Moolah

Colors is a magazine, a website, CD's, documentaries and exhibitions that are part of the publishing activity of Fabrica, Benetton's communication research centre in Italy. It was established under the premise that diversity is positive and all cultures have equal value.

My lovely Italian friend, Daniela introduced me when she lent me her Colors issue 73 on money...

For the issue, Colors had money analysed in a lab and found substances such as oil, faeces and gold. Each section of the issue therefore corresponds to one of them and represents Fabrica's idea of it. The substances make up not only the chemstry of money but also its very exsistance - metaphors for non-conventional payments, inheritances, savings, transactions, bankruptcies and loans.

In several places in the world, people keep their savings in their mouth, as the man with gold teeth shows!

Basically, it is really interesting: I am signing up for a subscription.

Pig 05049

I was introduced to Pig 05049 at Nijhof & Lee.

After its death, Pig number 05049 was shipped in parts throughout the world. Some products remain close to their original form and function while others differ dramatically.

The artist and author, Christien Meindertsma spent three years researching all the products made from a single pig. Amongst some of the more unexpected results were: ammunition, medicine, photo paper, heart valves, breaks, chewing gum, porcelain, cosmetics, cigarettes and conditioner. 'In an almost sergical way a pig is dissected in the pages of the book - resulting in a startling photo book where all the products are shown at their true scale (1:1).'

I'm so fascinated with this book and love the amount and thoroughness of research in it.

The Selby

Whilst staying with my friend Eddie last week, he introduced me to Whitechapel (particularly enjoyed our Sainsburys trips), his new Lanvin trainers and The Selby. Very beautiful homes of very beautiful people.

No day but today...

I was going to do a ''my favourite/not so favourite parts of 2009'' post, but didn't want it to be some dire form of ''I got a 1st, went traveling, still don't understand boys'' effort. So I'll just say 2009 was generally very nice and I am ready for 2010 to be even nicer.

The resolutions for the new decade go as follows: 1. sweat baby sweat 2. don't stop believing 3. hold on tight to your dreams 4. move out 5. do things to make people's lives a little better-volunteer, projects 6. end the year with a glowing CV and a PAID job in something I want to do 7. eat mainly things that are green on the wheel of food fortune... 1 and 7 have already been broken (what can you do if its raining and you have a hangover to feed?!)

Anyway, the point of this was to say that I found the image above (on www.hellosubsist.com), and think the 'NO DAY BUT TODAY' notion is good inspiration to be all the things my resolutions hope. Not so much the 'my only goal is just to be' though - I can't do that. Proactive is the only way.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sleep in a pile. And make an igloo.

Trof breakfast, christmas markets and an afternoon trip to see 'Where The Wild Things Are'. The film was as wonderful as I had anticipated... beautifully shot, good soundtrack, amazing costumes. A joy to watch. I want to sleep in the middle of that pile of fur. And make an igloo.

Books on tour

This afternoon, Mandi and I dreamt of our summer touring with the Parlour Press. Here was the beginning of our daydream... www.linquenda.ca/artspace. Think it is rather off the scale of our modest budget, but we want to get some creative book-lover, boat-owner to trust the 5 ladies of the Press with their boat so we can tour the UK. Boats of all shapes, sizes and conditions will be considered.

BOOKS ON TOUR shall be the chant.

#35 - Write to someone who inspired you

Today, I wrote a letter. It was because I had been directed to this website: http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/actions/view/35/ (I still have no clue how to make this a link!). Action #35 was 'Write to someone who inspired you'... so I did. I wrote to my old english teacher, Miss Tomkins who once reassured me that it was ok to be unsure of what I wanted to do and to take a year (which at 18, I thought was far too long to experiment) to do the art foundation year I was so uncertain of. I cannot imagine what I would be doing if I hadn't listened to her. Not writing this, thats for sure.

So tomorrow I shall post it and hopefully the post strikers will deliver it to her eventually. As a ps. I might have to apologise for it being rather creased - I put a chair on it by mistake.

Joyous Machines

I am still rather into machines.

Today I went to Tate Liverpool to see 'Joyous Machines'. The exhibition saw Jean Tinguely's work and how it inspired Michael Landy's creations.

