Tuesday 15th Sept: Serpentine Pavilion 2015 by selgascano

This year's Serpentine Pavilion 2015 designed by selgascano is basically my dream piece of architecture.  The maquette looks like one of my accessories with its graphic shapes, multicolour plastic, iridescent film and rainbow lines.  I haven't had time to visit it before now and here are just some quick snaps from my phone when I was cycling past.  I need to return to get some proper photos - especially at night when it's lit up like a cosmic glow worm.  The Spanish duo have actually called the chrysalis-like structure "The Hungry Pavilion" after Eric Carle's classic illustrated book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".  One of my favourite books as a kid .............. all makes sense!!!!  

(Post originally filed on Aug 4th, now upgraded with MORE cosmic photos!!!) 

Tuesday 15th Sept: Lakwena installing at "Africa Utopia" Southbank Centre

Always following the trail of Lakwena's graphic art, I headed down to the Southbank Centre a day before the opening of Africa Utopia to see her setting up.  Since her 3D relief pieces as part of the "Africa Calling" showcase last year, this time she was commissioned by the actual event to fill the space.  The site specific installations were puzzle-pieced together in both paper panels and shapes that were cut out of vinyl like giant sticker sheets.  

"Looking back to the flurry of African nations gaining thier independence from the 1950s to the 1970s, these installations echo an optimism reflected in the aesthetic of the moment - the motifs and symbols used in the flags of new nations, the Modernist architecture of new buildings, the stars and icons adorning album covers.  Several decades on, these installations act as a reminder and encourages us to hold on to those original hopes and dreams" 

If like me, you're a fan of Lakwena's mural movement, see her talk at a free event next week at Rich Mix - see more details here. 

Saturday Sept 12th: Vogue Fashion Night Out, London = Lizzie King at NIKE vs. Liberty

The best event of London's Vogue's Fashion Night Out was Nike at Liberty with Lizzie King in store for a tie-dye shoelace workshop.  Alexandra Schulman was in amongst the shoppers for the event which was open to all members of the public out for the night.  Flutes of champagne, pop ice lollies and Eliza Doolittle on the decks.  

Head to the newly refurbished concession designed by Rosie Lee and see mannequins styled by Vogue's Lucinda Chambers.

Saturday 12th Sept: Vogue Fashion Nights Out - London

Teo at Lazy Oaf on Newburgh Street, the interior of the new MAC store on Carnaby Street, and fitness / fashion instore events at Uniqlo on Regent Street.

Weds 9th Sept: Free art in Covent Garden

French artist Charles Pétillon 's first public art installation "HeartBeat" is 100,000 giant white balloons filling the length of the ceiling in the 19th Century Covent Garden Market Building.  Light inside the structure pulsates glowing bright and dull replicating the beat of a heart but a massive cloud cluster of balloons.  Its free to view until the end of month which I doubled up with a visit to see the "Deloitte Ignite 15" light show projection on the Royal Opera House in the main square.  Rainbows and clouds in one night - my dream.

Monday 7th Sept: Anna Lomax "Luxury Goods" at KKOutlet

For the Fashion Week and Design Week month of September, Anna Lomax has a solo show at KKOutlet which opened to coincide with "First Thursday" last week.  Entitled "Luxury Goods" it's a combination of all of her favourite influences and collections from pound shops, kitsch conspicuous consumption and the love of her hometown London.  The narrative that ties the mixed media work is a visual commentary on the meaning of "Luxury" and genuine fakes which carries thru to the Sportsbanger merch in her curated gift shop. The pieces comprise of sculpture, neon light, lenticular hologram, screen print, photography, embroidered textiles and jewellery with her classic £1 coin sovereign ring.  Even the drinks at the party were a work of art in themselves as each vessel was a carved mini water-melon.  I didn't know that such a cute fruit existed so with the addition of a novelty hand-carved emblem, it was the best cocktail I've ever held............ and couldn't put down.............. grasping onto the last taste of Carnival

Check out Anna's show on at KKOutlet, Hoxton Square til 26th September and pick up one of her beautiful prints.  

Follow her fantastic Instagram here.

(All photos by me except bottom pic by KKOutlet)

Friday 4th September: Notting Hill Carnival - Dedication to Russell Henderson MBE

2015 is the 50th anniversary of NottingHill Carnival.  As there is debate over the actual year that the fete was founded, it has been spread across three years with the celebration dedicated to a different aspect each year .  Last year was all about the steel pan, this year focused on the emergence of carnival with the family day and next year will be all about Mas (costume).  Only a few days before this year's Carnival one of the seminal pioneers passed away, age 91.  Russell Henderson MBE came to London from Trinidad in 1951 as a young jazz musician and started up "The Russ Henderson Steel Band".   In 1964 activist Rhaune Laslette held a children's pageant in Portabello and invited Russell's band to open the event.  The players of the hand-held pans started to walk to take the music along the gathered crowds.  This, as legend has it, was the beginning of what we now know as the procession through the streets of Notting Hill today.  
At Monday's finale there were dedications to Russell's memory with his most recent band "Panectar" leading a tribute to honour his role in the shaping of the Carnival.  Here you can also see my photo from Sunday's opening show with calypsonian Alexander D Great  performing a song he wrote for the dedication with the lyrics:

"With your inspiration and dedication, Russell Henderson will always be the Pan Man"

The carnival initially came about from a community coming together and taking action to strengthen the relationships and support within their neighbourhood.  It's this pure essence that the committee currently want to reinstate, so that whilst we celebrate its 50th birthday, we can bring back that purpose.  The emphasis should be on how the event brings people together to volunteer over the course of the year to put on the show.  Its not just a party.  Its about getting young people social and creative to learn skills passed down to continue the art and tradition.  Its about each borough having its own band and inspiring the next generation to get involved.  This is the message and one I'm going to continue investigating, exploring and sharing from here till next year ................. and what a lush prospect is that!  I'm looking forward to the year of MAS in 2016!!!!   

(Thank you Chantal Des Vignes & Justin Des Vignes for the two original archive photos from a J'Ouvert parade with Russell pictured centre)

September 3rd: Notting Hill Carnival - J'ouvert

My final post about Notting Hill Carnival comes from the early start on Sunday morning when I woke up at 5am to get over to Ladbroke Grove for the "J'ouvert" opening ceremony which runs from 6-9am.  This is the traditional sunrise start of smearing yourself with mud or paint to symbolise the oil used as camouflage from civil disturbances in Trinidad, and in remembrance of the emancipation from slavery.  Therefore a "JabJab" Carnival character is full body makeup of slick black paint, horn headwear and chains wrapped around, trailing down.  That is the most classic aesthetic but has morphed into any variation of covering yourself in pigment and has become a multi-colour explosion of primary and pastel splashes.  As soon as I cycled in someone asked me why I was so clean, then doused me with blue poster paint, shortly followed by someone else grabbing my face and hair with a hand of black tar-like liquid.  That was my initiation.  A few cloud bombs of talcum powder later and I made a mental note of all the other girls outfits of shower caps and paper boiler suits.  This was my favourite part of the whole Carnival this year because Ive never done it before and like all London early starts, it felt like a special pocket of time, sacred for only those awake to see it.  Soon the roads would be filled like crushed sardines but for a few hours it was just ours, and a long tarmac canvas to Jackson Pollock our way along.  Although I was totally inappropriately and naively dressed in my Keith Haring print dancing attire, I think Keith would have been pleased.