Swooning over Louboutin

Any thoughts I had about this being "just a collection of shoes" was dispelled as soon as we walked in and I was completely blown away by one of the most glamorous, inspiring, atmospheric and theatrical exhibitions I have ever been to. Merry-go-rounds, light bulbs, shells, music, shadows, showgirl holograms, glass bell jars, hand-drawn fonts, and mirrored surfaces that accentuate the huge heels and flash of red.

I love this quote: "The principle of craftsmanship is that it is a living process, a constant evolution".

Such a shame that no photography is allowed - images from the exhibition have been sourced from various websites. Christian Louboutin is showing at the Design Museum, London until 9th July.

Found reflections

Beautiful reflections+mirrors+multiples+surface+materials seen at Stuart Haygarth's exhibition Found at the Haunch of Venison. I love his use of unexpected materials and the way multiple objects create a whole new aesthetic. Here are some of the mirrored and spectacle pieces, and I'll post his ceramic and plastic work in the next few days.

"Haygarth has spent many years gathering seemingly insignificant items such as ceramic figurines, spectacles, glassware and plastic objects whilst beachcombing, cycling and on excursions to markets and car boot sales. These found materials are then painstakingly organised and inspire the final work through their form, use, tactile qualities and their relationship to light" - Haunch of Venison.

Crystalised

Although I have created this blog purely to show my own photos, I couldn't resist sharing this gorgeous film with you by Vladislav Delay.

Melting...Growing...Light...Refractions...Powder...Dissolving...Surfaces...Transparency...Blurred...Crystalised

Multiples\2

Collections seen at Dutch Design Week. Fragile and delicate butterfly wings digitally printed onto thin rubber, hand-stitched into 3D forms and over-flocked for a soft, dusty finish. Experimental ceramic work-in-progress pieces exhibited in rows and grids, unfinished or imperfect, exploring how materials react to each other, coloured glazes, matt and shine, dry and powdered, hard and soft, expanding and sunken forms.

Displacement

I stumbled across a fantastic installation on Great Eastern Street by Maaike Anne Stevens for Levi's Live Unbuttoned project that "encourages people to separate observation from preconception". 

Reflections...refractions...distortion...displacement...optical...shards...layers...photographic...mirrored...

Soft wax, deceptive surfaces and digital fashion

Yesterday we had a team day out absorbing new exhibitions and being inspired by unusual materials and processes. Absolute favourite of the day (and I think the most inspiring and interactive exhibition I have seen since Psycho Buildings last year) is Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy - loads of soft, squidgy red wax poured and thrown and dragged across the interior (red wax images from google).

SHOWstudio: Fashion Revolution at Somerset House was also really interesting - particularly working for an online fashion company - as it tracks how Nick Knight and his team have explored new ways of creating, showing and interacting with fashion using the internet and digital media.

Also fantastic for materials was Thomas Heatherwick's Extrusions at the Haunch of Venison (round the back of the RA) - creating furniture from single pieces of aluminium that are squeezed through the world's largest extrusion machine. Definitely a bit of a polished and mirrored surface theme going on during the day!