURST have some work at Guest Projects Christmas Market this year. All works cost under £500, so get yourself down there to pick up a bargain!

Frieze Zine!

2009-10-24T19:46:00.005+01:00

It can't have escaped many that it was Frieze week last week and at the same time as selling subscriptions, going to Czech film-screenings, fair openings, talks and the like, I made this prototype for a zine. Keeping to the same alphabet format as the last one, the challenge for this one was to write 10 words about 24 galleries (abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvqxyz). Only a few of the galleries are British so it makes for some interesting reading!

It is strange how many words keep on popping up. I might make a graph with some of the more popular ones, akin to the graphs and pie-charts they have for the power 100 in this months Art Review. Just need to find somewhere in East London that prints a3, double-sided, black and white and then they can be distributed!

Highlights from 53rd Venice Biennale (Part 3/4)

2009-10-22T22:52:00.005+01:00

External Pavilions
Trying to get to all of the pavilions dotted about the various islands of Venice is a challenge in itself, we found dead ends, pavilions shut early and confusing non-existent streets in our mission to them. Using beautiful buildings as galleries for contemporary art is something the biennial has always done and is somewhat known for. This was particularly noticeable in Mexico's Pavilion (¿De qué otra cosa podríamos hablar? / What else could we talk about?) was housed in an old palace down a dingy piss alley in northern Venice. Teresa Margolles, a founding member of the group SEMEFO (Forensic Medial Service) and has in this capacity held performances, lectures, and made work using the morgue as a laboratory and study, developing social and conceptual artistic strategies on the basis of the use of bodily substances. According to the press in Mexico, in 2008 more than 5000 people lost their lives in executions and shootings related to drug trafficking and its combat. For the work in Venice at 4pm the floors are mopped with the blood from some of these 5000 people. It's a quiet, eerie performance. Also on display are flags, tapestries and embroideries again using victims blood. It's pretty gory but compelling stuff.

Despite their pavilion in the Giardini disappointing, one piece in the Australian off-site pavilion (@ The Ludoteca, Castello) by Claire Healy & Sean Cordeiro made up for the poor show. Life Span is a six metre tower of video tapes that dominate the inside exterior of a church. The tapes, some recorded with hand-written labels, some official, some well known such as Titanic, or Bad Boys and some ones in some strange far-off foreign language. But the actual amount of the videos (195, 774) is actually significant, the combined running time is enough to literally record the average person's life span when VHS was first released in 1976, 60.1 years.
A simple concept made the Lithuanian Pavilion a definately place to remember, artist Zilvinas Kempinas created Tube, literally a tube or tunnel of magnetic tape with a path down for visitors to walk. It's a quiet, thoughtful piece that allows the viewer to fully consider the work. It's almost as if you're walking into a different world, or are in the beginning of a sci-fi film. As the tape moves and quivers in the air you wonder what will happen when you get to the end. It's a monumental, yet fragile space that transformed the interior of the beaten down old church, Scuola Grande at Della Misericordia.

The home pavillions (well, the Scottish, Irish and Northern Irish) were all respectably good, especially Martin Boyce, No Reflections that seemed to be a study on parks and municipal furniture. Having to traverse across (A River in the Trees) giant slabs of stone avoiding the delicate paper leaves on the floor was a great way into the space and concept. The Irish Pavilion featured a lot of pencils by Sarah Browne, Gareth Kennedy and Kennedy Browne.

The Latvian contribution was incredible, the installation Fragile Nature by Miks Mitrēvics’, was composed of various scenes in miniature, exploring manifestations and perceptions. By creating tiny machetes of scenes and photographs and screens used artificial light as an operating source of energy. He is trying to copy reality in a haphazard, DIY sense and it's completely successful.

In the Estonian Pavilion at Palazzo Malipiero, Kristina Norman presented After-War, a project dealing with political, provocative, documentary and research-based art. The work in Venice is a comprehensive research project comprishing of videos, photographs and objects in five distinct rooms. It is concerned with the events of April 2007, when the Estonian government removed a monument commonly referred to as the Bronze Soldier from the centre of Tallinn (where it had stood since 1947) and relocated 2.5km away at the military cemetery. The memorial was dedicated to the Red Army soldiers who fell during what in russia is known as The Great Patriotic War (WWII) but for most Estonians the memorial was a symbol of Soviet occupation. Removing it caused widespread anger and discontent throughout the city and led to wild riots through the city (which Norman has documented with the installation). She even created her own Golden Solider and placed it in the original's old position. Documenting this in film it shows the publics happy reaction and her eventual arrest.

UP! - Film Review

2009-10-21T13:07:00.004+01:00

Sure to entertain children with the same whimsical adventure we have come to expect from Pixar, UP follows the trend they started with Wall-E for more emotionally intelligent and engaging adult themes.

The first ten minutes follow the life of our protagonist as we see him travel through his married life, leading up to the death of his wife - hardly a lighthearted introduction to an adventure romp. We revisit the themes of loss and forgotten dreams several times through the course of the film, each time evoking powerful emotional reactions from the audience. Of course, humour and silliness soon kick back in after the introduction (this is Pixar, afterall!) and faced with the threat of eviction to an old persons home, Mr Fredricksen does what any reasonable balloon seller would do - attaches thousands of balloons to his house and floats off in search of a lost paradise in South America.

It's not long before the rest of the cast is introduced - a young boy with his own quota of misfortune, a talking dog, a rare bird - and the nemesis, an old-time explorer in search of his own unfulfilled dreams. There's no need to describe the subsequent events, suffice to say they are well crafted and coherent within the film's reality. The action sequences are genuinely engaging, and you feel real worry for the characters. Visual gags abound (dog-piloted jet fighters anyone?) as does a plethora of other comic content. By the time the film is finished, everything is resolved neatly and the main characters have formed a cosy family unit - it is still a children's film - but the audience is left truly moved as well as entertained.

Highlights from 53rd Venice Biennale (Part 2/4)

2009-10-12T20:30:00.001+01:00

Arsenale

The mammoth scale exhibition in Venice's old ship building quarters was always going to be a long slog to get through, although compared to the previous year it was a lot more fun and accessible.

Again curated by Birnbaum the huge exhibition in the old dockyard begins with an impressive moody light piece by the Brazillian artist Lydia Pape. By using golden threads the pitch black rooms look like a beam of sunlight is illuminating it. This work sets the tone for the show which as with the Giardini was pretty serious and thoughtful. Michelangelo Pistoletto's space was filled with huge large mirrors that I later found out had been intact until the artist went round in smashing them in a furrocious performance during in the first week. One of the largest installations is a full-scare African village by Pascale Marthine Tayou, from the clean predictable white gallery spaces you walk into a straw filled confusion of shacks, projected videos, handmade furniture with small creatures and characters inhabiting them. This work then is juxtaposed completely by Richard Wentworths subtle walking sticks hanging almost invisibly from the walls. Ulla von Brandenburg uses various coloured sheets to partition space and eventually to screen a curious black and white video of a family. Another artist that used colourful partitions with was Cildo Meireles (who had a great show at TATE Modern last year) it involved differently coloured rooms with matching screens showing the same colour which then systematically change.
Moshekwa Langa and Haegue Yang made similar large colourful installations, the former with cotton reels and wool and the later with blinds (as she did in the Korean pavillion in the Giardini).

