Sonia Boyce

Sonia Boyce is a British Afro-Caribbean artist, now living in London. Her early work was based upon 'race, ethnicity and contemporary urban experience expressed in large pastel drawings and photographic collages, questioning racial stereotypes in the media and in day-to-day life' ( http://www.iniva.org/library/archive/people/b/boyce_sonia).
"The effect of her work has been to re-orientate and re-negotiate the position of Black or Afro-Caribbean art within the cultural mainstream. " (http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/artists_stories/single/63633). 


Sonia Boyce studied in my home town at  the first National Convention of Black Artists at Wolverhampton College of Art , where she was amazed to find so many interested and engaged black artists. This experience reassured her that she was on the right career path and strengthened her belief in what she was doing ( http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/artists_stories/single/63633). All of her work is so full of passion and  full of the very essence of  everything she stands for. Each of her works are equally as strong as the next one and you can clearly see that her ethnicity is a big part of who she is. 

(http://thepracticeexchange.blogspot.co.uk/2010_08_01_archive.html)

'We Are English' is my favourite of hers the colours used in the stripes are really earthy natural tones, ones you would relate to Africa, on the other hand the type saying 'We are English' is written in English which means exactly what it says. I think she has linked both sides parts of her ethnic background so perfectly and the message is clear and simple, in my opinion a very strong piece of art.

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References:
-http://www.iniva.org/library/archive/people/b/boyce_sonia
-http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/artists_stories/single/63633
-http://thepracticeexchange.blogspot.co.uk/2010_08_01_archive.html

Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton is known as a painter, typographer, collagist, printmaker, graphic designer, digital image manipulator, screen printer, photographer, software programmer or computer builder."Hamilton was committed to exploring and blurring the boundaries of “high” and “low” culture even as they were refashioned by television, cinema and rock music." (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8760860/Richard-Hamilton.html). 


"Although one of the most influential British artists of the late 20th century, Hamilton was a modest man who claimed he merely reworked the ideas and rhythms of Duchamp, Joyce, Picasso, Van Eyck and Velasquez." (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8760860/Richard-Hamilton.html). 


One of his most recognizable pieces of work was his collage 'Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing?'.

' Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? '.

(http://www.factmag.com/2011/09/13/r-i-p-richard-hamilton/)

In 'Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing?' Hamilton brings together images of things that were current and were becoming part of every day life, such as television, Warner Brothers billboard, Roy Litchensteins comic poster (pop art had just begun), incorporating the word 'Pop' into his work as well as it being catogorized as 'Pop' (much to his dismay), the 'Ford logo' and the motel bed (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8760860/Richard-Hamilton.html). I think the use of collage works as he is bringing different parts of what was then classed as 'modern' life together and putting them together to create one image.

Another piece by Hamilton that I really like is a painting called 'Pin Up'.

'Pin Up'

(http://www.sanjeev.net/modernart/pin-up-by-richard-hamilton-1458.html)

The reason it caught my eye was because the image is clearly of  a woman but when you look he hasn't actually painted a women but separate shapes that together create the shape of the woman, he has also used the space around the woman's body to help define the overall image of the woman. 

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References:

-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/art-obituaries/8760860/Richard-Hamilton.html

-http://www.factmag.com/2011/09/13/r-i-p-richard-hamilton/

-http://www.sanjeev.net/modernart/pin-up-by-richard-hamilton-1458.html

Barney Bubbles

Barney Bubbles is an designer and producer that I have been aware of for some time, this is because he has created some great visual work for some of my favourite musicians. He made posters, leaflets and album covers for Ian Dury and the Blockheads and the music video for 'Ghost Town' the well known song by The Specials. 

Gig leaflet

(http://www.barneybubbles.com/blog/archives/5511)

(http://www.barneybubbles.com/blog/archives/4982)

Above is the poster with the Blockheads logo designed by Bubbles. The Blockheads contacted Bubbles asking for a logo that would look good printed on t-shirts... five minutes later they had their iconic logo (http://www.barneybubbles.com/blog/archives/4982). 

