DES RES @ nla

Blood on Paper

@ V&A 15 April - 29 June 2008 link


An exhibition about the art of books. Some individual creations, , some mass produced pamphlets which excel in creativity of layout or form. An art gallery experience, it's not one to one with the viewer only with the creator- look don't touch, don't turn the page!

'Today images and texts are increasingly dematerialised and delivered electronically from the virtual world of the computer onto the screen..... the book is a physical object and an idea' (Blood on Paper Pamphlet)

The books which stood out to me include:
Anish Kapoor
'Wound'

'From the troubling concept of a cut into organic material, a gash on the human body, he creates a powerful meditative structure'(Blood on Paper Pamphlet)

Cai Guo-Qiang

The Danger Book series- books which threaten to explode when opened

'a perpetual challenge to the reader to resist consummation by destruction'

(Blood on Paper Pamphlet)

The exhibit includes one of the bomb books and a video of the process

Anselm Kiefer

The Secret life of plants- 'recalls the outlines of constellations, the heavens and the plants. These represent the earths beginnings and the eternal process of transformation.'(Blood on Paper Pamphlet)

This book stands in the entrance of the exhibition, as tall as an adult and made from lead, its surface is textured and worked, it has presence as a sculpture that viewers seek to draw meaning from.

The Cans Festival. 05.05.08

Under the arches of waterloo bridge 28,544 people got togeather to spray. Banksy and many other 'biggies' created amongst the masses:
click for more info on the cans festival

A dramatic SNOG:

Advertising the DEGREE SHOW:

Jean Pouvre @ Tate & Design Museum

Jean Pouvre's Tropical Maison is currently outside the Tate Modern. The tropical maison is a prefabricated house designed in the 1950's, it is made from sheet steel panels and fitted with sliding aluminium wall panels. Prouvre beleived in mass production of building components and funiture and all the components are flat, light and less than 4m wide for economy of manufacture and easy of construction.
Incorporated blue glass port holes protect against UV Rays The Design museum has a partnering exhibtion which shows Jean Prouves other work, he was an engineer primarily, and an architect/ furniture designer as a result. Architects such as Richard Rodgers still draw inspiration from his work. Function comes first and his various works are unfrilly, neccesities, the arches in the picture below are repeated in numerous designs.

White Cube. Anthony Gormley

The white cube off Masons Yard could be the exhibition itself, its fab!

Gormleys Lost horizon is exhibited on the ground floor of the white box. It comprises of the 32 solid Iron body forms which previously animated London's skyline in the 'Event Horizon' exhibition (see previous blogg entry) , they are placed throughout the space standing abruptly, suspended horizontally. Those attatched to the ceiling seem weightless, those grounded don't. One must weave and duck through them for human and inhumane encounters. Each figure has presence when looking at them too long its awkward like you're staring at someone!

'Here the haptic field that acts directly on the body of the viewer' (press release) Our 1.5m comfort zone is broken as you walk through the art work.

The stairs in the White cube are dramatic- next to them the facade is glass to the floor so, decending underground the bright white granite floor outside becomes eye level.
The stair case takes you into the exhibition 'Firmament', a sculpture, alike a celestial constellation . I got lost following the patterns which 30 by 30 mm mild steel tubing made, as it collected into a mass and dwindled in arms to the edge of the room. Firmament is constructed of 1770 steel elements and again impedes on personal space and has a direst relationship with the viewer. 'In this exhibition the viewer is asked to re-adjust continually their relationship with the field as they navigate through it'(press release) 'its form disolves and resolves throuought the gallery. Like a map of space bronging our awareness to the white box's capacity.'(press release)
Gormely's cast Iron figures have visual similarities to Frinks aluminium cast people.

Flying Figures Shaftsbury square:


'Frinks forms defy categorisation and merge human, bird and animal characteristics.'

Frinks sculptures are sureal as they are busy doing things, yet so static- they have less presence and relationship with the viewer than Gormleys people.

