‘Cinder Embers’ by Mister Finch at Anthropologie

I was recently invited to Anthropologie’s King’s Road gallery for a preview of 'Cinder Embers,' the celebrated British textile artist Mister Finch’s solo exhibition and book launch.  

I also managed to fit in one or three tea cups of Sipsmith/Champagne Cocktails (above) and some suuuuperb selfies with the artist himself (below).  Welllll,  it would have been terribly rude not to...

With a background in fashion, this dapper, self-taught artist from t'up North, now sews and creates original sculptures from recycled material, breathing new life and adventure into old velvet curtains, threadbare wedding dresses, vintage aprons, etc.  Not only does this make Mister Finch’s ‘storytelling creatures’ beautifully ethical, but utterly charming and magical. 

For this particular exhibtion, Mister Finch has taken inspiration from beyond his usual influences of nature and folklore, and instead draws on the story of the celebrated Parisian taxidermy shop Deyrolle. The iconic, famed store burned to the ground in 2008 and the charred remains of the stuffed animals were subsequently captured in haunting detail by investigative photographer Laurent Bochet. 

Fifteen soft and mysterious sculptures, including a regal crowned swan and a seven foot sly fox, will be displayed in Chelsea’s Anthropologie until January 4th.  If you can’t make it down, do buy Mister Finch’s fantastical debut book, ‘Living in a Fairy Tale World’ (RRP.£30.00), which features stunning imagery of his extraordinary one-of-a-kind creatures – the perfect coffee table addition (click on image below).

Frieze Art Fair 2012

Last weekend I went to Regent’s Park for the tenth Frieze London, one of the world’s leading contemporary art events.  With so much art displayed along a dizzying grid, the whole exhibition felt like one giant creative speed dating afternoon, as I whizzed around briefly flirting with each of the 175 gallery’s presentations.  Below are a few of my favourites pieces… 

Above: Is it a Door? Is it Art? No... I's Frieze. Easy Mistake. Kate Moss by Mario Testino. 

Above (L-R): Robert Indiana's Love and Art (1972-2000).

Above:  Art appreciating art...

Above (Clockwise): 'I am the One I've Been Waiting For,' Harland Miller (2012), Untitled, Loris Greuad (2012) and 'Inthistogether' Darren Almond (2010).

Above:  My favourite of the day. A portrait on old cassette tapes by Gregor Hildebrandt.

Above (L-R):  'A Balloon For Britain,' Scott King (2012) and 'Oh No' Doug Aitken (2012). 

Lazarides' Bedlam at the Old Vic Tunnels

Last week I attended the opening of the Lazarides Gallery’s third and final collaboration with the Old Vic Tunnels, ‘Bedlam.’   For this exhibition, Steve Lazarides commissioned artists to encapsulate the brutality and horror historically associated with London’s infamous Victorian mental asylum, Bethlam (commonly known as ‘Bedlam.’)  Lazarides explained, “everyone in the art world is crazy anyway, but different artists took different things from the idea. For some it became about chaos, for others it was more medical.”

Just as the Victorians would walk around Bedlam staring at the patients, completely fascinated and intrigued by their erratic behaviour, I too walked around the Old Vic Tunnels (the most perfect venue for this exhibition’s creepy theme!) both fascinated and intrigued by the plethora of dramatic art, sculptures and installations on display.

Below Centre:  Hamish Jenkinson, the Director of the Old Vic Tunnels, amongst the art.

Some stand out pieces for me were Tobias Klein’s ammonium sulphate crystal angel (patients at Bedlam would have these crystals placed beneath their skin as part of their treatment), the giant spinning swing (another treatment was to shake the mentally ill ‘back to their senses’) and Tessa Fraiser’s hanging mobile made up of rats, animal skeletons and insect wings… Quite the most disturbing thing I’ve seen in a long time.

The thin line between genius and madness was made very clear to me at this show leaving me feeling confused and ultimately disturbed – the artist’s intention I'm sure!  This show will certainly leave you with an impression… and perhaps some nightmares...

Below Centre:  Hamish Jenkinson interviewing gorgeous DJ/Presenter Izzy Lawrence.

'Bedlam,' presented by the Lazarides Gallery is on until October 21st. Entrance is free.

James Mylne: Vintage Vogue

Last week I attended the opening night of artist James Mylne’s ‘Vintage Vogue’ exhibition at the Rook & Raven Gallery.  I was really intrigued and excited about this exhibition as James Mylne, 31, creates all his art using BIC Biros..!!  Each piece of James’ work takes huge levels of concentration (mistakes cannot be rectified) and can take hundreds of hours to complete.  I had to see it to believe it and the results blew me away; a room filled with beautiful and photo-realistic portraits from the Golden Age of Hollywood.  Heaven. Stylish icons have been brought to life with BIC Biro on backgrounds of bright spray paint.  The Audrey Hepburn images were naturally my favourites but I loved the elegance of the Coco Chanel (right) and the Steve McQueen drawing is just undeniably cool (below.)  I can just imagine stationary cupboard bills soaring in offices all over London after this exhibition... 

Above (L-R): Recreating 'The Audrey' pose with Vika Skyte, Celina Teague and Gayle Wyn Pugh, Izzy Lawrence with Ed Glover, Hugo Speer and Vivienne Harvey.

James Mylne: ‘Vintage Vogue’ is on at Rook & Raven until October 31st. Entrance is free.

Frieze Art Fair 2011

Regents Park saw the annual return of the Frieze Art Fair last week and when my friend asked me to go with her I leapt at the chance. I have always, for one reason of another, missed out on going so I had no idea what to expect…

When I arrived I found a huge showcase of commissioned art and design to explore from over 170 different contemporary galleries… Curated by Sarah McCrory, a massive, eclectic collection of eye-catching paintings, sketches, prints, sculpture and photography are displayed along several very long aisles (I wiiiish I’d worn trainers!!)

Right: Tracey Emin's 'And I Said I Love You!'

Here are some of the pieces which caught my eye:

Above: This amazingly dressed lady was unsurprisingly drawn to the chandelier of neon, multi-coloured bodies... How brilliant?!

Above: Jung Lee’s sculpture ‘Aporia’

Above L-R: Jim Lambe, Untitled and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster's 'After'

Above L-R: Barnaby Hosking's 'Thoughts' and David Shrigley's 'Untitled (This is Nothing)'

Above L-R: Dawn Mellor's 'Kristen Scott Thomas' and Cornelia Parker's '30 Pieces of Silver'

Above: Sculpture by Tara Donovan

Above: Tracey Emin's 'You Made ME LOVE You'