Some of the best work came from spanish duo Bestué/Vives, their video Actions at Home was a hilarious set of almost fluxus style instructions and challenges for the pair to undertake in their small flat. Sweet and very clever the work had a big crowd. In an out building they also screened this video Proteo which involved some brilliant lo-fi transformations from human to animal to machine. Other works of note included Spencer Finch's light ceiling installation, Pae Whites big string chandelier (bit of a string theme in this year?), William Forsythe's hoops, and Miranda July's sweet but rather weak "Eleven Heavy Things" and the fairytale installations of Sara Ramo

The curated exhibition is coherent and well presented and has a great deal of incredible work in. It was just a shame the other collateral events/pavillions were tacked onto the end, it becomes tiresome and makes the whole experience a bit of an ordeal.

Highlights from 53rd Venice Biennale (Part 1/4)

2009-10-11T13:09:00.001+01:00

Two years ago I visited the 52nd Venice Biennale (Think with the senses, Feel with the Mind) curated by Robert Storr this year the exhibition was curated by Daniel Birnbaum under the title of Making Worlds. A better title, with certainly better graphics but were the shows up to much? As it's impossible to write about everything I saw, so I'm doing some highlights split up into four sections; Giardini, Arsenale, Other Pavillions and Collateral Events.

Giardini

So much has been written about the Giardini it's hard to make sense of it as a whole, objectively. There's a lot of work on display, by many artists with many different concerns but interestingly enough, a kind of sombre theme ran throughout, if this was cleverly constructed by Birnbaum I'm doubtful but I think it made it a lot more coherent than before. The standout Nordic Pavilion which was curated by Elmgreen & Dragset, managed to draw the crowds with the floating dead collector in the outside pool and it's great selection of art displayed. Many of these pavillions also highlighted another more structural, architectural theme which ran throughout many of the shows, notably Liam Gillick's Germany Pavilion, France's disco-like goth-cathedral, and Romania's confusing foliage-topped structure.
There was a sombre, more thoughtful tone throughout the work, especially in the British contribution, a film by Steve McQueen is predictably beautiful, still and calm. Although if he filmed more close up of a small bug moving slowly I would've gone mad. Winner of the Golden Lion, Bruce Nauman, represented America and showed all old work, including many casts of a faces/hands and a great eating boogers neon lights.

Unfortunately not all work can be described so positively, the Japanese pavilion for one, which was by Miwa Yanagi. Big saggy breasted amazonian-style women don't do much for me. The garish Austrian pavilion which featured scrawled graffiti text throughout by Elke Krystufek, Dorit Margreiter, Franziska & Lois Weinberger was a strict walk in/walk out affair. And even though Shaun Gladwell's work in the Australian pavilion has been highly praised within many of the reviews i've checked out, I found it painfully obvious and not at all interesting - video of a man standing on a roof in a car in the outback I can appreciate some artistic/skill merit but the spray painted and video works in the lower gallery really it down. Gosha Ostretsov in the lower room in the Russian pavilion got confused and thought the Biennale was actually a theme park and turned his space into an Alton Towers-esque

The Italian Pavilion's name changed to La Biennale Pavilion and looked a cheesy mess thanks to a front facade by John Baldessari. The work inside was brilliant though, a thoughtful, interesting and fun show displaying a great mixture of known and unknown new artists. I'm sure everyone reading this has seen pictures of Tomas Saraceno's huge web of black strings that fill the first huge gallery space, not many people know it's actually a replica of a Black Widow spiders web, and hopes to display how it manages to hold such vast weights. Adjacent to this room was a creepy environment of nightmare plants and claymation by Nathalie Djurberg which looked interesting but unfortunately was spoilt by other visitors in the room taking the opportunity for a fantasy glamour photo shoot. Wolfgang Tillmans installation was a welcome addition, and his new work looked incredible in the upper gallery space, I often think Tillmans is forgotten in global exhibitions as he is so well established. Other works of note in the curated space were by Rachel Harrison, a tableau by Hans-Peter Feldman, Toba Khedoori, and Georges Adeagbo's intruiging installations.

Pop Life: Art in a Material World @ Tate Modern

2009-10-10T10:10:00.001+01:00

(my feet via Reuters)

When I heard about the Pop Life exhibition at the Tate a few names sprung to mind, Warhol, Murakami and Koons, and although all these do feature in the show what I found was a refreshing new look at commericalism within a gallery context. It's curated well, designed brilliantly, is interesting and, perhaps more importantly, is fun!
The show seeks to display a commercial approach to art, whilst still remaining in a public institution. The prolific artists displayed are now rejecting the old system of galleries and cutting them out in pursuit of profit and wider celebrity. It is interesting that now of all times this show would be at the Tate, although probably booked years in advance I believe the themes and messages from the show are especially poignant with the flop in the global and arts markets.

Warhol said himself that 'good business is the best art', which became the starting point for this exhibition, there's incredibly expensive, famous work on show that was crucial in many of the artists beginning their 'brands' and distinctive style. Work includes a Jeff Koons Rabbit (which greets you when you get into the gallery space), Takashi Murakmi Hiropon statue, various screenprints of celebrities from Warhol, Jeff Koons adverts that he took out in art magazines, Cosey Fanni Tutti prints, Tracey Emin & Sarah Lucas shop memorabilia, a great golden room pumping out 80's hits by Pruitt Early, "the twin piece" by Damien Hirst, a giant horse by Maurizio Cattelan to name a few!

Recreated within the gallery is Keith Harings Pop Shop which is a kaleidoscopic disco room with thumping music and posters, t shirts, bags, badges and all kinds of other Haring parephenalia you can think of adorning the walls. There's even a kiosk where you can buy your own, personally, I went for one of the little batman patches. Also recreated in a similar style to it's original display in an empty shop window is Spirtual America by Richard Prince. It is a photograph of a naked 10 year old Brooke Shields fully made up, pouting in a bathtub. Deemed by the police as child pornography the work has caused widespread scandal and has been removed by the Tate and the red room with the gold frame has been left empty. I was one of the people that managed to see it in the exhibition and although it's a strong piece, I'm unsure whether being 'the Tate', it was wise to show it, despite them having sought legal advice prior to the exhibition. This type of censorship is a shame within art, and brings up difficult questions of what should and shouldn't be exhibited, and what constitutes as art and as something else. Should the police really be curating our public art galleries? I think the Tate, being the massive public institution it is really had no choice.