Open City Exhibition

This is a must see, analyse and go back to, and spend hours in.... exhibit! It showcases ideas for an improved London for pedestrians in a wonderfully innovative displays encompassing masses of information. The strategies are easily digested and it's a exciting to see the work of the pro's including MUFF, MJP Architects, Witherford Watford Mann Architects, and Gross Max.

I have outlined some of the information from the exhibit for anyone who missed it and for my own reference:

Now is ' a change in political and cultural climate caused a remarkable urban renaissance.'

London is 'A Patchwork of different neighbourhoods each with its own identity.'

Artwork a collage of public views on how to improve London's public realm:

The exhibition shows possibilities for unlocking the potential of Lon dons Public Places and Streets, acknowledging the charm of hidden moments and surprises whilst recognising the need to collaborate far and wide to improve accessibility, the hidden, and connections. Strategies cover large scale change, transport corridors and gateways, blue ribbon network, green space, access to nature, public space, small things everywhere, prospects and panorama's.

'London bristles with barriers, railings and spikes.' 'The ring of steel around the City.' (Edwin Heathcote)

In our fight to tackle antisocial behaviour in urban areas we have crammed the streets with clutter and signs forbidding and restricting, often having an adverse effect on behaviour.

Pedestrians prevail

The 1960's car based approach to planning has led to the need to re- address the balance between pedestrian, cyclists and cars- aim is to increase the amount of infrastructure which is for the human scale.

The River

The City to sea path capitalise upon the investment of the East End Thames public spaces connected to the Olympics. It will extend the Thames path to the end of the estuary- NICE!

Projects and Practices:

Victoria Embankment by MJP Architects

is littered with gardens, monuments and memorials, it has a rich history, yet cars rule- and it is not as well used as its moulded partner- the south bank. MJP Architects have considered all the layers of the landscape rigorously; transport, history, pedestrians, overview, sound scape, landscape, environment, the string of beads (meaning important buildings along Victoria Embankment) and public art. Their design is widening the path next to the river and introducing a tree scattered walkway.

Potters Field Park by Gross Max

AKA big news! Another public space for the South bank a place to take a break and for public events, for views of the Tower of London , the Thames and the city skyline. The 'green oasis' contrasts to the paved areas of the Scoop which was developed as a part of 'More for London', it sits next to the GLA building.
The exhibition hosts some really seductive plans and elevations by Gross Max, and I look forward to the planting area designed by the fabulous Piet Oudolf to flourish.

I like the movement patterns and parallel edges with different speed zones i.e river, pedestrian walkway, park out skirts, park centre, then planting towards the back.

The Bankside Urban Forest by Witherford Watford Mann Architects

'The emphasis is not on beautification, but rather how the public realm can 'work harder' and be occupied and shared by more different players, more ages.'

They are rigorous and thorough with their approach, the images are inviting and they cover every influence both existing and predicted for the urban forest. The scheme creates lively, pedestrian friendly places through planting, lighting and landscaping.

Labelling and zoning, Layers of the Landscape : pedestrian movement, urban interior, land use- dominant, -day/night, institutional players, local networks, hidden places, places of exchange- bringing people into contact, seeds of framework, spreading roots, maturing of framework

Rides- straight routes alike cutting through royal hunting forests

Streams- oldest pathways and roads

clearings- places people navigate to to sit and read, meet or eat.

Barking Town Center By Muf

click for MUF

Stephen Walters & Magical Maps

Below is walters map of Kingston
Stephen Walters fantastic maps! They depict the london landscape through human meaning and sybolism of the past and present. The following map is a special edition print made for the subteranea V&A exhibition covering the exhibition row in west Kensington.

They are addictive and one gets easily lost in an intricate web of words and symbols!

According to the V & A website:

'map is ever the truly objective description of a place that it purports to be. Every map is shaped and coloured by political, cultural and social conditions, and by the personal experience or imaginative projections of its maker.'