During the time Dury and Bubbles worked together they created a special bond. “There weren’t many people Ian Dury trusted 100%. He’d been about a bit, but he trusted Barney completely... Whatever he delivered, Ian loved. There was mutual respect and appreciation. Ian spent seven years at art school and then did some teaching, so I think he knew as well as anyone, perhaps more so, how talented Bubbles was... They saw themselves as equals and were very aware of the craft and hard work each put into their art ” (http://www.barneybubbles.com/blog/archives/4982).  This mutual respect and comfort with each other produced some of the best graphics in the music industry.

Barney Bubbles was also linked with Factory Records in Manchester.

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References:
-http://www.barneybubbles.com/blog/archives/5511

Peter Saville

Peter Saville is the man behind one of the most famous album cover designs and logos in the music world. He designed the iconic album sleeve for 'Unknown Pleasures' by 'Joy Division' in 1979, since then it has been used on t shirts, souls of trainers, skateboard decks, posters and even tattoos. Even 30 years on it is easily recognized and appreciated by the youth of today. 

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2011/may/29/joydivision-neworder)

Many people think that the image is a diagram of a heart beat, however it is actually an the wave image from the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2011/may/29/joydivision-neworder). 

Saville on the making of the album sleeve:  "This was the first and only time that the band gave me something that they’d like for a cover. I went to see Rob Gretton, who managed them, and he gave me a folder of material, which contained the wave image from the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy. They gave me the title too but I didn’t hear the album. The wave pattern was so appropriate. It was from CP 1919, the first pulsar, so it’s likely that the graph emanated from Jodrell Bank, which is local to Manchester and Joy Division. And it’s both technical and sensual. It’s tight, like Stephen Morris’ drumming, but it’s also fluid: lots of people think it’s a heart beat. Having the title on the front just didn’t seem necessary. I asked Rob about it and, between us, we felt it wasn’t a cool thing to do. It was the post-punk moment and we were against overblown stardom. The band didn’t want to be pop stars. " 

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2011/may/29/joydivision-neworder) 

I love how the inspiration for the album cover came out of something as dull as an encyclopedia but fits the deep vibes of the album so well. It is such a simple design but works with the music to create something deeper, combining both senses (hearing and seeing) together. 






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References:
-http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2011/may/29/joydivision-neworder

Allen Jones

Allen Jones flicks between sculpture and painting but it was his sculpture work that caught my eye (http://www.sculpture.org.uk/AllenJones/biography/). He first started out in the 1960's when the British Pop Art scene had just begun to take off (http://www.sculpture.org.uk/AllenJones/biography/). "His aesthetic centred on beautiful women visualised erotically and stereotypically as in glossy magazines, advertisements and cartoon strips" (http://www.sculpture.org.uk/AllenJones/biography/). Jones objectified women turning them into furniture, it is a topic that could easily be seen as sexist, however he has done it in a way that makes women look attractive and it is as though he is respecting the woman form. Admittedly his designs are controversial but they are also done tastefully.

(http://www.chiccacoolfactory.com/2011/03/allen-jones-design-and-illustrations.html)

This is the first piece of work by Allen Jones that caught my eye.

(http://www.chiccacoolfactory.com/2011/03/allen-jones-design-and-illustrations.html)

Rest of the collection.

When I first saw Allen Jones' work it reminded me of the scene in Stanely Kubricks 'A Clockwork Orange' where the main characters are in 'Karova Milkbar'. All of the tables in the milkbar are women in simular poses to the ones used by Jones. After looking into it I found out that it is a common misconception that the women tables in the Milkbar were made by Allen Jones, however they were not they were just inspired by him. 

Famous opening to the British cult classic 'A Clockwork Orange'.

(http://www.phinnweb.org/links/cinema/directors/kubrick/clockworkorange/korova/)

Jones' furniture/ sculpture attracts attention from everyone who sees it, whether it interests the sexual instinct in them or completely disgusts them it will prevoke some sort of reaction and in my opinion if you create a reaction you have been sucessful in your work, it is when someone is passive about it you should be worried! 