In a room also with restricted access (to over -18s) is Jeff Koons Made in Heaven photographic series which are kept behind closed doors which visitors nervously enter and quickly leave. The room features works such as Ilona's Asshole and various other sculptures and images of Koons and Ilona Staller (La Cicciolina) in hardcore pornographic scenes.
Another piece which is designed to shock explicity is Andrea Frasers Untitled video (2003) where she asked her gallery to find a single, hetrosexual man to have sex with her for $20,000. An unidentified American collector was selected and features in the 60-minute video which features "every imaginable position". The filming is from a single overhead camera, much like a CCTV camera allowing the viewer to feel voyeuristic but guarded.

Pop Life will attract a wide range of art lovers, and no doubt be incredibly popular as it features the superstar artists and artworks known in this era. The controversy that has already been caused will do no bad thing and I imagine will see far more people flood to see it. It's easy to understand, informative and features some truly classic works.

Pop Life: Art in a Material World is at the Tate Modern, Millbank, SW1P 4RG, and runs till 17th January 2010.

Omer Fast, 'Nostalgia' @ South London Gallery

2009-10-09T13:47:00.000+01:00

Omer Fast seems to be the name on many art aficionados lips at the moment, winner of the 2008 Bucksbaum Award, the Nationalgalerie Prize for Young Art and featuring in recent exhibitions at the Barbican, Tate Liverpool and Centre Pompidou, he seems to be doing everything right. For this solo show in the UK in the lovely South London Gallery, he was inspired by a conversation he had with a west African national seeking asylum in London.

Similarly to his previous work, Nostalgia also plays with story telling and representation. It's a complex piece of film making and if takes some time for the viewer to fully comprehend what is going on. The clever three-part film work ties in strands from the original stories and works elaborately dramatising or explaining them. Part one is informational documentary-come-story with detailed explanation of how to make a trap in the woods, part two features the original interview with the west African national and part three presents a sci-fi thriller film using some threads of truth from the original story. The film has a dated, retro feel to it and although it seems to be set in the future it looks like it's from the past.

Unusually for the work displayed you can see the layers of creation and understanding of the final work (part three) from the first two films. The mechanics of film-making are left on show and investigated. It is also an in depth look at how we might be able to unravel fact from fiction and how power from an institutional context might impact it's operations.

If you're at the SLG, be sure to pick up the free newspaper which has a printed a script of the initial conversation in it.

Nostalgia is at the South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH until 6th December.

Away We Go (15)

2009-10-08T09:41:00.000+01:00

After the tremendous Revolution Road, Mendes is back with his own take on 'kooky suburbian' following in the line of Little Miss Sunshine, The Squid and the Whale, Thumbsucker, et al.
Thirty-somethings Burt and Verona are a sweet devoted couple, whom we find out at the beginning of the film are about to have their first child. Having moved to live closer to Burt's family, they announce the happy news only to be told the family are moving to Antwerpen, for two years. Unhappy with their lives they embark on a trip around the US & Canada to find somewhere else to live, they travel to Phoenix, Tucson, Madison, Montreal and Miami where friends or relatives are living. They experience different families, living situations and relationships and begin to realise what they want to achieve and how they want to do it.

It's pretty sweet, and definately appeals to the thirty-something new family crowd, I must've seen about 5 pregnant ladies in the audience when I saw the film. Bert (John Krasinski) is fantastic (he even looks a bit like AF) funny and I'm sure everyone watching the film fell for his 'trying to be angry to get the baby's heart-rate up' routines. It's got a nice soundtrack by Alexi Murdoch who is set to be an indie film favourite, and completes the sense of reflection and contemplation in the film. It's sad at parts, it's really silly in parts and despite not being as huge a smash as the aforementioned films, for a certain crowd, I think it's much better.

Buy Art Fair 09

2009-09-28T11:42:00.000+01:00

The second Buy Art Fair was held this weekend in the Urbis Centre in Manchester and I got to attend with work and see what the North's answer to Frieze was all about.
Featuring over 300 artists presented by 75 galleries, the contemporary art society also presented The Manchester Contemporary - a new platform within the fair dedicated to cutting edge contemporary art. It featured well known London galleries Domobaal, Nettie Horn, Rokeby and, Limoncello. Initially the fair was designed to meet the growing demand for art ownership in the region, there's work that can be bought for most budgets, talks, events, a collectors collection, and education programme for children, all which make it an accessible and event for art lovers a-like.

What I found when I went there was a bit of a mish-mash of galleries, all crammed together in the strangely-organised Urbis space. Some of the work was professional and corporate, craft-based, mainly wall-based and all 'sell-able'. The Manchester Contemporary clearly had the best range of works and of galleries but unfortunately situated on level 3, in a strangely-designed plan few people went to see the experience the work on display. The name of the fair, and even design identity (bubble wrap with Buy Art Fair stickers on) seemed to be so focused on selling I think little attention was actually paid on the quality and range of work displayed, which is a shame as so much more could've been made in the space.

Last year John Dare (Show Director) gloated with reports of £200,000 worth of sales during the weekend, no comments have been made the results of this year as of yet.
Roll on frieze.

Ryan McGinley, 'Moonmilk' @ Alison Jacques

2009-09-25T15:39:00.000+01:00

For the first UK solo show of McGinley's, brand new work is being aired. The 24 new photographs shot in caves across North America are a kaleidoscope of colour and emotion.
Over the last year the artist and his crew explored huge caves, venturing into unknown territory, seeking out incredible natural spaces, some previously never seen before. The title of the show refers to the crystalline deposits found on the walls of many caves; it was once believed that this substance ws formed by light from celestial bodies passing through rock into darkened worlds below.
Probably most famous for the Sigur Ros cover, Ryan McGinley began taking photos of his friends (who include Dan Colen and the late Dash Snow) in real-life settings but progressed to creating settings where the situations he envisioned would be able to be documented. Using 35mm film, Yashica T4s and Leica R8s the work is beautiful and fleeting. He became the youngest artist (at 24) to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney and has won prestigious awards such as the Young Photographers Infinity Award.

The work displayed at Alison Jacques features a number of these photographs, carefully staged with a carefree, timeless attitude. They are haunting and remain with you. The harsh, saturated colours allow the caves to look like movie sets, or strange lunar environments that you only see in text books. The pace of the exhibition is set between two rooms, the first (largest room) has a mixture of the sculptural, larger forms but the second, smaller room is a lot more intense and powerful. This is due to a few close up face shots but the colours are wilder and more vivid, it's pretty sensual exciting stuff.

