MJ DAY

The Urban Habitat Project

Just a heads up guys - We pitched The Urban Habitat Project along with seven other teams to a panel of judges featuring the British Council and members from the China Academy of Art last week.
I'm pleased to say we have been shortlisted into the final four - judging will commence this week for the winning spot. Fingers crossed!

Exhibition | New Décor

I have to say, I'm totally into this exhibition. Not really for the layout or the curation of the show as I felt the first room was a little cluttered. But the pieces within the show were just awesome.
It reminded me a lot of the Telling Tales exhibition at the V&A a few months back, not in terms of stylistics or the exhibition design, but because of the pieces which are on display. I can see this show getting a lot of stick given the 'Design Art' kind of context it probably fits into, but same as with the Telling Tales show, I feel that this subject and judgement is perhaps irrelevant and you just have to view the pieces on their own individual merit. Not try to put them into a box of 'is it design, is it art?' - I just try to keep away from that whole subject. So like Telling Tales, I just enjoyed the New Décor for the fact that the objects in there are really interesting.
Apologies for the poor selection of images, I'm really not showing you the best pieces. Unfortunately no photography was allowed in the show so I've had to make do with what I could steal from the website.
All images are taken from the Hayward website: 
http://festivalbrazil.southbankcentre.co.uk/new-decor/

Exhibition | Ernesto Neto

Today I headed down early to see the Ernesto Neto exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London. We'd also booked in to go for a swim in the pool on the roof terrace but I got there and was a bit freaked out about seeing girls in their bikinis when it was so cold. So I backed out of going in (it was a bit of a let down to be honest). 
In terms of the exhibition, that too was a bit of a let down, I'm not sure what I was expecting but it was just a strange experience. I never really understood how everything was supposed to fit together or what the point was. It's a site specific immersive and sensory comission which Neto has created within the top floor of the Hayward. As you walked through, the tights like material had been filled with different plants so there was a sensory array of smells coming out, combined with that weird smell you get in children's playgrounds like everything has been a little 'touched' and that's only after being open a few days. (Obviously the 'touched' smell isn't part of the show, but it was a little off-putting)
Rather than the idea of skin and body organs I just got the vibes of being inside a dinosaur skeleton.
I dunno, I've just seen better exhibitions which alter the perception of space and your movement around the gallery, such as the Sarah Sze exhibition which was at the BALTIC a few years ago. The two exhibitions are not at all similar, but I felt that the spacial alterations transformed the visitor's relationship with the space more in the Sze exhibition that the Neto.
I dunno, maybe I just totally missed the point? I'd like to hear someone elses view on the show.




All images taken from the Hayward website and belong to photographer Steve White.
http://festivalbrazil.southbankcentre.co.uk/ernesto-neto/

Busy

Sorry I've not posted in a few days. Been bogged down with writing my thesis, other essays and also lots of meetings and signing off the design for our Wola Nani stand for Tent London 2010. I've finally seen the 'almost' finished product from furniture designer Simon Maidment. It's great that things are finally moving forward with that, and I'm really excited about what we have planned. I don't want to give too much away but I'll give you the word: 'sardine'...
In other news, 'the Urban Habitat' project is in and waiting for judging. The 4 best projects will be announced on Tuesday (15th) so fingers crossed for that!
Also there's another exciting project which I've just been asked to get involved in but more on that later. Sorry for all the secrets! All will be revealed soon!

Exhibition | Graduate Fashion Week 2010

Yesterday I popped down for the opening of Graduate Fashion Week at Earls Court. It's a good show. I was proud of my old uni Northumbria, holding the biggest spot at the entrance, and also Huddersfield and Leeds made a little appearance. Unfortunately I didn't get to see any of the fashion shows and ended up a little tipsy on free wine but I recommend a visit! It runs until the 10th of June. See if you can spot the dress I'd like as a wedding dress. (Not that I'm getting married or anything.)  But WOW!
All images taken from the GFW website:

http://www.gfw.org.uk/home.aspx

Exhibition | Free Range

Free Range has opened at the Old Truman Brewery this week.  The 10th Annual Art and Design Show supporting new creative talent. There's loads of really cool universities exhibiting so make sure you pop down! The 'what's on' calender is here: http://www.free-range.org.uk/

Crystal Collection

I've been pretty secretive about our project for the Legacy of the World Expo brief for the 'Urban Habitat Project' but I spotted these on Dezeen today and thought I'd give you a little mouth watering taster (although it's probably not that mouth watering at all, you probably don't even care...) Anyway I like these by Pour les Alpes.

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/06/03/crystal-collection-by-pour-les-alpes/

Exhibition | Kingston Degree Show

http://research.kingston.ac.uk/fada_shows/2010/