Maps is a Mercury nominated group fronted by James Chapman. Tonight him and one other on synthesizers. Red stage lighting and dry ice. The back room of the Portland Arms looks like a Hamburg strip joint, I imagine. Small and smokey. Looked and sounded great. BBC Radiophonic Workshop meets Soft Cell’s Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. Read More >
I met Ilsa Parry for a coffee in Portobello Road this morning. Last week she won Design For Life, the BBC television series in which twelve product designers competed for a position at Philippe Starck’s studio. Ilsa’s designs are accessible with a playful distinctiveness. Read More >
I watched my copy of Gary Hustwit’s latest design related film last night (the free tote bag by Build has been in active service for over a week now). His first film, Helvetica, was about graphic design and visual communication. Objectified looks at the objects that surround us and talks to the people who design them. Read More >
I noticed the stack of perfectly polished speheres when at White Cube a couple of weeks ago. The courtyard is a great spot for it with the classical architecture of the Royal Accademy on all sides and framed by the entrance arch as you walk along Piccadilly. Read More >
At the Whitechapel Gallery. The exhibition is based around a letter sent by a man to his girlfriend ending their relationship. Calle asked a variety of individuals to write a response – Read More >
Exchanged emails with Michal Chelbin this evening. Found Chelbin’s work thanks to the National Portrait Gallery’s Taylor Wessing Photography Prize. These images from the “Strangely Familiar” series shot in Ukraine. Read More >
Met Charlie Troman in his studio this morning – a vaulted brick barn in nearby Little Walden. He has a broad portfolio with fashion editorial work for clients including Bentley, Aston Martin and Sunseeker. Read More >
From an article in Design Observer on the work of Justin Partyka, currently on show at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich. Read More >
Portuguese, Lisbon based, artist working since the 70′s. Series of self referential photographic images. Not self-portraits, more using herself as a material and performing as a character. Read More >