G A T E A U X

2010-08-28T19:40:00.002+01:00

Mesmerizing

(From 'Sunset Corp' on youtube)

2010-08-28T19:20:00.002+01:00

Mesmerizing

(Coldcut and Hexstatic 'Timber')

2010-08-01T16:30:00.000+01:00

Posh Hip-Hop from 1936. Words by W.H. Auden, music by Benjamin Britten (extract from "Nightmail")

2010-07-31T20:18:00.002+01:00

Shell detail

2010-07-31T12:24:00.001+01:00

Tom Vek "Nothing But Green Lights"

Nearly wore this disc out 5 years ago, still love this tune... All white and roller skates is a tough look to pull off!

2010-07-26T22:40:00.003+01:00

Beans on toast, with Fluoro-Pink Plasticote

2010-07-26T22:36:00.002+01:00

Cyan Radio

2010-07-26T22:20:00.000+01:00

Bonsai

2010-07-26T22:13:00.000+01:00

Sometimes its about being in the right place at the right time...

2010-06-07T19:53:00.001+01:00

Found this the other day, unfortunately the coupons are no longer valid.

2010-05-13T20:41:00.000+01:00

A couple of moody pics from the land of the cheese eating surrender monkey (as grounds keeper Willy once described our gallic friends)...

2010-04-01T16:47:00.001+01:00

Roger Daltrey driving a 2CV into the distant future

2010-03-30T21:53:00.002+01:00

I reckon if the sun was the size of Wales, the earth would be the size of a double decker bus (thats a 20th of a football pitch).... This looks like an album cover for some posh generic Radiohead clones, either that, or something that might be on the front of one of Chris Martins favourite t-shirts (its good to take an objective look at your own work).

2010-03-30T20:30:00.001+01:00

Shot some cocktails in the studio last week, learnt alot (not about cocktails, I know enough about those already!). First edition of Foodologist magazine coming soon....

2010-03-26T22:45:00.000Z

I look at this and smell Findus Crispy Pancakes

2010-03-17T17:31:00.000Z

'Four broken Feospan capsules'

Found these in an old kitchen the other day, they are dated 1977, and were for the treatment of Mrs Noble's anaemia.

2010-03-17T16:51:00.001Z

A few snaps from my last job, covering the Grand Military Gold Cup day at Sandown Park. Managed to swim through the appalling weather, and vast oceans of tweed to grab some decent images. Princess Anne is not very photogenic, so its always good to get other stuff in the shot with her! A few more of the snaps can be found here

2010-03-17T16:34:00.001Z

Was lucky enough to see the Chris Ofili exhibition at the Tate Britain recently, it was a really enjoyable show. Above is a rendition of 'The adoration of captain shit and the legend of the black stars', one of his earlier pieces which explores the themes of racial stereotype, African art and the 'Blaxploitation' movies of the 70's. His large scale paintings contain lots of minute detail and often use elephant shit and layers of polyurethane varnish (unfortunately this doesn't translate all that well on a computer screen!). The show also has a collection of his drawings, and some of his more recent work, as well as an excellent short film about him at the end (a clip of which can be seen here).

2010-03-17T16:07:00.000Z

Not posted for a while, sorry gang... Went to see the Irving Penn 'Portraits' show at the NPG the other week, and was left feeling a bit hollow. The work itself was pretty amazing (I'm a big fan of the Yves Saint Laurent portrait, above) but in my opinion the individual pieces had lost some of their impact because they were shown on top of each other. 100 or so B&W mugshots of similar size and composition fighting with each other for attention. Strolling round the crowded gallery, it felt just like I'd flicked through a book, having not gained anything from seeing the prints on the wall. It does not detract from the great legacy of Irving Penn, only the ability of the NPG (and the custodians of Irving Penns work) to turn something brilliant into something a bit average.

2010-02-22T18:10:00.000Z

Proposed poster for cookies from the Red October factory by Alexander Rodchenko (1923)

2010-02-22T18:07:00.000Z

Two pieces of graphic art from mother Russia (Left: 'Compass and ruler drawing' (1914) Alexander Rodchenko; Right: Moscow Metro map) totally unconnected, save that their fresh energetic appearance belies their spurious socioeconomic backgrounds (and yes, they both have circles in them!).

2010-02-18T20:05:00.002Z

Flaming heck!

2010-02-18T12:16:00.003Z

'93 Til infinity' Souls of mischief

Here's a little ditty to brighten up a miserable winters day... It cant be too much longer before we get a revival of the early 90's West coast sound, then at last it will be safe to listen to hip hop again. In the mean time UK, kick back with a hot cup of tea and prey for that massive orange ball in the sky to throw some heat our way soon- peace.

2010-02-15T15:28:00.004Z

This is what movie posters for popular mainstream films look like in Poland. Beautiful, striking graphic design (movies from top to bottom, left to right: Fatal Attraction, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Crocodile Dundee II, Return of The Pink Panther, Rosemary's Baby, Short Circuit II).