Please click for: Stephen Walter's website

Late Night at the V&A. Friday 28th March.

The V&A is open late every Friday, at the end of each month is hosts a range of talks and exhibitions, March 2008 was themed Subterranea,

I managed to see a lot of the V&A due to its maze of rooms to navigate around! Here's more about the interresting events:

The new V&A tunnel commission is 'Seasons through the Looking Glass' Tunnel by CJ Lim of Studio 8 Architects,


White T-shirts are rolled up to become roses amongst corregated cardbord panels. They will be painted with the seasons, the exhibition is accompanied by a passage from Alice and wonderland connecting the idea of painting roses and being under ground and giving the 'sculpture' narative.

apparantly it is a 'multi-sensory invention exploring the spatial possibilities of a subterranean garden space'
After a talk by CJ Lim the public were invited to play!

'Nighthaunts'National Art Library

'Join a reading by Sukhdev Sandhu, from his recent book 'Nighthaunts', an exploration of nocturnal London and a reflection on the nature of the urban night. Accompanied by music by sonic artist Scanner.'

The eerie and intimate ambience of the Victorian Library lended itself perfectly to this reading, the lights were out and we were able to drift in and out of a story about working in the unnatural underground of Londons sewers. An environemtn people overground try to forget, where engravings in the walls 'street art' are gradually filled in with shit, as if nobody was ever there. mmm!

Various visits & Inspirations

Could the comforable bean bag sofas become temporary street furniture?
Architectural website

Tag fine arts website
Although the art work in this online gallery is fantastic, it lacks the sense of place one gets when at a gallery, the feeling of looking at work for a snap shot of time, when people have to get everything they can out of the viewing because thats the only chance to.

It is all verywell to buy work as an investment, take Banksy for an example, however much more exciting is his work when you come accross it by chance of old street, than when it lines the walls of living rooms and art fairs,

Banksy Exhibition (actually an art fair as the peices were privately owned and most were for sale) & Andipa Gallery's, Knightsbridge.
March 25th 08.



I love the magic of the breif encounters, the clever, controversial, 'propaganda' messages which create a reaction in the many viewers.Banksey's work didn't seem at home in the gold plated frames in the luxurious Antipa galleries with heafty price tags looming.



Click here for beautiful pics!

I find construction is facinating, making a whole out of millions of parts. It doesn't get much simpler than this:
container homes

The White Cube

http://www.whitecube.com/exhibitions/da_wc_hs/
Moons of the Iapetus Ocean & 'Infinite in- betweens'
18 Jan—23 Feb 2008

Moons of the lapetus ocean is a series of landscape photographs which distort the reverse the patterns of movement, many are based around water, the water looks calm and undisturbed and the surrounding landscape looks as if in rugged motion, the growth of the landscape is speeded up and the movement of the water is stopped.
'a kind of fog of knowing and unknowing, revealing and concealing.' (Brian Dillon in catalogue essay) 'waterfalls and gushing lakes become pools of static steam' (press release at gallery)

'Infinite between's'-The title refers to the Buddhist vision of relativity of all beings and all things, the space between two breaths, we always occupy an in between state that is never ending and infinite.

The exhibition is a series of photographs which are woven layers of traditional prayer flags in Tibet, which were hung in layers over a photograph of mountain ridges, as the layers build up, a 3d effect is created and confronts the viewer with infinite perspectives.

The White Cube

Sketch

Click for a fab flash website
'sketch is pleased to present the first of two screening programmes conceptually focused around the films of Charles & Ray Eames from the 1950s to the 1980s. A New Stance for Tomorrow: Part 1 will concentrate on imaginings and innovations in architecture and the built environment and will explore the relationship of these disciplines to how space is designated and inhabited. The artists, designers and filmmakers included in the exhibition span from the 1950's to now and in different ways dissolve the boundaries between art, architecture and design whilst creating experimental imaginings and explorations for positive propositions for the future.'