Adventureland (15)

2009-09-23T16:28:00.004+01:00

Adventureland is not the film you think it is. Certainly it is not the film I thought it was. The set up is as hackneyed as they come - boy/man yet to lose virginity - attractive but troubled love interest, and a varied mix of comedy side-acts and adults who don't understand their offspring - but beyond that it is far more intelligent than the trailers might lead you to believe.

Jesse Heisenberg as the lead is an excellently confused character, naive, but not as naive as you would think, sometimes swayed by peer-pressure, sometimes led by his own morals and intelligence. There are very few 'laugh-out-loud' moments, the comedy depending on a much more subtle angle - often the punchlines are comments said off screen, almost masked by the main dialogue. The eighties feel is captured well, and would not sit uneasily next to films like The Breakfast Club.

Unusually for this genre it is not immediately obvious what will transpire from any situation - which makes it all the more worth a watch. Moving and clever.

TWIG (40)

2009-09-23T12:42:00.001+01:00

Thomas Broome
XII, A Small (1:5) sculpture of a man getting shot from behind.

New Zine!

2009-09-22T12:07:00.001+01:00

Here is a sneek peek at my new zine abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw~~xyz~~, it should be printed fully by wednesday and then distributed throughout the week. I am so excited! I'll post the full contents up here once it's done, and if you leave your contact details I will send you one, but for now....

(click to enlarge)

DIY: Vinyl Record Bowls

2009-09-21T12:44:00.001+01:00

After using a considerable amount of record sleeves making these notebooks, I seemed to have an abundance of old records rolling about which I didn't really want to listen to, or keep. A great way to use them is to make these quick and easy Vinyl Record Bowls. They're a bit 70's and I feel like I should constantly be listening to Procol Harum (or anything off The Boat That Rocked Soundtrack for that matter) but for a fruit or sweetie bowl they're perfect!

Materials
Vinyl record (you can use any size, for these I used 12 inch)
an Oven
Oven-proof bowl
baking tray

Instructions
1. Pre-heat oven to 200 Degrees
2. Put Oven-proof bowl upside down on baking tray and record ontop of that being careful that it's in the centre so the inside/base of your bowl is where the label is
3. Place in oven for 5-10 minutes depending on the heat (keep an eye on it melting down)
4. Once soft quickly take out tray, lift record off (it'll be really bendy so be quick otherwise it'll harden again) turn over bowl and place record in to shape. I sometimes put a tin or something heavy in the centre to weight it down. Whilst it's hardening you can sculpt and pinch the edges to make them look how you like
5. Wait to cool and hey presto! Your very own Vinyl Record Bowl!

Neko Case & Black Gold @ Barbican Centre (17/09/09)

2009-09-20T14:47:00.000+01:00

After a lengthy summer off, the Barbican's autumn season of music kicked off with a performance by country noir singer/songwriter Neko Case. Formley lead vocalist of The New Pornographers, she has been playing her unique brand of folk since 1997 when she went solo and released her first album The Virgintan, which received wide critical acclaim.
Dainty, with ice-white skin and a shock of scarlet hair, what Case may not have in size she certainly makes up with stage presence. Her haunting vocals, with somewhat ambient rock accompaniment managed to totally spellbind the Barbican audience. An eclectic ban of bearded, greying men make her up band, who really provide a great depth to the live performance but the real star of the show, surprisingly, was Kelly Hogan (Case's chief backing vocalist), she not only has a beautiful voice which compliment and adds to Neko's but her banter between songs (whilst the leader is ever-changing guitars and leads) made the performance funny and her, incredible likeable! At times it even felt like the two singers were dueting rather than one supporting the other.
There's an earthly, wordly, dare I say, wholesome quality to the music performed by Neko Case, which is most relevant to her recent album Middle Cyclone, in which many songs feature weather references along with a lot of nods to different animals and creatures, she also manages to sing I'm a Man Eater in a song and actually mean she'll eat men (rather than in a seedy Nelly Futardo style). Check out her super cute video for People Got A Lotta Nerve.

In support were Black Gold, a young band from Brookyn, sounding successfully like a mixture between Orson (but without the cheese), Panic! At the Disco (but without the electro) with a nice dose of falsetto thrown in for good measure. They play fun, if somewhat generic rock songs. Saying that, nearly every song they played sounded as if it could, or should be a top hit single. They're fun, good looking, energetic and I wouldn't be surprised if they start getting a lot of radio airplay soon.

TWIG (39)

2009-09-19T16:02:00.001+01:00

Nicolas Deshayes
Native (2006)

Pete and Repeat @ 176/Zabludowicz Collection

2009-09-18T17:50:00.001+01:00

The title of this exhibition, displayed at super collector Anita Zabludowicz's 176, was taken from Bruce Nauman's 1987 video Clown Torture, in which a clown repeats a circular jokes to camera.
Pete and Repeat were sitting on a fence. Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat.
Pete and Repeat were sitting on a fence. Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat.
Pete and Repeat were sitting on a fence. Pete fell off. Who was left? Repeat.

On display were a couple of pieces I know really well, and lots I didn't. Her superb eye for talent, young and old, is really on show with this work - definitely worth a trip up to Chalk Farm for!
Perhaps the most arresting, and instantly noticeable piece were the Contemporary Terra-Cotta Warriors, by Yue Minjun. I went to see the 'real' terracotta warriors at the British Museum (all 5 or so of them) and was totally unimpressed. The ones by Minjun had an unnerving creepy quality to them, and the faces really reminded me of the faces of some of the models in the whole sale shops around here in Whitechapel.

Also in the main hall was A Universal Cooling within the Everyday Photography Array by Keith Tyson (who currently has a solo show at Parasol Unit). Tyson, who's work often explores human systems and embraces the complexity of existence, created two sets, which on the surface looked identical, but upon closer inspection were not. A mass of hubbub and organised chaos, they look incredible, and also remind me of psychological games when you spot the difference, or see what has been taken away - often believing something to be different when it's not.

In the backroom was a whole host of great artworks, including Wolfgang Tillmans Concorde Grid, some Peter Coffin, and John Baldessari. What really stood out was Ai Weiwei & Serge Spitzer's piece Ghost Gu Coming Down the Mountain. I don't know if you can see from the picture, but the 96 ceramic vases have an increasing amount of pattern on them, which the amount seen is visible from different positions in the room. It's a dreamy, thoughtful piece, said to replicate Chinese art forms and the calm of Taoist and Zen philosophical influence. The vases devalue the in-itself to become the other whilst amplifying the nature of the in-itself through repetition.

