Grainger to Gilbert & George

 A couple of exhibitions to keep in mind. Firstly, one of the rising stars in the art world, Karen Grainger. Grainger is currently exploring the 150 year old 'Wet Collodion' photographic process and is exhibiting at Wieden & Kennedy in London. Good little Interview with her here.
Secondly, the old guard, Gilbert & George are back at the White Cube, and as always, will be worth a look. Catch a short BBC interview with them here.

Mischler Traxler

 

I have not had a chance to fully investigate Mischler Traxler's site yet, there is loads of stuff on there, but i like what i see. From low tech furniture arrangements, to the re-use of old porcelain plates to conceptual investigations into growth and solar energy. Their latest project involved the connection of two old lamps by a fluorescent tube. I love the tension in these peices, where poseable lights become fixed, unable to move, in each others glare. The composition of the image above immediately reminded me of seeing Botticelli's 'Annuciation' in Florence some years back. I always imagined light being beamed between the two outstretched hands, such is the immense tension in the painting. (If you ever get a chance to go and see it, DO! It is astonishing.)

Dare Studio

Good styling with this opening shot on the Studio Dare site. Whilst I am not won over on all of the collection, there is interest everywhere. Dare obviously like to mix materials, which i like, but their most successful piece for me is the more refined, all metal, tube light.

Studio Pepe

Very cool looking preview site for Studio Pepe. There seems to be real attention and respect paid towards the objects they are shooting here, and i look forward to seeing more soon.

Jagnefaltmilton

 

Hot from winning the open international prize organised by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Jagnefaltmilton follow up with their masterplan for the moving city of Åndalsnes, in Norway.

"... where existing and new rail roads would provide the base for new building that could be rolled back and forth depending on seasons and situations. Amongst other they propose a rolling hotel, a rolling public bath and a rolling concert hall.....and did not propose new city blocks,

public squares, boardwalks etcetera, but instead focused entirely on the existing rail road
network and created something unexpected from it"

This is obviously pure concept at the moment but there are big themes at play here; ideas of re-interpretation of infrastructure, comment on the pace of life, questioning how we travel whilst also looking at the mental health and social implications of cities.

All this, and more, and the company is barely a year old!

Droog Las Vegas

 

I have to say this confuses me somewhat, but Droog have just opened a new store on the main strip in Las Vegas. A highly conceptual, ethically aware European design collective plonked in the illuminated desert oasis? Hey, its Droog, they are brilliant, so there must be a plan here. The fact that they really are NOT supposed to be there is probably enough.

Happy New Year!

Very nice to be back after a little break, looking forward to 2011 with renewed freshness.
Firstly, heads up, the Grand Designs house i featured on last year is having another airing, this time in 2D in the accompanying Grand Designs Magazine. No idea what it will be like, (i don't get to see it before it hit the shelves), but not long to wait, as it's out later in the week, in the February edition.
As well as the normal blog stuff there are some very interesting things on the drawing board at the moment, a Hotel refurbishment, a tasty little Barn conversion kitchen, and a Gallery re-fit amongst many others. Then it's head down organising and making all the work for my own (independent) exhibition during London Design Week in September.
All that, and i am getting Married!  So stick with me, it might be fun.
In true 'one to look for in 2011' style, the image starting you off is Stefan Diezs' re-interpretation of industrial 'Dexion' shelving.  OK, Diez is already very well known, but i expect a lot, lot more goodness from him this year.