Allen Jones' work is so different and striking that it would be unnatural to not do a double take. I think It is safe to say that this is the sexiest furniture out there. 

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References:

-http://www.sculpture.org.uk/AllenJones/biography/

-http://www.chiccacoolfactory.com/2011/03/allen-jones-design-and-illustrations.html

-http://www.phinnweb.org/links/cinema/directors/kubrick/clockworkorange/korova/

David David

I was walking around the British Design exhibition at the V&A and stumbled across a chair by David David and Glass Hill.

(http://www.daviddavid.co.uk)

 I was immediately attracted to the bright colours and the geometric shapes, the second thing I noticed was that the design had been hand drawn and coloured in with pencil crayons; this gives the harsh geometric shapes an essence of naivety and gives it all a softer edge. I think that the contrast of the content and the media used actually work complimenting each other and working together quite well. 


David David also goes by the name of David Saunders (http://www.daviddavid.co.uk). 'He started out as an artist and assistant for Tracy Emin (http://www.daviddavid.co.uk), this is when he started to work with hand-printed block prints' which he describes as a "celebration of boldness, colour, creation, exploration and expression" (http://www.daviddavid.co.uk). His bright vibrant patterns are now also printed on things such as clothing, umbrellas, cards, bean bags. However when it comes to the designs on the clothing he is classed as more as an art director rather than the artist (http://www.daviddavid.co.uk). 

(All images from http://www.daviddavid.co.uk)

The good thing about David Davids designs is that they are aesthetically pleasing whether they be digitally printed or hand rendered. I think working in purely patterns is such a good idea because once you get a really good pattern it can be applied to so many things and look good, for example curtains, cushions, bed linen, wrapping paper and clothing. If it were possible I most likely have my entire house furnished and wardrobe filled with David Davids work.

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References:

-http://www.daviddavid.co.uk

Martino Gamper- 100 chairs in 100 days

This is one of my recent discoveries and one of the most interesting collections of work I have seen in a while. Martino Gamper set himself the self explanatory project named '100 chairs in 100 days', this entailed collecting disregarded chairs from the streets of London and from the homes of friends and families. The collecting of the chairs took around 2 years before is 100 days of craft and making could begin (http://www.gampermartino.com/projects/a-100-chairs-in-a-100-days/). The objective of the project was to  reinvent/ 'transform its character' the already existing chairs that he found (http://www.gampermartino.com/projects/a-100-chairs-in-a-100-days/). 


He used the project as a '3-D sketchbook' to experiment and be playful, finding what would work as the best overall design and what would be more suited to mass production (http://www.gampermartino.com/projects/a-100-chairs-in-a-100-days/). He uses the chairs to 'celebrate' the 'geographical, historical and human resonance of design: what can they tell us about London? What areas they came from and who used them' (http://www.gampermartino.com/projects/a-100-chairs-in-a-100-days/). This idea is similar to Dalton Ghetti with his alphabet carved into pencils that he found on the streets; I think that when the artist looks so deeply into where the resources they use come from, it is shown in their work. You can tell that they are respecting the materials and using the history instead of disregarding it, creating work with a greater substance letting history shining through. 


I really like the idea of using something that has already existed and transforming its character because I think that when something already exists you have to be more inventive and creative to transform it into something else than if you were to make something completely from scratch. I also think it gives work an extra quality because people can relate to what it used to be then have their eyes opened to what it could be. 

Image of '100 chairs in 100 days'

(http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/come-together/)

One of the collection

http://www.detnk.com/node/1501

One of the collection 

(http://inhabitat.com/martino-gamper-100-chairs-in-100-days/)

One of the collection

(http://vi.sualize.us/view/8431549362740352061938be3daa5174/)

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References:
-http://www.gampermartino.com/projects/a-100-chairs-in-a-100-days/
-http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/come-together/
-http://inhabitat.com/martino-gamper-100-chairs-in-100-days/
-http://vi.sualize.us/view/8431549362740352061938be3daa5174/