I recently also found out (via Ai Wei Wei's twitter and Frieze Online) that Mr Weiwei has undergone surgery for cerebral haemorrhage in a hospital in Munich after being beaten up by Chinese policemen in China. He had been documenting and publicizing the names of more than 5000 children who had died under collapsing, ill-constructed school buildings in the May 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The attack occured on 12th August, the night before he was planning to support felow investigator and activist Tan Zuore, who had been charged with 'subversion' in court. Suffering with a headache since the attack, which has become more serious during his stay in Munich (where's in preparation for a show at Haus der Kunst) Weiwei was advised an emergency operation. I hope his recovery is speedy!

The brilliant, Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard use the Upper West Room to screen Kiss my Nauman a four-screen video installation with the members of the longest running Kiss tribute band (Dressed to Kill) applying the same make up as their idols, Kiss. The work was produced specially for Jarvis Cocker's Meltdown. Whilst referencing Art Make-Up a work by Bruce Nauman, it also relates to male/female roles and the whole notion of copying and repetition. The piece lasts 47 minutes, the full time they take to apply the characters make-up. It's a compelling and mesmerising experience that despite not being a Kiss fan, wasn't completely lost on me.

I could go on for ages about lots of the great pieces in the show, but won't because I don't have time. Other works not to miss are Jack Strange's Tom, For the Greenman (Mezzanine) and Stunt Doubles (Lower West Room), Sherrie Levine's Fountain (Buddha) and Swetlana Heger's 99 Years (Main Hall)

On Saturdays throughout the show at 176 are a series of talks by some artists from the show; Amalia Pica, Doug Fishbone, Ryan Gander, Neil Hamon, and Giorgio Sadotti. There are also a series of Thursday Evening Lectures from curators, writers and critics which are not to be missed! All events are free, but booking is recommended.

St Unicorns Trust Pt 2

2009-09-17T13:38:00.000+01:00

Photos of St Unicorns Day, which was at Alma Enterprises last week.

The South London Cultural Centre (SLCC)

2009-09-16T15:36:00.001+01:00

The South London Cultural Centre, No 7 Shandon Court, Endwell Road, Brockley is a non-profit, self funded art space run by a group of artists from their South London home. Running over the summer of 2009, and organised by Spartacus Chetwynd, Adam Christensen, Aki Ilomaki, Vicky Steiri and Urara Tsuchiya.
Using their small home and their large living room as the exhibition space the SLCC has held host to some great artists over the last few months, and lot of nudity. For the shows they take most of the furniture out of the living room, through the patio doors and into the garden which becomes the social area for most of the events.

Currently on is 'Our Children', an exhibition by Lucy Clout, Jane Fawcett and James Whittingham, open daily 12-6pm till September 20th. The bookshelf has been kept, as has a small table and a big TV, definitely worth a look if low-fi, diy is your thing.

Future events:
Sept 19
The Coelacanth Journal
A Taste Of The Kitchen Sink
A Night Of Social Realism with a screening of "A Taste Of Honey" /A performance by Alice Theobald and Design A Wave /Records from The Fifties to The Noughties /Meat Quorn Raffle
Sept 26
12-5pm
STREET STALLS IV

Forthcoming:
Gulpilil the Australian Nureyev!
Ladies Night and Lesbian Gore DJing
Keith Davies' Topless Ping Pong Tournament
Exhibition/Event organized by Cameron Irving
A performance piece organized by Philip Tonda Heide
Reading Dinner hosted by Aki Ilomaki & Helene Nymann

For more information, check the myspace.

The Plague Mass, Rampart - 15/09/09

2009-09-16T14:52:00.006+01:00

The Plague Mass play a blend of metallic hardcore and punk, spread liberally with melodic guitar parts and multi-vocal screams. They are also one of the best of their kind. Sadly, not much of this was apparent last night at the Rampart social centre. Perhaps it was the fault of the preceding three bands and the way the sound was set up for them, as the dire hardcore-by-numbers, tough guy acts certainly seemed to have seeped into the mix somewhere. The vocals seemed slightly too hidden, and the overall sound was a little to muddy to hear clearly the technicality and quirks which make the Plague Mass stand above so many others.

Perhaps this is too harsh. There was a good mix of new and old material, and they lost none of their forceful brutality, it's just a pity something seemed to be missing last night.

On a side note, if you are in a straight-edge hardcore band that sounds like Minor Threat, to cover Minor Threat is probably pushing even the boundaries of cliche to breaking point. Ian Mckaye, and thousands of others will thank you for leaving it off your setlist.

Fish Tank (15)

2009-09-16T11:57:00.000+01:00

Director Andrea Arnold is somewhat of a council estate film specialist, having impressed globaly with Red Road, which was set on gritty Red Road estate in Glasgow, she has now turned to Barking, and gobby newcomer Katie Jarvis. Inbetween nutting ex-best friends, starting arguments with 'pikeys', and bickering with her unhealthily tanned little sister, Jarvis's character 15 year old Mia, lives a lonely, painful life, having no-one to talk to, that would actually listen, or care. That is until her mum's new boyfriend, Connor (played by a well fed Fassbender) comes on the scene, he's interesting, fun, clever and actually seems to care about Mia and her sister. The close relationship between them enhances and we begin to consider Connor's real interest in Mia, and as it becomes dangerous it's questionable whether Connor knew what he was doing or was just intoxicated by the feisty young girl. Did Mia know what was she doing? After over-hearing Connor's private conversations did she set out to ruin him in whatever way she saw fit?

The tone of the film is set wonderfully upon the harsh municipal architecture of the estate, and surrounding Essex areas. The performances are excellent, film gripping and understandable won the Jury Prize Ex-aequo at Cannes this year. Jarvis, who has been widely reported to have been spotted by Arnold after having an argument with her boyfriend at a train station is an unlikely star, not being able to attend the premier as she was at home with her newly born child (fathered by the aforementioned boyfriend), put a lot of her self into the performance, having left home at 16 she could relate to a lot of Mia's character. It's still unknown whether she'll continue acting, which would be a shame, although I would worry that she'd be typecast like I suspect Thomas Turgoose of This Is England fame has been.

The Hurt Locker (15)

2009-09-15T21:20:00.000+01:00

To Say I have no interest in war films is an understatement, I despise them, I don't think I even saw Saving Private Ryan, despite probably having a teen crush on Matt Damon. The Hurt Locker claims to be a war movie for people who don't like war movies, and that is true up to a point - I certainly didn't hate it!

It's 2004 and we are following an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit with the US Army's Bravo Company. Having recently lost their old team leader from a explosive, Sergeant William James takes over. He joins Sanborn (straight laced know-it-all) and Eldridge (nervous young un) who's roles are to communicate with the team leader when he's inside his bomb suit, and provide him with cover when he's inspecting possible bombs. But the new team leader is reckless, doesn't listen to them and seems to have an unhealthy passion for danger, and for bombs. He loses the respect and trust of his colleagues and many heated arguments ensue.
Perhaps the most memorable scene is when there are just two days left on their tour, the team gets called in to assist in a situation where a man has walked into a military checkpoint with a time-bomb strapped to his chest with metal shackles. They can't remove or disarm it, despite the mans panicked screaming and pleading, and are forced to flee before it goes off.

