Category: PEOPLE

ANNE BLACK

20/11/2014

FOUND IN MILAN

Behind this quality Scandinavian ceramic design is Anne Black. Based in Copenhagen Denmark, she runs her Anne Black brand, and concept store Black. Lovingly hand crafted in Vietnam, her ceramic collections have a soft, organic sensibility. Working with "handmade passion" Anne Black ceramics have found their way into retail stores in Europe, Asia, US, Australia and New Zealand. "Love what you have and you'll have more to love" are words playing on their website introduction and I wonder whether this was the basis of their expansion. They really seem to be able to create volume without losing any of the hands on care, precision and individuality. The pastel colours and muted tones have such a gentle and soothing appeal.

ANNE BLACK / Gammel Kongevej 105, 1850 Frederiksberg C, DenmarK / +45 35 10 73 27 / www.anneblack.com
Images: ℅ Anne Black website & Google images

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GILBERT & GEORGE

18/9/2014

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Gilbert and George, artists and self named "human sculptors."

The backdrop and inspiration for much of their work is the East End of London where Gilbert & George have lived and worked for over 40 years. I don't blame them. I'm staying literally minutes away from their house, and I can't get enough of the area either! How do I know where they live? Well by chance my friend Maurice told me. "Oh I see them wandering around all the time, they just live down there you know!" Of course I couldn't resist and insisted he show me. It's a two storey Victorian house. All the shutters were closed bar one with a golden glow coming from a dim light, and Maurice said "Oh they'd be out eating somewhere, they didn't see the point in having a kitchen at home, so are out for every meal!"

I went to their current exhibition at White Cube in South East London. Wow talk about statement pieces. They are all absolutely enormous and pack quite a punch. Their trademark format is the large grid, a square or rectangular picture broken into sections that becomes a unified field of signs and images. They believe that everything is potential subject matter for their work, and they have always addressed social issues, taboos and artistic conventions.

‘Our subject matter is the world. It is pain. Pain. Just to hear the world turning is pain, isn’t it? Totally, every day, every second. Our inspiration is all those people alive today on the planet, the desert, the jungle, the cities. We are interested in the human person, the complexity of life.’
Gilbert & George

WE ARE ONLY HUMAN SCULPTORS
We are only human sculptors in that we get up every day, walking sometimes, reading rarely, eating often, thinking always, smoking moderately, enjoying enjoyment, looking, relaxing to see, loving nightly, finding amusement, encouraging life, fighting boredom, being natural, daydreaming, travelling along, drawing occasionally,
talking lightly, tea drinking, feeling tired, dancing sometimes, philosophising a lot, criticising never, whistling tunefully, dying very slowly, laughing nervously, greeting politely an waiting till the day breaks.
Gilbert & George 1970

GILBERT & GEORGE / currently - White Cube Bermondsey 144 - 152 Bermondsey Street, London / +44 207 930 5373
Images: ℅ White Cube website, Google images

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LEE BROOM

17/9/2014

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Look what I found. Lee Broom. He's just 38 years old and one of the UK’s leading product and interior designers. His meteoric rise has seen him dubbed “the pin up of British manufacturing” by The Times.

Lee Broom founded his own label in 2007 and designs, manufactures and retails his own collections, collaborates with other brands and designs unique interiors. The importance of the manufacturing process is integral to Broom’s philosophy. A supporter of British manufacturing techniques, Broom works closely with specialist traditional craftsman from the initial concept to final production runs. All of this is very evident when you view his product range.

He has won more than 20 awards including the ELLE Decoration British Design Award for Crystal Bulb in October 2012 and ‘Designer of the Year 2011/ 2012’ at the British Design Awards in November 2011. Lee Broom products are now retailed in stores in over 30 countries. Following the launch of his collection ‘Salon’ ,The Guardian said that “Lee Broom is to furniture what Marc Jacobs or Tom Ford are to fashion”

LEE BROOM STORE / Electra House, 95 Rivington Street, London / +44 (0)20 7820 0742 / www.leebroom.com
Images: ℅ Lee Broom website

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ELIXIR FESTIVAL - KnowBody

14/9/2014

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Sometimes you see a performance that really touches you. Last night I went to KnowBody, part of the Elixir Festival at Sadler's Wells in Islington. KnowBody is a dance performance that celebrates the lifelong creativity and legacy of older artists, all over 60, and many of whom have returned to the stage from retirement after 20 years or more. It's a beautiful mix of beauty, grace, joy, humour and wisdom.

There was a series of short performances. All left me with more than the simple joy of the performance. I am left thinking about life, the lifecycle, priorities, purpose. I felt their subtle messages as they explored movement, age, and change, and am left pondering.

The basis of happiness? As young adults we are passionate about finding a career, we are focused and work diligently towards this, just as these dancers did. This one thing…career… will end. If our joy is attached to that, then aren't we setting ourselves up for a great sense of lose later in our lives? We need to find joy in all things. A pure constant joy that remains unaffected by circumstance. It reminds me that every day is as important as the next, regardless of my work, circumstances or age. I am reminded to love it all, and make sure all my days are filled with the people who make me smile and my heart sing. Thank you Company of Elders for your subtle yet powerful message.

ELIXIR FESTIVAL - KNOWBODY / Sadler's Wells - Rosebery Ave, London / www.sadlerswells.com
Images: ℅ Google images

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OLIVER RATH - Photographer

21/8/2014

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Wow wow wow. Just discovered the work of photographer Oliver Rath. He has a gallery next door to where I'm staying and I immediately recognised his work. I've been admiring it for 2 days in my hotel lobby! Bold, sexy yet humorous. Love love love!

I've done some reading and it seems I am not alone in my instant and immediate admiration of his work. I've read his biography and completely agree with descriptions such as "Hedonistic" "broken" "mischievous" sometimes with "biting honour" "hard language" "without compromise" "impression maximisation" and the result stunning in every sense of the word. Love it.