Blog
Pop Life: Art in a Material World
A new blockbuster exhibition at Tate Modern considers the legacy of the Pop Art movement. The show takes Andy Warhol’s notorious statement that “good business is the best art” as a starting point and examines the way artists such as Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, Richard Prince, Martin Kippenberger and Damien Hirst, to name a few, have embraced mass media to build their own ‘brands’.
Eduardo Paolozzi: The Jet Age Compendium
Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005) is perhaps best known for creating some of the earliest examples of British Pop Art, but less familiar is his work for the art and literature magazine, Ambit: work that shows a more politically engaged side to the artist than has previously been acknowledged. This exhibition presents Paolozzi’s Ambit works in the context of his other work from the late fifties to the early seventies.
4 September – 1 November 2009
Raven Row Gallery, 56 Artillery Lane, London E1 7LS
A.P.C Dover Street
Another new addition to the fashionable throes of London’s Dover Street, A.P.C has at last returned to English shores with a flagship store at 35a. The space, although small, is suitably simple but well-designed, just like the clothing aesthetic for which it is known and loved. Francophile clothing fans won’t be disappointed, especially with Breton stripes being at the forefront again this season.
Wish you were here swap
London’s trendy Newburgh Quarter near Carnaby Street pops up on the Lower East Side, featuring 30 of cool Britannia’s best independent boutiques with wares otherwise unavailable this side of the pond. There’s cult homegrown labels, like Twenty8Twelve, Cowshed and Beyond the Valley residing from 20th August to 13th September at 186 Orchard Street, NYC. Part two will take place from 1st October until 1st November, when ten of the Lower East Side’s equivalent brands Earnest Sewn, Adrienne’s and Zarin Fabric Warehouse to name a few will teleport to 8 Newburgh Street and 3 Lowndes Court in London. For more information, check out wishyouwerehereswap.com
Simon Foxton ‘About a Boy’
Men’s fashion is celebrated in stylist Simon Foxton’s outrageous and memorable shoots, created in partnership with long-time collaborators Nick Knight, Jason Evans and others. ‘About a Boy’ is on at The Photographer’s gallery until the 4th October – one of the gallery’s first major exhibitions to be held at its new venue.
The Photographer’s Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW
Super Contemporary at the Design Museum
Fans of ultra modern design can check out a host of specially commissioned works at the Super Contemporary exhibition London event, which is being held at the Design Museum between June and October 2009. The show aims to explore what makes the UK capital a magnet for world class creatives. Paul Smith, Thomas Heatherwick and Ron Arad are just some of the designers whose work will be featured in the show, designing something that improves life in the city, inspired by the city.
3rd June – 4th October 2009
Design Museum, 28 Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD
Adam Kimmel debuts at Browns Men
Adam Kimmel makes his debut at Browns Men for AW09. The American designer began his career studying architecture at New York University, but in 2003 met a former president of Calvin Klein and began the craft and business of fashion. Kimmel creates luxuriously unstructured pieces from uncommon fabrics, using unique proportions, whilst always maintaining a masculine silhouette.
Renovated Whitechapel Gallery
The Whitechapel Gallery will open to the public this month following its multi-million pound redevelopment programme. The Heritage Lottery Fund supported project has transformed the former library building next to the Gallery, increasing gallery space by 78%. Designed by leading Belgian architects Robbrecht en Daem (with London practice Witherford Watson Mann Architects), the expanded Whitechapel Gallery provides one of the most exciting new cultural buildings in Europe. Included in the expanded building are new galleries dedicated to presenting collections and new commissions; a permanent gallery and research room for the Whitechapel Gallery’s historic archive, and an Education and Research Tower including study and creative studios.
The Whitechapel Art Gallery, London E1 T. 020 7522 7888
Miles Aldridge at Hamiltons Gallery
Check out Miles Aldridge’s ultra-slick, acidic toned and hyper-lit works at Hamiltons Gallery until 9th May. ‘Doll Face’ is his latest exhibition, and coincides with the publication of Steidl’s glossy tome ‘Miles Aldridge: Pictures for Photographs’.
Hamiltons Gallery, 13 Carlos Place, London W1K 2EU
Hussein Chalayan at The Design Museum
Leading the forefront of contemporary fashion design, the twice named ‘British Designer of the Year,’ Hussein Chalayan, is renowned for his innovative use of materials, meticulous pattern cutting and progressive attitudes to new technology. This exhibition is the first comprehensive presentation of Hussein Chalayan’s work in the UK. Spanning fifteen years of experimental projects, the exhibition explores Hussein Chalayan’s creative approach, his inspirations and the many themes which influence his work such as cultural identity, displacement and migration.
22 January – 17 May
Design Museum 28 Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD T. 0870 833 9955
Marc by Marc Jacobs London Store
Since opening the doors to its collections line in London in 2007 Marc Jacobs has made Mayfair’s Mount Street and the surrounding area a magnet for luxury fashion labels setting up shop – and having last week launched its first Marc by Marc London store, the shopping hotspot just got even cooler.
Marc by Marc Jacobs, 56 South Audley Street, London W1