The Hurt Locker gives the viewer a deeper, more understanding insight of what it might be like to serve in Iraq, and actually manages to bring something new to the war film genre. Groundbreaking and award winning though? Not in my eyes.

District 9 (15)

2009-09-15T11:20:00.000+01:00

On the face of it, this film seems to be your average alien film, a huge spaceship has stopped over a large metropolis, aliens come out and havoc ensues. Instead that's not it. For one, that large metropolis isn't Manhattan, or London, it's Johannesburg, and instead of the South African inhabitants running scared and trying to attack the aliens (who of course, would be trying to take over the world), they live in harmony together. That is, until they get fed up of living with them and demand they're moved from the shanty town homes in District 9, to District 10, a more secure unit, further away from the city and civilisation. Wikus Van De Mewre has been put in charge of a government team set to extradite the aliens. During his duties, a freak accidents ends up contaminating him, which after a few grizzly scenes of him sneezing up black blood, begins to transform him into the first alien/human hybrid. Naturally the government are interested in him, not only because he's the first hybrid of this kind, he can use the aliens hi-tech weaponry which until now, no human could use.

The first hour or so of the film is gruesome, and not very nice at all - I was definitely close to leaving but am glad I stuck it out. The film picks up momentum and manages to change from a mocumentary to a more familiar, action film look. This allows the viewer to see bits that a film crew would not be able, and allows the film to flow a lot more coherently. It's pretty powerful and scary at times, but as far as your average alien/sci-fi film goes, there's a lot more to enjoy for the average fan. The film also resonated with Clemens von Wedemeyer's recent exhibition at the Curve Gallery at the Barbican. In the exhibition Wedemeyer discusses the plight of the Tasaday with Cannibal Holocaust director Ruggero Deodato. As with the film, the role of the savage is questionable, is it the wild, ferocious cannibals living in the jungle or the film makers who rape and beat them? Within District 9 are the savages the aliens or in fact the human race who desire to get away from them?

Hama'd

2009-09-01T17:56:00.000+01:00

My sister Queeny and I had a fun night in with the Tudors (rough) and some Hama beads. They are everso easy to make so we did loads. Expect to see them on some jumper/earrings/necklace very soon.

TWIG (38)

2009-08-29T20:38:00.000+01:00

Helga Steppan
See Through - All My Things /red/ (2004)

TREATIES

2009-08-28T15:44:00.005+01:00

Finished this mix cd a few weeks ago and sold the first lot at the Limoncello Summer Fete. Only just had time to upload it! The hard-copies are available for 50p, but if you don't want to pay that you can download it here for free!

TREATIES

Film Reviews 28-08-09

2009-08-28T15:29:00.003+01:00

The Time Travellers Wife (15)
Based on the amazing novel by Audery Niffenberger, The Time Travellers Wife was always going to be a tough film to adapt. Unfortunately for the makers of this film, they got it completely wrong. Turning this film into a chick flick, with alluring advertising and imagery totally doesn't fit the complexity of the book, which can (and still will be I imagine) enjoyed by both sexes.
The complicated storyline focuses on Henry who has a time travelling condition which makes his personal relationships difficult and strained. He meets Clare when he's 26, and she's 21 although the first time she met him was when he was 36 and her 6. Their relationship goes through it's twists and turns and eventually ends in disaster.

I like trashy films as much as the next girl but I have never experience one with such dire acting. Eric Bana is gloriously wooden as Henry and has zero chemistry with Rachel McAdams. I cried my eyes out when I finished the book but was glad to get out of the cinema at the end of the film. Avoid!

St Unicorns Trust

2009-08-25T10:46:00.005+01:00

The St Unicorn's Trust welcome you to join them on a spirtual journey to change your life forever! St Unicorn understands the problems and pressures of modern life and pledge to cleanse and nourish and change your TRUE self. Through meaningful collaboration, love and support, you will ascend to a higher self.
On St Unicorn's Day (September 10th) join founders Patrick and Rose Horne, and other St Unicorn's Trust members you can learn more about the great work they do through a series of workshops; Grinding, Horse Cribbling, Truth Ventriloquism, and Sonic Healing and will culminate in a fun and friendly initiation ceremony.

This will be at Alma Enterprises starting at 5.45pm for a prompt 6.00pm start.

St Unicorn's Trust Website
St Unicorn's Trust Twitter
St Unicorn's Trust Youtube Channel
Patrick Horne Facebook
Rose Horne Myspace

TWIG (37)

2009-08-23T15:15:00.002+01:00

European Junior Championships Indoorcycling 2009
Carla Hochdorfer Henriette Hochdorfer Artistic Cycling Juniors Women Pair, European Champions 2009, 2008

'mazin. And slightly creepy.

New Notebooks!

2009-08-23T14:50:00.001+01:00

Based on a lovely design by Tara Bursey, I have been busy cutting, folding, stitching and making these sweet notebooks.

Using designs from retro record sleeves (Barbra Streisland and Chris De Burgh for me here) the design is simple, and uses the Coptic stitch, which is a time-honoured yet basic book binding technique.

Materials
1 record sleeve
About 30 sheets of a4 paper of your choice
embroidery thread
sewing needle
sharp ended awl (or flat-headed nail)
pair of scissors/stanley knife

Instructions
1. Cut front/back cover, 11cm x 14.85cm.
2. Cut/tear 30 sheets of a4 sized paper in half horizontally and then fold short side to short side. Group into booklets of five sheets. You should end up with six.
3. Poke holes in both covers. 1cm from the left hand side of the cover, mark six points; 1.5cm, 3cm & 4.5cm from the bottom and the same from the top. Pierce carefully with the awl or nail.
4. Open each booklet and mark the same points (1.5cm, 3cm, 4.5cm) and using a sewing needle, pierce the holes. Sanwich the six booklets in between the front and back covers and make sure the holes and booklets line up with eachother.
5. Starting with the first hole at the top of the first booklet, use Coptic stitch to bind the first booklet to the front cover, each booklet to the next, and the back cover to the rest of the bound book.
6. Stick needle through the first hole in the middle of the first booklet, carefully leaving 8cm length of thread inside. Put needle through first hole of front cover and then push needle back through hole it came from in the booklet.
7. Insert needle into the second hole in the first booklet and repeat same process, sticking needle through the outside of the second hole in the cover, between the over and the booklet, and back through the second hole in the booklet you came through. Repeat this until you have stitched all six holes along the first booklet and cover.
8. At the last hole instead of re-inserting the needle back into the final hole in the booklet, insert it into the last hole of a second booklet, directly below the first booklet. Continue stitching back in the other direction in the same manner you treated the first except when you bring the needle up through each hole, loop it around the stitch holding the first booklet to the cover.
9. Repeat the same process until you have reached last booklet. Then attach back cover in the same way as the front.
10. Tie of two ends with double knots to the adjacent stitches.