2010-02-11T17:12:00.000Z

Test shot for a future series...

2010-02-11T17:08:00.002Z

Wonkey town planning can throw up (no pun intended, I promise!) some interesting compositions.

2010-02-09T16:08:00.001Z

Just about the bare minimum included here.

2010-02-09T15:45:00.002Z

Taken on a photowalk a while back...

2010-01-18T17:50:00.007Z

"Blue Velvet" (David Lynch, 1986)

Watched this again the other day, I was reminded of it as Frank Booths alter ego (Dennis Hopper) is on his last legs. Hopper does a good line in madmen, but this little cameo from Dean Stockwell nearly steels the show.

Lynch lists Eggleston amongst his visual influences, and has recently been involved in the production of an interesting album with Dangermouse and Sparklehorse ("Dark night of the Soul" - worth a listen). Impeccable artistic credentials... but wait, hang on a mo... He also produced this interminably annoying slice of poop for the equally diabolical Nissan Micra. I guess he didn't have much to work with (the Micra is a horrendous piece of design), but he should have realised that there is never any point in trying to polish a shit.

2010-01-18T17:15:00.001Z

"Smashed Tumbler" (I like this title)

2010-01-18T16:33:00.001Z

Two beautiful pieces of Raymond Loewy artwork, a car design (a concept drawing for the Stuedebaker Avanti) and a boat advertisement (for a leisure craft he designed). Mr Loewy was responsible for the Coca Cola bottle and Lucky Strike cigarette packet. His design house went on to produce the logos for BP, Shell, Nabisco, Canada Dry... and the slightly less illustrious (corner shop favorite) Spar.

2010-01-09T15:07:00.000Z

This seems appropriate as I reach an unwelcome personal milestone....

2010-01-08T21:54:00.004Z

Sometimes you take a snap and grow to like it despite its shortcomings.

2010-01-04T23:44:00.007Z

A well put together advertisement for the Citroen DS, a beautiful car that couldn't be more French if it was made from crushed up petanque balls.

2010-01-04T23:23:00.002Z

"Karate Stance" (1977) Mark Cohen

2010-01-04T23:18:00.000Z

Delicious...

2009-12-25T10:08:00.002Z

2009-12-15T18:10:00.001Z

My take on the ubiquitous use of photography to capture an imperceptible moment... Not quite Harold Edgerton, but not far off.

2009-12-15T16:06:00.012Z

A double helping of Mick Jagger - Firstly (something you've probably seen before, but worth a peek if you haven't) his letter to Andy Warhol commissioning him to do the artwork for Sticky Fingers (click the letter to view it large). Secondly a performance of Brown Sugar (from Sticky Fingers) on top of the pops. Check out Micks hat at the beginning, he's probably still smarting about that one.

2009-12-13T23:18:00.003Z

This man (Lewis Powell) was tried and executed for his involvement in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (1865). If only he was around today, he might have considered a career in the fashion business instead.

2009-12-11T20:36:00.000Z

Late 80's album art

2009-12-11T00:14:00.001Z

Just doing my bit to keep the Athena poster genre alive

2009-12-10T19:55:00.003Z

Composition with triangles

2009-11-24T10:31:00.004Z

A sketch from a series of illustrations I made on the subject of pedestrians (an absolute hot potato of a subject I know). This has found its way in here because a video featured in an earlier post reminded me of it (especially around the 1.30 mark). I made these illustrations around 2005, a few years before the video came out. I guess the guy who made the animation must have came along to my Access course studio for a spot of inspiration (its either that, or he liked the look of things like this by Patrick Caulfield, as I did!)

2009-11-23T23:20:00.000Z

A snap I took about four years ago, probably one of the first things I shot on a DSLR... Not an original attempt at photographic art I grant you (thank you Elina Brotherus and countless others!) but I still like it none the less.

2009-11-23T22:43:00.002Z

The last remaining Stalinist state on earth is still producing beautifully rendered propaganda, the type of which uncle Joe would be proud of. The official North Korean website sells t-shirts and mugs emblazoned with other poster designs, it is both naive and chillingly compelling.

2009-11-22T11:43:00.003Z

Watched the Larry Clark film 'Kids' (1995) again recently. He is an expert at shooting drug fueled adolescence (Tulsa is an amazing book, well worth a peek). Still not made my mind up about the film though, it has its moments, but it also clubs its message home with cricket bat. Probably the best thing to emerge from it is this image of a young Chloe Sevigny.

2009-11-19T14:35:00.000Z

Looking at how paint alters the function of things, a reflection on the synesthesia of the photographic image; the readymade and Da Da-ism.... Blah blah blahhhhh. OK OK enough of the arty pretension, its a toothbrush with pink paint on it, I like the way it looks.

2009-11-16T23:21:00.005Z

G i l S c o t H e r o n

2009-11-16T22:49:00.003Z

Great performance that embodies the suffocating angsty spirit of Post Punk, with an introduction by arty string bean poet weirdo John Cooper Clarke (nobody does arty string bean poet weirdos like us Brits!).

