Barry Cawston

The Books

Barry Cawston. Much of Barry Cawston's photography has both sociological and architectural elements and is why work for charities form the core of his photographic commissions. He travelled to Napoli to photograph an old building before it was torn down. Gorgeous colors and light. Although it is not about nature, makes us feel a sense of sublimity and fragility of life. Also about loosing the past and time, the end of print and other traditional methods of record keeping.

Micheal Stubbs for the Home

London Art Fair, Laurent Delaye Gallery Saville Row from a series of 8. VIRUS PRINTS. Silk screen prints with layers of lovely dense ink, gorgeous translucent effect. And they are affordable thanks to the recession...

Ceal Warnants

Warnants’ prints, and the books from which they come, are a response to childhood, as it seems to exist today. One reminisces about childhood as a Blyton-esque story: romanticised and idyllic. Quickly one glosses over the angst and growing pains. Today's children are not allowed such innocence. Juxtaposing old and new, sweet and unsavoury, these digital prints are sugar-coated in a classic style to make this, only slightly exaggerated, reality easier to swallow.

Stories for Bedtime

In 2006, the body of work ‘Stories for Bedtime’ was seized at a show by Hampshire's Criminal Investigations Department as it was alleged that the book had broken seven points of the law, including the Obscene Publications Act 1964 and The Indecent Displays Act 1959. However, the work was later released by the Crown Prosecution Service, without charge. Currently Warnants is working on the second title in the series, ‘On British Youth’.

I liked Shotgun Clare so much I took her home.

Frieze 2009 Highlights

It seemed Frieze was playing it safe this year. There were no big installations or sculptures filling up the big spaces. I mentioned to Sophia that they can't play it safe and have brilliance at the same time. So, out went the brilliance and in came the regurgitation of every artist known to sell, or emerging artists that didn't go as far as shocking but still tried to find out how to become a visionary. They even stooped as low to play on the public's heartstrings, showing several paintings of Michael Jackson- including the famous Jeff Koontz one with Bubbles... but Michael was all painted out black. That was a painfully obvious thing to do.

It was crowded; so hopefully that is a sign the market is on a rebound. Sophia (literally) ran into Gwenith Paltrow and we saw Valentino too.

It typical art we have seen at all the fairs: Anish Kapoor, Barry Flanagan, Marc Quinn, Ed Ruscha, Tracy Emin, Damien Hirst, Alex Katz, Julian Opie, Cindy Sherman, Jeff Wall, .... to name a few. A newspaper I picked up said the top 5 selling artists (or artists that the market has the most confidence in) were Gerhard Richter, John Baldessari, Bill Viola, Anish Kapoor, and Cindy Sherman.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Definitely the VIP lounge and the canapes and (virgin) cocktails were a highlight!
2. Got a name for you of some great collage work: Raphael Danke, 33 yr. old working out of Berlin. Shows at Sorcha Dallas Gallery in Glasglow. Sophia really liked one, but it was sold....
3. We saw one Wangechi Mutu collage that was big and dark.
4. There was a cool Marilyn Minter photo-painting of a model's feet soaked in silver paint.
5. There was a wonderful piece (didn't get the name of the artist) where a cast of a homeless person's torso (covered in a blanket) was the footing for a coffee table. the table was obviously to be used for the many glasses of champagne at the fair.
6. White Cube was one of the best booths, though a bit standard.

Some photos of things I liked:

Life-size bunny-man covered in pearls covered with a sheet. First image

There seemed to be a bit green-themed work. Another safe bet... but good to see the art world using their voice for the important things. This one was particularly powerful (and large). Second image.

by Paige Bradley

fallen princesses-dina goldstein

Last week's the Sunday Times-Dina Goldstein's photos place classic fairy tale characters into dark modern day situations. The "happily-ever afters" we all know are replaced by tragic conclusions and the Fallen Princesses find themselves facing the harsh realities of the 21-century. Snow White lives in a domestic nightmare, Little Riding Hood is obese and addicted to junk food. Aladdin's Princess Jasmine fights on the front line and the Little Mermaid is trapped in the aquarium tank.

musubi aoki

Welcome to Musubi Musubi World! Japanese prop maker, artist, stylist & art director. musubi