TWIG (36)

2009-08-19T16:12:00.001+01:00

MC SpandX
'Performance', 2009

Limoncello Summer Fete!

2009-08-18T16:42:00.015+01:00

I had a great time!
Huge thanks to stall holders Poppy Chancellor, Safia El-Dabi, Sanders-Jones and Charlotte Turner, event organisers Peter Georgallou and Frances Dixon and our brilliant band; Rayguns Look Real Enough.

TWIG (35)

2009-08-14T14:53:00.000+01:00

Aaron Ruell
Aaron played Kip in Napolean Dynamite (and was responsible for the intro/credits)!

HRB

2009-08-13T14:44:00.002+01:00

My good friend Hannah Rose Bailey is now blogging over at wordpress. She is a seriously talented poet, and will hopefully be performing at a live art event sometime in October/November alongside some TurnHurst artwork. Check her out!

'Scribbler'

So I scribbled so hard
So hard with my HB pencil that marks
Appeared in the wooden surface below and
Ridges on my fingertips

I thought it would make you go away
But you just turned up on the other side
So I took my WHSmith smooth oval rubber in
My left hand and pressed down hard

If I do it
If I do it
Right hand holding you down, I stroken you firmly away
I watched the grey fleck dot the Xerox paper.

2009-08-12T15:39:00.000+01:00

I will never understand how things like this work. Is it a fake?

Meet Claud!

2009-08-12T11:16:00.000+01:00

This is my new bike, it's a Claud Butler Cavalier and was brought to me by a lovely man called Ray. It should have a different saddle on but the original one was a little out of shape, will hopefully be fixed soon though!

Claud Butler was a club rider who began making frames in South London in the mid 1920's. By 1928 the Inter-War popularity of cycling, and in particular club cycling, Claud Butler was able to open his first shop in Battersea. His success was a result of a number of factors, his cycles were renowned for their innovative features such as bronze-weld construction and "fancy lugs". His flair for self promotion and exuberance helped him to market this superior product. In 1931 his bikes appeared at the cycling World Championships in Copenhagen and this was followed by appearances at subsequent championships and competitions.

He goes everso fast so expect me to be even earlier to events than I normally am!

Bird Watching

2009-08-11T12:20:00.004+01:00

We met this funny looking bird in Steenwijk when we went to TrashFest last month and still can't work out what type it is. They would look all dishelved and follow us about but not really like having their picture taken.

Kingston University 1st Year End of Year Show

2009-08-11T04:23:00.001+01:00

A first year show is a hard thing to review, especially having little knowledge of the artists, the work, and the strange goings on in the Portland Road Studios. I was prepared to be thoroughly flummoxed by a lot of the work. What I ended up feeling was a sense of daring, and challenge created by the students, there was a lot of work on show, displaying the students confidence within their own abilities and talents.

James French

Greeting you at the entrance of the studios is a grotesque water-sculpture by James French It's bit Iza Genzken, a bit Jake and Dinos and a bit Cathy Wilkes, using mannequins is nothing new. Interestingly he has managed to bring something new to the familiar material. Two mannequins, father and child spirt water out of their eyes and other orifices. It totally engages with it's surroundings, and through the continuous movement of the water, has a rhythm and pace to it. In the deary parking lot, next to the bike racks, in the drizzly weather it completes this dark, sinister feel to the work.

Steve Nice - Disco Dancing Trophy of the Outer Universe (2009) / Steve Nice - Untitled (2009)

Steve Nice's triptych of objects; What's Mr Chips Doing Now, Untitled, and Disco Dancing Trophy, seem to act as narrators, or storytellers to the exhibition. They give the viewer a sense of recognition and admist the hoards of people they are friendly, witty creations that allow pauses for contemplation about the work between them. They have similar anti-aesthetic elements as his photography has, they are inherently funny but have a quite, thoughtful, forgotten aspect to them. What's Mr Chips Doing Now (below) is perhaps the most quiet of the pieces, the flamboyant gold creature nestles up to a fire extinguisher staring at a trio of polaroids, of his old friends.

Steve Nice - What's Mr Chips Doing Now? (2009) / Rory Beard - Where Granny Goes (2009)

Rory Beards curious small projection might've been missed on the first time you perambulate the space, luckily I spied it as it had clear resonance to work I saw in NY a few months ago by Tony Oursler. The bare-bones structure pulled no punches, it is what it is.

With the nature of the space, a lot of work is hidden in little nooks and crannies, and may be missed by the unsuspecting viewer. I was really glad to find this gem by (artist unknown) which had a clear nod to ex-Kingston Graduate Stephen Bishop. The neons have been painstakingly painted, and then scratched off to read what appears to be the angry angst prose of an art student.

Sometimes likened to the cosmetic retailer LUSH, the work by (artist unknown) appears at first glance to be colourful, sweet smelling soaps. On closer inspection however instead of petals and 'bath bombs' set inside them there's a range of cigarette stubs, and ash. It's repulsive.

The display of the work was unusual as it had no relationship to the materiality of the actual piece. The piled up soaps on the floor (testers which hadn't been removed I presume) were far more intriguing.

Faye Carrick

One of the stand-out works in the exhibition was Untitled by Faye. A trio of awe-inspiringly crafted slabs of material stand precariously up on end. Not only beautiful to look at, and incredibly created, the work has a resonance that was otherwise lacking from the show. It's calming influence draws the viewer in and demands their full attention. The contrasts between the objects is highlighted in their most brutual of forms. Such a highly skilled piece of modernist work was almost too good for this show, I believe it wouldn't have looked out of place in this years Fine Art Degree Show.

The exhibition shows some very confident work by some very exciting young artists. If I didn't know better I would've never guessed this was work of 1st years!

TWIG (34)

2009-08-11T00:00:00.000+01:00

Aaron Koblin
Extract from 'The Sheep Market', (2008)

The Sheep Market is a collection of 10,000 sheep made by workers on Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Workers were paid 0.02 ($USD) to "draw a sheep facing to the left". Animations of each sheep's creation may be viewed at TheSheepMarket.com

Whilst you're there, check out Aaron's other projects, Ten Thousand Cents and Bicycle Built for Two.

