Tuesday 29 July 2008

Are You being Served? Exhibition.

Before I started my new job at Tribal, I managed to squeeze in a quick exhibition at the Bethnal Green museum of Childhood. As well as housing a large collection of dolls, toys and childhood memorabilia (remember Strawberry Shortcake!), the space at the front hosts exhibitions of local artists. The current one on show entitled Are you being Served is a collection of photographs by Tom Hunter, portraying the variety and communities of local shops in Hackney and Bethnal Green. All shot front on, to give the viewer the idea of what they may see if they were to be served by the subjects, it is fascinating to see them all as a collection. Yes, as individual images they are intriguing, but it is by seeing the whole series that you really get a feel for the area and the people that inhabit it. The shops give a hint as to the cultural mix of people that are drawn to theses areas and the services or products required. You also get a sense of which shops have staying power or may have been passed down through generations, even those not stopping.
What I liked about them was the great sense of human presence and activity within sometimes a very small space.

Santogold music video

Continuing the paper cut-out theme, santogold have done a beautiful video with folding paper people. Not sure who made it - anyone?

Tuesday 15 July 2008

My own craftywork


While I wait for the final publication of the book I worked on at Langland, I thought I'd put up an element of it that I worked on, that wasn't my usual art direction. This, I carefully handmade with hundreds of sequins and some beading. It will be form part of the pages in the upcoming book 'Stop and Smell the Stilton', aimed at oncologists who deal with terminal cancer patients. It is then aimed at the patients to give them a positive take on their remaining months, once the initial shock of the diagnosis has set in. The book will make more sense once I put up the final piece, due out at the end of July.

Paper Cuts to Love




Here's some beautiful work by paper artist Rob Ryan who makes all sorts of intricate designs just from cutting out paper. Upon first look it is just 2d illustration, then you see the shadows and really appreciate the handiwork. Rob has created works for window displays, record covers, and book designs. Can't say anymore really, just check out his site!

Wednesday 9 July 2008

It's Rainham sheds!

Just watching this makes me drool over sheds. "According to all sources the prices are low" Genius.

http://www.rainhamsheds.co.uk/

Found on Karma blog.