Weds 12th Feb: ICA Off-Site: Dover Street Market

I can't believe I didn't know that Dover Street Market was the original location of the ICA (between 1950 - 1968)!  Well, now I do and it makes sense that when you exit at Green Park station to walk down the Mall to the gallery, you can also pop up onto Piccadilly in the other direction and get to Dover Street.  The Commes Des Garcons store is currently the latest ICA Off-Site project with archival material reproduced and installed across all six floors.  Large Vinyl artworks of scans from original documents cover the walls, floors and squares in the ceiling.   This was the institution where Pop Art and Op Art were born with ground-breaking exhibitions by Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock.  The venue also staged some of the most important shows in the history of post-war British art with members including Richard Hamilton and Eduardo Paolozzi.  The whole story has been documented and catalogued into a new publication for which the city's cultural community came together to discover at a launch on Monday night.  Here are Princess Julia, Louise Gray and Bethan Wood adding colour to the proceedings and a selection of snaps of my favourite garms currently in-store alongside the show (inc. Craig Green's tie-dye menswear).  

ICA Off-Site: Dover Street Market
11 Feb – 6 Apr 2014
Free Exhibition
Dover Street Market, 17-18 Dover Street, London, W1S 4LT

Sunday 2nd Feb: SAVE THE DATE "Dalston Screentests"

 

Whilst I have been working with Ryan Lanji on curating my exhibition, he has also been putting together another project which will be launching at the same time "Dalston Screentests".  The portrait show is divided in two parts with filmed screen-tests on video loop at hair salon Stunt Dolly and silver-dust screen-prints from a still of the moving image at Dalston Superstore.  Ryan and co-curator Saskia Wickins have chosen eight local artists to profile in a theme inspired by Warhol's iconic screen-test works.  Here are snaps by artist Cassandra Yap of her screen-printing in process, illustrating DJ Jonjo Jury and my own portrait which features in the mix.  Save the date for the private view between both Dalston destinations on Feb 12th....................

DALSTON SCREENTESTS EXHIBITION

Exhibition run: February 12th - May 11th, 2014 

A two-part exhibition at Dalston Superstore & Stunt Dolly

Curated By: Ryan Lanji & Saskia Wickins 

Saturday 1st Feb: Paloma Faith's "Jump & Jive"

Last night Paloma Faith held a dance party to celebrate completing her new record ........ 3 albums since the first celebration party I went to at The Black Gardenia in Soho (R.I.P) for her debut single in 2009!  Massive congratulations Paloma!  Your'e as beautiful, lovely and loveable as you always have been!

Here are just a few of the hats that filled the room .......... it was wall to wall fedoras and trilbys...... head over to Paloma's instagram to see more.

(Images top to bottom:  La Touche's pic of Paloma, the two hat lovers together, the three hat brothers together - Leyman + La Touche + Seye, and me + Chuko of venue Pelicans Below Rum Shop in Dalston)

Pre-Ordeer "A Perfect Contradiction" here.

Friday 31st Jan: Behind the scenes on set with Walter Hugo & Zoniel for "Travelling Mac Fred On A Q-Tip For A Tribe Called Guess"

You will have noticed the hiatus that always happens around this time of year, as it gets close to fashion week and I go to ground focusing on making rather than typing.  This season I'm doing something different by holding an exhibition instead of a presentation or pop-up.  The main focus is a mini retrospective but threaded together by a narrative of new work.  Part of this process is a collaboration with artist / photography duo Walter Hugo and Zoniel.  Here are snaps from the shoot we had earlier in the week.  Walter usually achieves his pin-hole camera portraits with apparatus that requires a large set-up but with the recent help of GlobeTrotter creating a travelling version,  he can now be mobile.  The result of Kim's styling of my archive pieces and Zoniel's reinterpretation in pigment on paper will be unveiled on Thursday evening at KKOutlet for the private view.  More info to follow..........

(photo of Josh Quinton on set by Zoniel)

Monday 27th January: Short Film- A Shared Cultural Memory - A Collaboration between Actress, Eddie Peake and Nic Hamilton - Guest Post

A Shared Cultural Memory from WerkhausLTD on Vimeo.

Back in August the church of St John in Hackney welcomed an ambitious collaboration as part of their annual summer series programed by Bird on The Wire.

The performance was titled ‘A Shared Cultural Memory’, and saw three of London’s most innovative artists, each a pioneer within their different fields, working together for the first time in an attempt to create just that; through the use of experimental music, performance and art.

Music was headed up by musician and producer Actress, who’s conceptual approach to music, and somewhat dissident mentality, lent itself perfectly to such a venture. A figure who is consistently referred to as fascinating, enigmatic and complex, Actress reimagines techno’s weighty industrial beats to create a diffused version of the genre that’s both brutal and serene in equal measures. This audio in itself, resounding through the nave of the 18^th century building, made for an intensely visceral experience, however the addition of performance and visuals added a ‘happening’-esque air to the event.  

The performance element came in the ethereal forms of dancers, choreographed by performance artist Eddie Peake. Peake’s innate comprehension of contemporary popular culture meant his interpretation of Actress’ soundtrack portrayed an understanding of his musical style, which ultimately resulted in a synchronisation that seemed effortless.  Since the performance, Eddie Peake has gone on to exhibit at Berlin’s Peres Projects, and collaborate with Kendrick Lamar- furthermore exploring his interest in popular music, and the possibilities of cross-genre collaboration.

An additional visual component was provided by designer Nic Hamilton, who, by combining key elements from Actress’ and Peake’s work, created hyperrealist projections depicting contrasting hard and soft factors, teaming rigid structural forms with sinuous figures.

The completed article all housed within the eerie setting of the Hackney church made for an evocative, stimulating and multidimensional experience, which has been captured beautifully in a short film, just  released over on WerkhausLtd. The film provides a new perspective of the show for those who were there, and for those who were not, a chance to experience the unique event, as well as become a part of the shared cultural memory the collective were keen to create.

Actress’ latest album Ghettoville is released through Ninja Tune today and is available for download here.

With special thanks to Werkhaus Ltd,  Bird on the Wire and the St Johns Sessions.

Words by Amy Lee
Photo by Fred

Weds 22nd Jan: "Pens & Needles" No.2 curated by Custhom at KKOutlet

Custhom have just opened the second instalment of their "Pens & Needles" digitally-embroidered, tactile poster project at KKOutlet.  Here are some of the artworks including artists such as Studio Moross and Patternity based on the Kandinsky psychological test (seen in the top two snaps of the show here). 

See my archive post from the first series here, and buy my piece here.

Sunday January 19th 2014: Mexico - Mexico City - Frida Kahlo's House "Casa Azul" - Vogue Mexico Exhibition

In  addition to the incredible interior decor recreation at Frida Kahlo's House (Museum) there is also a display of her wardrobe with full looks, accessories and her medical corsets and limbs.  Alongside this is an exhibition curated by Vogue Mexico of contemporary designers who have been inspired by Kahlo's style.  Amongst pieces by Jean Paul Gaultier, Commes Des Garcons, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy is this exquisite leather corset by Dai Rees.