Sat 26th March: Revisiting SHOWstudio's Leigh Bowery/Nick Knight Print Competition Winners

Leigh Bowery 26 March 1961 – 31 December 1994

Today marks what would have been the 50th birthday of Leigh Bowery. To celebrate the legacy of an incredible creative force, I am looking at the monumental moment that touched down from the angels looking after my destiny. That milestone was being granted the gift of an original Nick Knight print of a Leigh Bowery portrait. In 2004 Simon Foxton waved a magic wand as judge on a SHOWstudio "Guiser" competition and chose 4 entries to each receive an iconic giant artwork. I will explain more of my own thoughts later, but I'll start with another story, having located and contacted 2 other winners to find out where their print is now and what it means to them..........

First to divulge an update on their particular print is Miguel Jacob from Toronto, Canada ..........

Dear Fred,

The photograph that I submitted for the Leigh Bowery/Nick Knight Print Give-Away organized by SHOWstudio is called "Household Fame" and it features my older brother Luis Jacob, a very well-respected artist who has shown at the Guggenheim in New York. It was my brother Luis who introduced me to the work of Leigh Bowery years earlier and who was excited to participate in this project. For me, being an avid fan and admirer of the work of Nick Knight and of SHOWstudio, it was a great opportunity to possibly win one of these iconic prints. Probably like the other winners, I was pleasantly surprised and excited to have been chosen.
Once I received the print, which in my opinion happened to be the most outrageous of the lot, I sent it to the framers and placed it on the wall of my old apartment. As a professional fashion photographer just beginning his career, the image of Leigh Bowery served as a constant visual reminder to push my own boundaries in producing original and thought-provoking work.
In 2008, my brother Luis, along with Pan Wendt, curated a show entitled "Funkaesthetics" and asked if the photograph could be included in the exhibition. Naturally, I said "yes". These are two photos from the exhibition at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery in Toronto, Canada:




In addition to the Nick Knight print, the gallery exhibited an original Leigh Bowery costume (on the right), as well as a copy of my December/January 1987 "The Happy Issue" i-D Magazine (on the left). Following the exhibition in Toronto, the photograph travelled to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island where it was shown at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery.
Last month, I decided to reframe the print and opted on an ornate gold frame. Needless to say, I am eager to bring this piece into my newly purchased home at the end of next month.

Thank you for letting me share the story of my Leigh Bowery photograph.

Sincerely,
Miguel Jacob
www.migueljacob.com

Sat 26th March: Japan Relief Fund Sale - Sun 27th March at WAH! Nails

Sharmadean Reid and Grace Ladoja have gone a giant leap further than just picking up the phone to pledge money to The Red Cross by donating their time to organising a Japan Relief Fund Sale down at WAH Nails on Sunday. As they have activated such an altruistic endeavour, I think that those of us in London can help support by either volunteering our services to by dropping off designs or attending to purchase..........

"The massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March has caused widespread destruction and suffering, relayed on television screens around the world. So to help, we are hosting a huge sale this Sunday 27th March to raise money for the British Red Cross who are helping the Japanese people recover from this devastating natural disaster over the coming months and years.
100% of ALL MONEY RAISED WILL GO TO CHARITY."

So far the girls have accumulated original samples given from Kim Jones, Duffy Jewellery, CassettePlaya, Nike, prints by MYSTERIOUS AL and even this Terry Richardson poster of Gaga. If that's not enough to get you breaking open your piggy bank, there is also the offer of discount WAH nails and Bleach dip dye!

They will be selling:

MENSWEAR, WOMENSWEAR, NEW AND VINTAGE CLOTHES, SHOES, BOOKS, RECORDS, BIKE BITS, ART, CAKES
Brands such as: LOUIS VUITTON, VERSACE, MOSCHINO, COMME DES GARCONS, RALPH LAUREN, NIKE, VANS, MHI, SUPREME, STUSSY, NBHD, CASSETTE PLAYA, PALACE, LEVIS, CARHARTT


If you want to donate some quality products please contact: graceladoja@gmail.com

Or you can drop them off at WAH NAILS between 12-8PM MON- SAT

Friday March 25th: Henry Cotton's vs. Hillman Studio

Here is the third season combined team of Tim Walker shooting male muse Andy Macgregor with art direction by Hillman Studio for Henry Cotton's. It was the final job for the crew last summer which set an end of school term air of anticipation and fun to the adventure. These dreamy hazy shots of Andy and Lisa Cant were taken by Alex Cunningham whilst working on putting together the pastel lampshades and "Swallows and Amazons" style sailing boat. In the penultimate shot is Andy Hillman himself testing out one of the umbrellas ....... you can head over to the Henry Cotton's site to watch a behind-the-scenes video showing the set builders submerging into the pond to plant the floating decking and caravan........... and lots of footage of Tim's dog having a riot running around the grounds of the stately home location.

See the whole shoot here.

Thurs 24th March: NOKI vs. Judy Blame

Here are some photos from the Mens Day installtions at LFW of the NOKI & Judy Blame collaboration. I couldn't publish these before as I actually snapped them whilst an exclusive shoot was happening for i-D. But the magazine hit the shelves yesterday so I can share my perspective of the day now too. ............... be sure to buy an issue to see the official fantastic portraits and shoots commissioned to cover the day with writing by Tom Ryling.