The exhibition room is laid out with 20 comfortable white leather sofas- perfect for a gallery day! A film about the plastic spaceship house like a spider and a butterfly- inthat it was stable and could be transported to any landscape via helicopter. I liked the design- despite the implications of living in plastic and sreeing a spaceship as home, however it did not take off according to the video because the ladies of the 1960's wanted more storage space!

“Futuro represents the modern, comfortable way of housing–practical coziness. Futuro is the dwelling of the future.” (1968 brochure)

The toilets at Sketch are an exhibition!

Waterfront London+ NLA

30th Jan 2008

Mark Bensted , London Director of Canals gave a breakfast talk this morning as part of the Waterfront London Exhibition.

The canal system connects to the Thames in 4 places, a number of canal villages have sprung up around the water network, to name a few Kentish town, Camden, Kings cross etc. Once for Trade, now for leisure and recreation the canal villages are undergoing regeneration continuously. Within this regeneration Mark Bensted calls for quality integration, the residential apartments should connect to the river systems and people who live there should be involve the water and its many uses in everyday life, he is against developments which simply gaze over the water.


Argent are establishing an eight million sq ft mixed use development along Kings Cross Regents canal and have agreed to improve networks from Camden to Islington encouraging use of the towpaths. Linking the new development with locals and bringing everybody to the attention of the canal.

Interestingly transport for London operates and manages 8 piers on the Thames, there is a subsidised multi stop commuter service. The problem with this is that the 4mph speed limit in central London is a similar speed to walking, I know I would usually opt for the free exorcise!

Though Elephants were brought to London Zoo via Regents canal, the system is not currently adequate to transport large vessels continuously. However headway is being made with a new lock at The lower lea valley Olympic site.The Prescott Lock which will control water levels allowing 1.75m tonnes of construction materials to be brought via barge, potentially taking 170,000 lorry journeys off local roads. The Olympic site is surrounded by water and the event has catalyst for the development of a Major new park for London. The transformation of a working landscape into a new public realm. The park will finally be developed into a 26mile linear park between Hertfordshire and the River Thames at Blackwell! The park will reflect the areas provisioning identity whilst using sustainable cycles. It will be refreshing and is necessary as the next decade will see a new 20,000 dwellings being built in the area.

Henri Moore at Kew gardens

Kew Gardens is always a pleasure. Its South Eastern corner, Victoria gate entrance, is formal in the landscape gradually relaxes towards the North Western corner where a wild conservation area lies behind protective 'do not enter signs'. There are many attractions en route, including

Stag beetle loggery, Rhododendron Dell, Bamboo garden, badger sett- this is an interactive 'be a badger installation', its fun and gets everybody interested and engaged.

as . The woods here are managed as a nature reserve and native plants and animals are encouraged, using traditional methods and management techniques such as coppicing. Kew also grows many non native species including Sweet Chestnut coppice's. Bluebells flourish in the spring and among the birds that can be seen are tawny owls, blue and great tits, sparrowhawks and green woodpeckers. The area also supports many insects, including rare hover flies.

the redwood grove is striking in age (Many of the redwoods are 150 years old) and colour and attracts the most beautiful exotic birds.

Ancient, dwindling specimens conserved with railings, the railings are ugly but strangely increase interest

The current Henri Moore exhibition is a bonus

click this link

I feel the sculptures sat in the Bretton Hills of the Yorkshire Sculpture park more fittingly, where they have more space. The large sculptures at Kew seem a crammed and plonked in, as do some of the attraction landscapes. I think the sculptures should have been placed further apart across the entire site rather than being bunched togeather in a formal area near the Victoria gate.


However the exhibition attracted people to Kew who might not have gone otherwise whilst offering Londoners and tourists a unique opportunity to see the world famous work in a world famous botanical setting. The combination is enticing.

