Jardin de Cactus

Daphna Laurens

There is something quite engaging about this image from Daphna Laurens at Salone de Mobile, Milano. It does not look quite real, almost like a Thomas Demand reconstruction, or a dolls house.

McCullin

I have just seen the most amazing documentary about the photographer Don McCullin. It is hard to describe the intensity of the film which charts McCullins' career capturing war, famine and ultimately humanity in every conceivable form. It's incredibly moving and distressing but it is also so very important, all brilliantly knitted together with newsreel and moving image film.
McCullin is a marvellous photographer, and he became obsessed by conflict (and the adrenalin it produced), putting himself in situations which were frankly suicidal.  But he did this in order to tell the truth, to tell real stories from the front line, to render the pain and suffering in all its gore and desperation.
Implicitly trusted and published by (Sir) Harold Evans, then editor of The Times and bank rolled by a fiercely independent owner, the photographs would form the basis of accounts from Cyprus, Vietnam, Lebanon, Cambodia and Biafra . These images left people reeling back home, trying to digest their breakfast on a quiet sunday morning.
McCullin struggled with the situations, and is obviously mentally scarred, but he is a true artist in my view. He seems to have had no control over impulse to shoot these images, he just had to do it.
I was slightly concerned by Argo, the recent Oscar winner, and its depiction of conflict, now I just think it is downright awful and actually dangerous.
The world needs more people like Don McCullin, and more people with the integrity and foresight to fund and produce stuff that is truly important.
Remarkable, (and not to be missed).

Pae White

More short Video,  but a gem this time, as Pae White talks about her current installation at the South London Gallery. I think whats interesting here is the honesty. The fine arts (and particularly the discussion & critique) can sometimes be perceived as over complicated and superflous. But White is adroit, has a real clarity of thought, and is also happy to talk about anxiety in the process. Oh... the work is quite brilliant to boot!

PM Gallery

Basic but informatory little video piece about the Walk On exhibition at the PM Gallery.

Aurelie Rimbert

Very concise series of 'trunks' by Aurelie Rimbert. There is a lovely openness to these pieces, both in a physical sense, with some of the series being perforated, but also emotionally. Is there anything painted on the canvas?, does the graph paper continue inside?and is there a line anywhere? They implore you to interact. All of these trunks could become in series in their own right, but I would like to think they won't, as the contrasting dimensions hint at more occasional, specific furniture. (Which is a very good thing in a one size fits all world.)

White and Walnut

Its been a while as I have been making this epic wall of wardrobes for an very nice apartment in West London. Everything in this place is scaled up, 4 Metre high ceilings, huge plaster mouldings, decorative friezes, and enormous interior doors. So it gave an opportunity to rework a recent design with more open niches, lighting and detailing. Will post some images when fitted.