Thurs 24th March: Sunshine Night Time: A tribute to Leigh Bowery

Just incase anyone doesn't know ........ Saturday marks what would have been the 50th birthday of Leigh Bowery. Sue Tilley has organised a tribute day at The ICA on April 1st with a lunch time talk and then an evening of performance art, music and film. It will be a mix of Leigh's contemporaries and a collection of next generation talent inspired by his incredible legacy inc. Les Child, Richard Torry, Jeffrey Hinton, Scottee, Ryan Styles, Fancy Chance, Johnny Woo, Feral AKA MC Kinky.
To find out more about the events, go to the ICA.
To read a lovely introductory article by Sue Tilley, go to the Independent.

(Thanks to NOKI for sending me this film clip)

Thurs 24th March: The Broken Hearts vs. Paperself

If you watched the film of Lucy Bridge over on Vogue.it yesterday, you would have seen her followed on a shopping trip to look at paper eyelashes on Brick Lane. The brand of this novelty makeup is Paperself who have just launched a new style introduced by guest designers Nisha and Amber a.k.a The Broken Hearts. Here are the girls wearing their underwater treasure theme lashes to best effect as the girls own appearance is their most natural and incidental marketing tool! The heart shape bang beauties have a few projects in the pipeline including a cape collaboration with the knitwear label Electronic Sheep, and a radio show / compilation album which is still classified just for the moment......... so check back for more details soon!
The girls have also recently started a Tumblr site if you are after more inspiration from the home of http://thebrokenhearts.tumblr.com/

(Bottom 3 portraits: Anthony Lycett, Paul Persky, Selfridges photobooth)

Tues March 22: The London Showrooms in NYC

Watch out, the Brits are abroad! Having returned from Paris, the next stop on tour is NYC for the third consecutive season with The Soho Grand Hotel hosting The London Showrooms. A combination of emerging designers from the BFC New Gen, New Gen Men and CFE schemes are uniting to present their collections and be on hand to provide a face to the name for personal introduction. Here Barbara Grispini has kindly shared her photos from the penthouse on the day of the opening reception held by Sarah Mower. Barbara is a star from the team at The BFC who helps seek out talent and then nurture the participants through the support system once on board. It looks like she is literally embracing the new designers by deviating from her trademark black silhouette with some op-art Louise Gray Pollini polka dot boots! Brilliant!

Today is the last day, so get your skates on and visit.......or find out more on Vogue:

Tuesday 22nd March 2011: 9.00 - 15.00
Penthouse Lofts
Soho Grand, 310 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013
+001 (212) 965 3000

Top to bottom: Yang Du, Fannie Schiavoni, James Long, Thomas Tait, Christopher Raeburn, David Koma, Craig Lawrence, Barbara Grispini.

List of other designers representing: Dominic Jones, Felicity Brown, Holly Fulton, J.JS Lee, J.W.Anderson, Louise Gray, Mark Fast, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff, Michael van der Ham, Nasir Mazhar ,Omar Kashoura, Sibling, Tim Soar

Mon 21st March: "Yohji - Making Waves" at The Wapping Project

The 2nd of the Wapping Project's additional exhibitions to the Yohji Yamamoto V&A retrospective is 'Yohji Making Waves' - a collaboration with lighting designer Masao Nihei in the Boiler House of the building.
'Yohji Making Waves' is a singular piece installed within a seemingly neverending space, where Yohji's A/W 1998 wedding dress appears to hover like a spirit, paused in motion, falling into a rippling oblivion of water. Viewers are invited to examine the piece at close range by taking a small boat into the middle of the water filled installation. Through this the viewer almost becomes part of the piece, whilst being able to appreciate the details of Yohji's piece in the process.

12 March- 10 July 2011
Wapping Hydraulic Power Station
Wapping Wall, London, E1W 3SG

The boat trip takes place every 15 mins - to find out times gohere.

Mon 21st March: "Yohji's Women" at The Wapping Project Bankside

When I was 17 and studying my GNVQ fashion (a.k.a going nowhere very quickly / generally not very qualified) my class took a research trip to Paris. I distinctly remember my tutor making a bee line for the Yamamoto shop to ask the sales assistant for a copy of the season's catalogue. I wondered why she was so excited and intent on picking up this package so I followed suit and did the same guessing it was something special. Now wish I knew where Ive put that red thread stitcked book with images by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, art directed by M/M (Paris). OH DANG! One of those seminal images is now hanging in the exhibition 'Yohji's Women' at The Wapping Project Bankside to coincide with the V&A's major exhibition celebrating the work of Yohji Yamamoto.

'Yohji's Women' explores Yohji's collaborations on these collectible catalogues having worked with an incredible mix of his contemporary photographers including Nick Knight, Paolo Roversi, Peter Lindbergh, Craig McDean, Sarah Moon and Max Vadukul. The show has selected particular imagery to pull out and depict the 'Yohji Woman' which is a strong muse who would not have fitted the conventional magazine archetypes of the time............... which produced one of fashion history's most iconic images - Nick Knight's 1986 silhouette with red tulle bustle............ and also 1988 Susie Bick smoking............ the list is long............

To see what else is included and find out more about the exhibition gohere.

Yohji's Women, 12 March-14 May 2011, 65a Hopton Street, London, SE1 9LR