TWIG (33)

2009-08-09T23:56:00.000+01:00

Oxen
Three Keyboard Cat Moon (2009)
Available on a tshirt here

TWIG (32)

2009-08-08T23:52:00.002+01:00

Jill Frank
Stone (2009)

DIY Cake Stands

2009-08-07T17:46:00.009+01:00

After deciding I needed some cake stands for the Fete, and finding none but expensive ones around on the internet I went all DIY with an argos hoover box and glue gun.
I used different sized plates for the circle templates and folded up carboard pyramids for the supports. This one has some crocheted cakes along with some cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery Book. I imagine neither will stay around for long on the day.

Film Reviews 05-08-09

2009-08-05T13:40:00.005+01:00

Moon (15)
It is the near future. Astronaut Sam Bell is living on the moon completing a three-year contract. He has had no live contact with his wife Tess and daughter Eve during this time as the Live communications satelitte is down. He can only send and recieve taped message. His only friend is "Gerty", the base's well intentioned but simple computer.
We meet Sam as his time is almost up and he can travel home and be reunited with his family. Suddenly his health starts to deteriorate, he has headaches, hallucinations and almost dies in a routine drive on the moon in a lunar rover. Whilst resting at the base (with no memory of how he got back there) Sam meets a younger, angrier copy of himself who claims to be there to fulfill the same contract he started three years ago.
Sam has to fight his ever-worsening condition, his conscious of the 'new' Sam and the realisation of why he's up there and what the company want with him.
Directed by Duncan Jones (David Bowie's son) Moon is an incredibly clever, witty, thoughtful film that questions what our plans in life are and what they might be in the future.

Antichrist (18)
Much has been written critically about Antichrist, the new film from 'controversial' Lars Von Triers and I imagine if you're reading this you already know it as the film when the lady cuts off her.... yes and she does and it's gross but the film is much more than gross out horror.
A lot of people are critiquing the film as Von Triers display of hatred towards women, and as he was suffering from depression whilst filming it, it's an excercise for him to release some of his personal feelings. I think the film requires much more thought than this and that's it's far too easy, simplistic description of an incredibly intense, powerful film.
It's dark, mentally taxing, which probably requires much more knowledge than I have about the subjects to write coherently about it but it's really needs to be seen and appreciated for what it is.

Rad Nature

2009-08-02T19:45:00.000+01:00

Perhaps I'm spending too much time at Radical Nature, the latest show at the Barbican Art Gallery, but I can't help loving what Poster Pocket Plants are encouraging people to do across the world. They want to activate public space and introduce nature to the urban environment.

It reminds me very much of the Guerilla Gardening movement, which is spearheaded by Englishman Richard Reynolds who I was lucky enough to hear talk recently. Primarily practised by green-fingered environmentalists or activists, they take over an abandoned piece of land which they do not own to grow crops or plants. They believe in re-considering land ownership in order to reclaim land from perceived neglect or misuse and assign a new purpose to it.

And even more about plants, the Wayward Plant Registry were part of the 'try something different' event at the Barbican last weekend and tucked away in the art gallery a whole gang of neglected, mistreated or forgotten plants looked for new owners. I was lucky enough to be selected to take home Zeus, a Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) from a broken home in Mile End. He was in pretty poor shape when I got him (especially after riding home on the back of my bike) but now he's looking like this and is ever so happy in his new home :) I hope he continues to flourish, he is so lovely.

This work is good XXXI

2009-08-02T15:44:00.002+01:00

Claire Fontaine
Claire Fontaine is a Paris-based collective artist, founded in 2004. After lifting her name from a popular brand of school notebooks (see above, translated to Clear Fountain - Duchamp ref?), Claire Fontaine declared herself a "readymade artist" and began to elaborate a version of neo-conceptual art that often looks like other people's work. Working in neon, video, sculpture, painting and text, her practice can be described as an ongoing interrogation of the political impotence and the crisis of singularity that seem to define contemporary art today. But if the artist herself is the subjective equivalent of a urinal or a Brillo box - as displaced, deprived of its use value, and exchangeable as the products she makes - there is always the possibility of what she calls the "human strike." She grows up among the ruins of the notion of authorship, experimenting with collective protocols of production, détournements, and the production of various devices for the sharing of intellectual and private property.

'Bijoux de famille (Family jewels)', 2009, Crystals, Cat Litter Container

'371 Grand', 2006, Five cast alloy keys from Reena Spaulings Fine Art, New York made using the method of key duplication deployed by the F.B.I.

Frieze Magazine | Claire Fontaine

Kingston University 2nd Year End of Year Show

2009-07-31T17:30:00.000+01:00

This is a round of up of Kingston University 2nd Year Fine Art student's work. Obviously ridiculously late, but some fun work to check out nevertheless.

Madeline Staples

Although not entirely sure what the rabbit made of living in a giant drumstick, it certainly looked cool. The concept of using an animal as art, and blurring the boundaries between it as a pet and as using it as work brings up important ethical issues in my opinion. I am not suggesting the animal wasn't being looked after, the concept of another living creature becoming what you want it to be asks many questions. Similarly to Gail Wights work with mice, I am unsure if it's still fair on the animals to perform. The Wunderkrammer seemed a little contrived, they continuously spring up at degree shows. I am yet to see one which actually is THAT curious.

Kat Johnston

One of the only second year students tackling political themes is Kat Johnston. Her piece visually, was an institutionalized platform with lecturn and neatly pinned up reciepts on the wall. These receipts correspond to work from the University that she has been paid for, in an attempt to earn back her colossal University fees. As of last week she reached her goal.

A big challenge for Johnston is (in her own words), making non-visual work, visual. Her display, teamed with predictably fiesty performance managed to do just that.

Theo Pearson

What you can see is flour with cocoa powder forming the design, pretty cool right? It's neat preciseness and eventual distruction interested me. Even throughout the private view the edges were crumpling and failing. With works like this, and of other similar works is the wow factor, but essentially what bothers me is what happens after this, it's a stunning visual spectacle, but once you have seen the image, and realised what the materials are and pondered how it was created-there seems to be not much else to consider.

Liam Pipe

Liam Pipe managed to create the same aesthetic within his painting with his new sculpture. Causing everybody near it to peer and sniff, the work consists of a glass jar covered with sweets, creating some kind of sinister, naughty child/stranger concept. It's housed in a creepy old mans suitcase, upon an old wooden stool, as if this is some kind of display from some market seller, or from a dodgy sales-type on a dark corner in East London. The light that the work creates adds a warmth, homely aspect to it, which contrasts strangely with the clean, white exterior space of the gallery.

Nathaniel Carey

Nathaniel Carey's piece a simple, paired down, thoughtful investigation. He managed to create a sense of wonder, and of exploration that I am only accustomed to seeing in experienced artists work. I only liken his work to Katie Patterson as she is one of the only artists that is utilising this wonder in the sense of the outside world, and what is out of this world of art that we all seem trapped in.