/\/\/\Y/\ XXXO /\/\/\Y/\

M.I.A. has announced a one off show in Brixton and I am very very happy. Tickets go on sale Friday but I'm getting mine tomorrow providing I find a presale somewhere online.

www.miauk.com

XXXO

TREATZZXX

I thought I'd exhausted this record of its magic by rinsing it out daily. No lie. Walking to the station..."GOT MA A-MACHINES ON TABLE GOT MA B MACHINES IN DRAWER", on the train "SET, SET THAT CROWN ON THE GROUND" and before bed? "I SIP MAAA KOOL-AID, I FEEL BETTER NOW". I got to that point where I couldn't deal with it anymore and it dwindled down my 'Top 25 Most Played'. There's now been a sufficient amount of time for me to rekindle my love and I can safely say, I'm once again addicted.

'TREATS' by Sleigh Bells is timeless and I'm on it again. Its the same with anything you rinse out...you just gotta let it dry out before you put it back on.

(photos from www.infinitybells.com)

THINGZ X JOURNEYZZ X L1F3

NO FUCKING AROUND

Rafter - No Fucking Around from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

YEASAYER - MADDER RED

I've just watched this and after recuperating from the rather poignant 'WTF' after-taste, I've concluded that the new Yeasayer video starring Kristen Bell is absurdly weird but fucking brilliant. Its directed by Andreas Nillsson who is based in Malmoe, Sweden and is also a practising artist. She is renowned for her finely crafted skill in all things sublimely strange and boasts a huge portfolio of clients from Moby to MGMT. I think you've achieved something as a director when you're consistently able to leave a recognisable residue on every piece of work without becoming repetitive and bland. The video is a must see and once you've digested the randomness of the truly hideous creature and the hilarity of Kristen Bell starring in it, your heart warms and you quietly mourn the death of this hairy ball of flesh.

CHARLES ANASTASE

I've read a lot of blogs, comments, articles about his past few collections and I feel as though as his LFW shows as a product/reflection of his creativity don't serve the purpose of his vision. He is always a surprise and maybe that is not always a good thing. Although you cannot undermine his flair, his SS10 collection was a big of mixed balls yet photos from his AW10 transcend a strong sense of growth. Besides the obvious differences like more composed attention to production (scarily painted models to warn us of the dangers of climate change clad in heavily felted wools), the thesis of the collection; "Winter Garden" is visually prevalent and consistent through every look.


I actually like this look the most - probably because I like the soft Ice blue juxtaposed with blood red - garnished with lashings of black for an edgy and ethereal feel. Anastase is probably one of the remaining few who know how to mix hard and light with thought and focus. For me, the elongated proportion of the fitted blue dress reflects the planet in its most simple, basic, organic and purest form; oxygen and the blood-red stockings embody the legs of man and the dark stained shoes encapsulate the demise of our planet. I don't think it is hard to diffuse Anastase's message and it is comforting to know that there is a philosophy to fashion beyond naif appliques and blanketlike coats.

GELITIN

On my cultural hike through London this week with Isabel Legate (The Animal Talk), I managed to stimulate my creative pores which have been in dire need of exfoliation lately. We did an art hike and visited Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre and The Saatchi Gallery - places I've really neglected this year.

Although a lot of work stood out and many pieces/artists have been penciled down and researched, there was one piece of work which inspired me to go home and raid my sister's Beanie Baby collection and really start experimenting again. I didn't photograph the actual piece in question (but its at Hayward if you're interested) and I've since realised that I'm familiar with other works by the artist who are the Vienna based art collective 'Gelitin'. They're famed for their 'Hase' project (2005) in which they placed a gigantic stuffed pink rabbit on a hill overlooking a small village in Italy and it will be on display until 2025. I think that's enough time for a quick fixed-geer bike ride to Piemonte.


(description by the artists)

"The things one finds wandering in a landscape: familiar things and utterly unknown, like a flower one has never seen before, or, as Columbus discovered, an inexplicable continent; and then, behind a hill, as if knitted by giant grandmothers, lies this vast rabbit, to make you feel as small as a daisy."

"The toilet-paper-pink creature lies on its back: a rabbit-mountain like Gulliver in Lilliput. Happy you feel as you climb up along its ears, almost falling into its cavernous mouth, to the belly-summit and look out over the pink woolen landscape of the rabbitàs body, a country dropped from the sky; ears and limbs sneaking into the distance; from its side flowing heart, liver and intestines."

"Happily in love you step down the decaying corpse, through the wound, now small like a maggot, over woolen kidney and bowel. Happy you leave like the larva that gets its wings from an innocent carcass at the roadside. Such is the happiness which made this rabbit."

