The Barbican has just launched an exhibition about the most influential art school of the twentieth century, the largest to take place in the capital in the last 40 years. That art school is of course Bauhaus – think tubular steel furniture, primary coloured triangles and the fundamental modernist desire to change the world.
Archive for the ‘Exhibitions’ Category
Spraycan copywriting
Friday, May 4th, 2012
Here’s a true story. Back in the late 70’s, right smack in the middle of punk rock, I studied graphic design at Hounslow. Unlike some of the more respectable educational establishments, Hounslow was a bit rough and ‘edgy’. The area around the college was run down and there was a serious amount of racism kicking around – you just had to look at all the NF graffiti about the place to sense the underlying atmosphere of hatred.
One for the Glam Rockers. British Design 1948-2012 exhibition
Monday, April 9th, 2012
If you’re in your late 40’s and happen to be passing the V&A between now and 12 August, go see the British Design 1948-2012 exhibition, for no other reason than the Bolan, Bowie, Eno, and Ferry stage outfits.
Great British Design
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012
As the Olympics and the Jubilee draw closer there is an ever increasing sense of patriotism and British pride emulating from all around. The V&A are marking the event in their own intriguing way by staging a major exhibition entitled ‘British Design 1948 – 2012 – Innovation In The Modern Age’ which will open it’s doors at the end of the month. In a nation which now imports more than it exports, it’s good to look back at some amazing moments in British design which have shaped the way we all live our lives.
50 Years of Sunday Times Magazine Covers
Monday, February 13th, 2012
“My God, this is going to be a disaster,” said Roy Thomson, the owner of The Sunday Times back in 1962. He was talking about the launch of the very first colour magazine to be included with a newspaper – a maverick step forward and gamble when newspapers were just that: papers full of news. Colour photographs? Who on earth would be interested in those?
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What 5000 video diaries sound like.
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
The Saatchi Gallery has just opened a new film and screening room, just around the corner from the Saatchi Gallery on the King’s Road. The first artist to take up residence in this room is Christopher Baker, a scientist-turned-multimedia artist who has installed his 2008 film ‘Hello World!’ in the space.
Ronnie Wood – I Can Get Art Satisfaction
Monday, December 5th, 2011
You can’t get much more rock ‘n’ roll than the Rolling Stones…and you can’t be more rock ‘n’ roll than Ronnie Wood, with his former lifestyle of drink, drugs, sex and out-and-out hedonism. But I recently stumbled across a gallery just off London’s Oxford Street, exhibiting some of Ronnie’s art – a serious hobby which he’s had for the past 35 years. We’re not just talking about a hobbyist, though; Ronnie Wood can really, really draw. When I stepped through the door and saw his work for the first time, I was amazed.
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Leonardo: The hottest ticket in town.
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
This winter, the National Gallery opened its doors to one of it’s most ambitious and important exhibitions to date, Leonardo: Painter At The Court Of Milan which is offering the one-off chance to see just over half of Leonardo’s 15 surviving works of art, all in one room. The public have gone berserk over tickets, all the advance tickets have sold out, even though the exhibition is going on until the 5th February and the queues into the gallery are three hours long each and every day. But what is it about Leonardo that excites everybody so? Is it just because of the Mona Lisa, or has The Da Vinci Code mustered a common public interest?
Tatlin’s Tower
Monday, November 28th, 2011
In the heart of the Royal Academy’s Annenberg Courtyard stands Tatlin’s Tower. Not the original, of course; in fact, it was never built as the structure he intended and has only ever existed in scaled-down model form. Originally designed to house the “Comintern” – a hub for the propagation of revolutionary ideals, containing a broadcast centre, conference facilities and administrative offices in St Petersburg – the tower was intended to reach some 400 metres into the sky and to span the River Neva. When one considers that the Eiffel Tower is a ‘mere’ 300 metres tall, and considerably narrower, one can appreciate the vastness of Tatlin’s vision. But even in model form, Tatlin’s Tower is an intriguing, unusual and awesome structure of complex engineering.
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10 amazing blogs
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012The blogosphere is a daunting and hectic place, millions of voices are fighting to be heard, most of them probably shouldn’t be if all they can talk about is their latest bought of PMT or how much they hate their boss. However, in amongst the mindless self-indulgence are little beacons of inspiration and knowledge which can brighten up your day and provide a little much-needed inspiration for us creative-types. After a day spent clicking through link after link, these are some of the juiciest fruits we found on the blog tree…
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