I much preferred the rough drawings Tinguely did in order to realise his vision as opposed to Landy's intricate drawings depicting the same mechanisms.

I really liked the drawing machines (bottom image) and the ones that did not hide their mechanics... far more interesting. Also, I like the fact that some of the machines don't work, or in the case of 'Homage to New York' (top image), destroyed themselves. This was all part of Tinguely's vision: that it is almost left to chance. In comparison to Arthur Ganson's beautiful work, Tinguely's is far less perfect, in both its aesthetic and workings. I still like it though - it was reminiscent of Alexander Calder's work at times.

Good day trip.

Good talk

Thoroughly enjoyed my half and hour with Sam Winston.

Christmas came early

13th Aug '09: LINZ

Basically the best exhibition I've been to in, well a long long time. It was called Poetry of Motion and was at the Ars Electronica Centre, Linz. Christmas came early for me when I realised that the actual Absolut Quartet machine was at the exhibition! I got to type in my own 5 second melody and see the amazing machine make into music. It was so so good.

Arthur Ganson also had work in the exhibit - his work is wonderful. As is Theo Jansen's work huge kinetic sculptures that are powered by the wind. I cannot explain how amazing all of these projects are. I am excited to create once again.

Musical tiles

10th Aug '09: SALZBURG

In a children's playground, I waited my turn to have a go on these musical tiles. You can play your own tune by stomping, hopping and jumping on these. Much fun.

Slide along

30th July '09: AMSTERDAM

My dear friend, Brigitta introduced me to the wonderful Droog a couple of years ago. Their showroom-cum-shop in Amsterdam did not disappoint. Seats made for queues with marbles under the seats so you can slide along, swings, high chairs with markings of where to saw so as to allow the furniture to grow with the child: it eventually becomes a chair. All very inspiring. I would like to design something that Droog would stock, or work for them.

Look for the red balloon

25th July '09: PARIS

With some friends from home and some new french friends, we went to the very well attended outdoor cinema at Parc de la Villette. We sat under a red balloon so as to find our way back through the crowd. 'Into the Wild' was showing (in English, thankfully). I'd never seen it before and loved it - so beautifully shot.

However, probably not the best film to watch when embarking on a trip!

'...a little bit more attention and imagination'

26th July '09: PARIS

By chance we saw a little flyer for a Jacques Tati exhibit that was on at La Cinematheque Francaise. I am now desperate to see all of his films. Love the graphics for posters - their playfulness makes them work well with the films thay are attached to. A very well curated and designed exhibition.

Here are a few quotes that were on the exhibition walls:

"I want my film to start when you leave the cinema" - Tati, 1967

"My method merely presupposes a little bit more attention and imagination from the spectator" - Tati, 1966

"I'm one of those film makers who love their films and don't mind not being seen by everyone, like an artist doesn't mind not having his work hung in every living room" - Tati, 1979

Modern Mozart

Tuning done to a t. This is truly amazing - modern day Mozart. Very inspiring for my glass bottles/typewriter invention.

Circus

I adore Alexander Calder's circus. I watched the film again last night to remind myself how fascinating documenting by film can be. I had been filming myself making the typewriter contraption all day. Calder is has a far more mechnical mind than  ever will. Amazing.

A Beginners guide to changing the world

No, I have not lost it: optimistic, I might be, but deluded I am not. There is no doubt that I will not be changing the world anytime soon, but I would like to think I can make a little difference here and there to a few people. Losada's book works on that principle. Anyhow I am thoroughly enjoying her inspiring journey. Only wish I had more time, so as not having to put it down so much.

Playing the building

This is a sound piece by David Byrne that was based in The Battery Maritime Building last year in New York - amazing. It was on while I was there - really wish I had known.

It's Nice That

I check the 'Its Nice That' website with as much obsession as The Sartorialist. Pick really lovely work from all disciplines.

Laugh before lunch

Johnathan Barnbrook visited to impart knowledge today. He is very funny; really enjoyed his anecdotes. He gave me confidence and seemed to validate the way in which I work. Good advice: "Don't be afraid to do the work you want to, are interested in and are passionate about; you will thereby attract the kind of work you want to do." Stick to your beliefs. Be interesting, follow your dreams, most importantly be nice. I really agreed with so much of what he said.