Textured

 

 

I've always been quite obsessed with the texture of things... I was reminded of that this morning when looking at a (very) old A level project of mine. One of my first What's She Like? posts was about the very same thing.

Almost

Easter is just around the corner... Or so I keep telling myself. I will be in Cornwall over the bank holiday weekend with my family and already looking forward to a repeat of last year, and of more idyllic sights like this:

Very happily, I don't have my dissertation to write this year though. Can really concentrate on the egg hunt instead.

More Ice

In relation to the ice post below:

Tessa with new ring from Shepherd's Bush pawn shop, and necklace from me for her birthday. (Pope Julius would be proud.) This outfit was thrown together in 5 minutes before rushing out the door for lunch, and after a very late night celebrating her birthday, I was in awe.

 

(Quite enjoying 'The Killing' box set - yet to be watched - propped up outside Tessa's room)

Igloo

Igloo, 2011 

Stuart Haygarth

Today I saw this sculpture by Stuart Haygarth at Haunch of Venison, Bond Street, in a show that brings together several sculptors over two floors. This was probably my favourite piece in the exhibition, possibly because as Tessa pointed out, it looks like an upside down chandelier. Ever the classy type.

It reminds me of the glasses we have in Cornwall, where no two are really the same. At New Year we had a party in Cornwall, where the conditions could have been likened to an igloo if it were not for an enormous space heater and bonfire. The theme was Fire and Ice.

Quite annoying as I don't have better photos but we decorated in a way that was so icy-looking it would've done an eskimo proud.

 

Igloos are pretty cool. (No pun intended).

Gilbert and George

Last night I paid a visit to Rosa's current place of work to see the Gilbert and George Private View.

(As a security guard wouldn't leave my side until she had seen me delete a photo I took in the bookshop, I should probably admit that the above image is courtesy of White Cube...) It was a little down in the dumps for my liking, but maybe with a bit more effort I would feel differently. I loved that Gilbert and George were at the Bermondsey gallery, looking dapper in those infamous suits of theirs, like this

However, sadly a long day of work and the repetitive use of words like THIEF SCANDAL DEATH etc made me feel a bit like I just wanted to be this little guy

 

Gilbert and George's massive display of work in White Cube galleries across London and in Hong Kong probably deserve another trip and more enthusiasm on my part, at a time when I don't feel the urge to cower in the corner. I may have to repeat my visit. For more PV reportings from the same place along with loads of illegal photos I took (whoops), have a look at a post from last December.

Light it Up

Unintentionally, but very happily I am slowly building up an embellished matchbox collection. Can't wait for the next addition to the pack.

Laces

Not sure these laces are entirely successful here with my black 'flatforms' but I love them all the same. Next step: those curly elasticated laces that are for children who can't tie theirs yet.

1st Place Second Hand

One of my biggest pleasures in life is having an hour, a ten pound note, and access to a high street full of charity shops or bustling market. For many, the idea of picking ones way through rails of often slightly smelly and crumpled second hand clothing is at the bottom of their wish list on a day off – and granted, charity shop shopping has to be done in the right mood.

For me though, the feeling of finding something amazing hidden between casts offs from Primark, something old but better than anything new on the high street because it is unique, is hard to beat. Fashion - as we are so often told - goes in circles. Flares, straight legs and cigarette pants go in and out from season to season, and yet all can be found at the same time in one charity shop. It takes time and determination, but good quality second hand buys that make any outfit instantly different and individual, will always come first place with me.  

 

What presents itself at a market or a charity shop is choice – a look has not been preconceived for you and carefully laid out in different sections of a shop. Instead the choice is yours, and the result is, I think, always better.

Friday at an Exhibition

It seems that I am making a habit of spending part of Friday at an exhibition. At the end of last week I made the journey over to the Tate Modern to see the vast display of Yayoi Kusama's work. Unfortunately the glorious weather of Thursday hadn't stretched itself to morning of my visit, although the mist and clouds over the Thames really did seem to have a silver lining

Most people who take any interest in what goes on at the Tate will probably have seen images such as these below to advertise Kusama's show

And rightly so - these two rooms are amazing. Absolutely disconcerting but thrilling. A weird psychedelic disco. I loved it. Dots are repeated again and again throughout the exhibition, especially in the final rooms: 

'My desire was to predict and measure the infinity of the unbounded universe, from my own position in it, with dots - an accumulation of particles forming the negative spaces... I wanted to examine the single dot that was my own life.'

But I also really enjoyed the first room of Kusama's early work too. These were beautiful drawings in improvised materials (she was unable to get hold of oil paints, so mixed household paints with sand and used seed sacks as canvases), often odd but delicate and intricate.

 

Top: Leaves, 1954

Bottom: The Germ, 1952

I liked this one from her 1970s NY years too

Man Catching the Insect, 1972
Quite like that this one is stuck on a page in my scrap book with a £2,430 pair of shoes - coincidentally the exhibition is sponsored by Louis Vuitton....
As a new week starts I am buoyed by Kusama's statement of unquestionable girl power 
'Bring on Picasso, bring on Matisse, bring on anybody! I would stand up to them all with a single dot.'

Hidden Away

Hidden away in a corner of Pound Land were these truly spectacular camouflage laces. Pink/grey colour-way are my favourite.

 

Tessa spotted this netted/camo masterpiece in the market yesterday

 

A bit too Christina Aguilera for me though, feel like she might have worn it in some kind of leather chaps ensemble. (Not sure why I keep referencing 1990s pop stars)

Success

 

The mark of success is measured in many different ways for different people. For me though, at some point being able to afford all these beautiful Russell & Bromley shoes would definitely be a good starting point. Not complaining though - I am now the proud owner of some lovely black patent loafers courtesy of some birthday and Christmas gift vouchers I've only just got round to spending. Thank you, Dad.

One Off

Exciting times for One Off at the moment, with yesterday seeing the start of a new project and a series of photo shoots for the website. Our first location was in Mile End and a beautiful flat on the canal.

Stay tuned to What's She Like? and One Off over the next few weeks to see the fruits of our labour.

Tracey Emin?

Someone on my road obviously inspired by your work, Tracey Emin...

 

My Bed, 1998

Craze for Snakeskin

Anyone who has looked at What's She Like in the past month or so will have noted my current craze for snakeskin. So imagine the excitement caused by this leather top and tassled waistcoat sensation

 

It was revolting, but part of me really did want the waistcoat. At some point in the future I'm sure I would have really loved looking like Shania Twain, taking animal print to the extreme (Tessa and I well on our way, see below) and wearing the above with my snakeskin jeans...  

Jungle Fever

Walking to meet Tessa before Friday's art expedition with Rosa, I spotted her trousers before her beaming face. I then looked down and realised we were both wearing animal print trousers and spotty spotty socks. Jungle fever.

Tessa has a vast selections of socks. Here are her trusty DMs fashioned with a lovely green pair on a much warmer day last summer.

Pope's Rings

After work today I walked over speedily to the National Gallery before it closed for the evening. As it is a Sunday I thought I might as well look at something religion related.

 

Portrait of Pope Julius II, 1511 Raphael

I remember this from school and the same Art History teacher I've mentioned before, gesticulating excitedly in front of it. The bit that sticks in my mind is her enthusiasm and wonder over the softness of Julius' beard. It does look pretty soft to the touch when you're up close. Apparently from 1511 Pope Julius wore a beard as a sign of mourning at having lost the city of Bologna.

What I really loved this evening were his rings:

 

I love cramming lots of ring onto my fingers and am very sentimental about the 3 I always wear, all heirlooms and gifts. Julius is doing pretty well here, wearing several big cut jewels set in gold next to each other.