I think its obvious that Gelitin create situations which encourage people to interact with one another, humorously abandoning 'the intellectual art pout' as they share anecdotes about their favourite stuffed toy as a child. They exercise every use of medium to childlike excess like the performance and installation 'Sweatwat' (2005) which converted Gagosian Gallery in London into a private water park and sauna, with furniture stacked up on the flooded floor which aimed to liberate the inner child and allow the joy and relaxation of everybody through Yoga, dancing, drinking, singing - simple or sophisticated pleasures. It seems a playful, eccentric and ravishing approach to design that scorns the burden of intellect and rattles the imagination and I really wish I could have experienced it!

"I love the rabbit the rabbit loves me."

They've exhibited pretty much everywhere around the big ole globe since 1993 and boast a wealth of work. The group itself is comprised of four artists who first met in 1978 and they've been playing and working and growing together ever since.

http://www.gelitin.net/mambo/

Adrien Sauvage

Richie Culver (Artist)
Black and White Photographs by Adrien Sauvage

Bill Nighy (Actor)
Black and White Photographs by Adrien Sauvage

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl
Black and White Photographs by Adrien Sauvage

Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) Miles Kane (Last Shadow Puppets)
Black and White Photographs by Adrien Sauvage

Coco Sumner, I Blame Coco
Black and White Photographs by Adrien Sauvage


http://www.thisisnotasuit.com/

PALLADIUM X NEIL BARRETT

With a whole host of cross collaborations engulfing feet fashion recently, It seems that many product partnerships have become a little laboured yet the Palladium Boot's minimalism and obvious functionality creates a direct and cohesive vision that reflects Neil Barrett without any confusion.

The shoe itself is simple, hardwearing and rather nifty - especially being able to tuck them down on the sides making it easy to tuck your jeans in or pull your jeans over the boot. There is no overbearing signature design - nothing that goes 'POP' which allow the details (neutral colours, tonal-embossed branding, high-quality leathers) to really stand out.

This would quickly become an ageless staple if found in my wardrobe and is a prime example of a textbook collaboration that celebrates both participants' aesthetics without losing sight of its sole purpose.

(photo by GQ - The nubuck leather shoe runs for $275, and you can find it at palladiumboots.com) Also Available at Bloomingdale's in New York, Kitson in L.A., and Browns in London

ELLEN ROGERS

Ellen Rogers hails from North Norfolk, although it is London where she's been spending most of her days in the darkroom. She uses dark imagery and historical references to create a portfolio of soft and beautiful images which use dark and quiet scenes with emotive subtlety and the inspiration from her collection of vintage cameras and comics is rather obvious. Rogers is also a budding filmmaker, using Super 8 and focusing on a wider angle approach to her subjects using a variation of textures and experiments to find the perfect results. She also studies various Druidic and Runic teachings and is fascinated by religion, the occult, mystique, tradition, scripture, unsolved mysteries, and ancient history which all transcend within her work.

BIG CLASSIC STUFF

You have to expect the unexpected...

I need this in my life

This week Lomography will introduce their new Spinner 360 panoramic camera. The fully mechanic camera captures infinite panoramic shots on 35mm film. You just have to pull the trigger cord and the camera does all the rest for you and exposes the full width of a film role.

I Need Glasses

The Chung

Alexa Chung
L'Officiel August 2010

I don't think its possible for me to rationalise my fascination with Alexa Chung in any relatable form so I won't even bother. Surely everyone in the English speaking world should know who she is - She's a quirky English style icon who was famed Queen of Style by Vogue, outdressing the likes of Kate Moss & Agyness Deyn and has amassed success on both sides of the atlantic with a recent MTV chat show stateside. Although 'Its On with Alexa' fell victim to the axe, she has stayed put in Brooklyn with all the other delicious expats (Aggy D anyone?) and has revived her modelling career since moving to her hipster cesspit of Williamsburg. She was announced as the face of DKNY last year, and has since fronted a Pepe Jeans campaign and was recently announced as the figurehead of the forthcoming Lacoste fragrance. She is also screwing Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys so really she ain't doing too badly.

Mathilde Nivet, Paper City

Mathilde Nivet, Quartier

Mathilde Nivet, Paris
Mathilde Nivet, Upside Town
Mathilde Nivet, Upside Town

RUSSH

Julia Nobis by Derek Henderson for RUSSH MAGAZINE June/July2010

I think RUSSH is pure editorial perfection and it is certainly the most inspiring Australian publication out there which pays homage to domestic talent and celebrates Australian beauty.