Focus on FILM

After the trials of making a mini food movie I am hungry to know more about moving image. The experiment proved that sharing knowledge is vital- editing software is quite simple, but alike Photoshop & illustrator- there are things you need to be told about. A Tripod is useful too!

History of Film:
The Kingston museum hosts an exhibition about Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904). Mugbridge invented the zoopraxiscope in 1879 which was one of the earliest movie projecters. The Zoopraxiscope works in a similar to todays Stop motion technique of film making, or even the Flick book. In that a series of still images are lined up to create the illusion of movement.

Click for the 'Walking as Art' website Fabulous!

click for wikipidia's history of Film

Film As Art
In the 1920's Artists began to experiment with the medium as an extention to their paintings.

The four short films on show at the Avant Gard exhibition at the British Library are fantastic & vivid, they are soundless so one concentrates fully on the "paintings" the use of tone is so considered & vivid, startling white against deep black. The films experiment with Slow motion, overlaying images, distortion of object &orientation . They are also documentations of the world at that time. Ballet Mechanique byLa Fernand Leger & Dudley Murphey - enquires into weight, gravity what should be is not. Entr'acte by Rene Clair remained me of Top Gear- it was about a race though the city of Paris & displayed the transport used to get around- it was a race between runners, beautiful cars, cyclists, planes boats, a man in a cart & trains. The Video Medium gave artists the opportunity to convey speed



The original Avant Gard movement was put to an end in the 1930's due to Nazi & Stalanist persecution. Film & broadcasting replaced the dominant medium for communication film became solely a means of education, indoctrination, cultural expression & communication.
Film is now used for all of these things & is once again considered as art.
The Avant Gard exhibition was mainly about the printed medium . 'In 1900b 14% of the worlds poopulation lived in Cities- they provided an escape from the illiteracy & traditional hierarchy's of the countryside, leisure, money, film, exhibition, theatre & printing Presses & publishers.' quoted from a display board at the exhibition. Visual poetry was a n idea not only of choosing the brimming words, but by writing them in expressive ways, beautiful.

must see


In the 1970's Avant Gaurd had a second wind



The Serpentine is showcasing the work of Anthony McCall.

He experiments with light & in the 1970's he created videos exploring film & the landscape, the movement of the landscape & through it with materials such as fire.


'Originally, McCall saw the work as means of deconstructing film by breaking the medium down to its basic components of time and light. Those who first saw it would certainly have placed it with the minimalist art of the period,'......
Because of the demand & popularity of his ideas McCall came back recently to experiment further
'A mesmerising 'sculpture' made of light provides one of the most sublime experiences of the year,' says Richard Dorment in the Telegraph 'Though these responses are of course still valid, nowadays it will also be experienced sensuously, as a spectacle and as an environment, much as British audiences were swept away by the glass chamber lit by fluorescent light and filled with thick clouds of steam that Anthony Gormley showed at the Hayward Gallery last summer.'
I couldn't have put it better myself, the Blind Light exhibition & McCalls light beams give an unprecedented (to my mind) sensory experience, one cannot take a picture of the experience, however one will never forget it.
A quote from sounds of London at Avant Guard exhibition:
'Never eaten a meal thats dramatic without the rest being problematic'
applies to the fantastic tantalising films:

( If you watch Tompopo- highly recommended- have some noodles in the cupboard!)

love food making Words to describe the thought of food: tantalise, adore, entice, aroma, tingle, burn, full

New Designers Selection 20-23 September 2007

click image's to read

Love it !

The Crack

The Tate Modern was commissioned in 1947 as a power station to reconstruct post-war London. Labour migration increased at the same time increasing London's Multicultuality

'The history of racism, running parallel to the history of modernity & its untold dark side' .....'By digging beneath the surface, Salcedo reconnects the building to its colonial & post colonial histories, to the operations of power & the ideological creation of artificial notions of difference & otherness.'
Text from Tate Leaflet