2009-11-16T22:31:00.004Z

Its not as easy as you might think to take a picture of nothing much and make it look like something... The master of the art is here

2009-11-16T21:39:00.005Z

A scene from a cinematic masterpiece... It still looks beautifully crisp and modern, despite being 41 years old.

2009-10-28T18:38:00.025Z

Photowalk to Eastney yesterday... stumbled into the twilight zone (otherwise known as Eastney caravan park). It has a strange atmosphere; industrial, bleak and devoid of any noteable features (save the MOD listening post it borders).

2009-10-21T11:41:00.005+01:00

Another piece by Wayne Thiebaud - beautiful, and unashamedly decorative. Its like the visual equivalent of a pringle, once you look at it, you just keep going back for more (thats exactly how the pringle slogan goes isn't it? God, my analogies are amazing!).

2009-10-21T11:26:00.008+01:00

One of my snaps from yesteryear, inspired by (the proper way to say ripped off) Guy Bourdin.

2009-10-21T09:51:00.012+01:00

Part of a shoot I did for DnB tree surgery. Fun job, plus I got to go up in a cherry picker!

Couldn't resist shouting 'timber' at the vital moment... well you would, wouldn't you?

2009-10-14T21:40:00.005+01:00

Another photowalk, another piece of rubbish

2009-10-10T17:32:00.003+01:00

Went for a quick photowalk today, saw this... it couldn't have been dropped any better if you tried. I can't post a pic of some milk without a nod to this by Jeff Wall. Awesome.

2009-10-09T18:47:00.007+01:00

Another piece of televisual history, this time the intro to BBC2' s Arena (with music by Brian Eno). I cant think of any current TV show with titles that set the mood for a show quite like this. It seemed that during the 70's and 80's making television was a craft, made with consideration to such things as credits (maybe that is just nostalgia colouring the past. The 80's was, after all, home to Terry and June, 321 with Ted Rogers and Dusty Bin as well as countless things featuring Cheggers).

2009-10-07T21:15:00.002+01:00

Wayne Thiebaud "Girl with ice cream cone" (1963)

2009-10-07T20:53:00.002+01:00

"The Large Enclosure" (1835) Casper David Freidrich

2009-10-03T08:37:00.004+01:00

A Friend of mine (Tim Bowditch) has a great show on in london at the moment.... Its on at The Star Bethnal Green, and is open now until the 30th October. All the details are here.

2009-10-03T08:16:00.003+01:00

linear composition....

2009-10-02T13:16:00.004+01:00

o00OOo00oo0O0oo

2009-10-02T13:00:00.010+01:00

“Broadway and 103 rd Street. New York” (1955) William Klein.

In an interview Klein gave he said that he noticed a kid with a toy gun and just asked him to "look tough", rendering an iconic and memorable image. Love the kids expression, the pic also reminds me of this by Diane Arbus... Lecture over, I'll get back to posting some more silly shit soon!

2009-10-02T12:52:00.005+01:00

Inform. Educate. Entertain.

2009-10-02T12:48:00.004+01:00

Bitesized nostalgia....

2009-10-02T12:08:00.005+01:00

Black Lips have been one of my favorite bands of the last few years, and this is a great video for "Short Fuse" taken from their album "200 Million Thousand". They have the same anarchic feel as The Sonics and early Iggy and The Stooges (before he took up advertising car insurance).

2009-10-01T21:38:00.006+01:00

Before you judge me for posting some Disney, and think that I have gone soft, check out the beautiful hand coloured animation. I remember watching this when I was ill as a kid, and it giving me vivid nighmares! Great words too:

I can stand the sight of worms

and look at micro-scopic germs

but Tech-ni-colour pachy-derms is really too much for meeee!

2009-09-29T13:28:00.004+01:00

A snap from "Love Albert Road Day"... great day, (mostly) nice people. Albert road has had (for quite a few years now) a strong creative community spirit, and this celebration at the end of the summer has continued to get bigger and bigger and is representative of a growing scene. However, I don't think Albert road will ever have the artistic buzz of East London, but then again, who wants too many of these characters mooching about!

2009-09-24T19:43:00.002+01:00

Electric.

2009-09-24T17:07:00.001+01:00

One of my snaps showing Southsea by street light... I love the look of Black and white photography at night, and it doesn't get much better than this by Robert Adams.

2009-09-23T19:45:00.001+01:00

L I T T L E D R A G O N F o r t u n e

2009-09-21T22:30:00.000+01:00

V A N D E R E L S K E N

2009-09-21T22:12:00.000+01:00

This is an old piece of mine that caught my eye again recently... I rather like it, and if you can't blow your own trumpet on your own blog then there isn't much point of owning your own trumpet. I saw it on my flickr page, whilst checking how many people had looked at it (not very many). Egotistical you might say, but not quite so self obsessed as the ever increasing numbers of girls on flickr who spend their days posting pictures of themselves accompanied by some tortured air headed 'haiku' underneath. Flickr is a fun and interesting resource, but from a creative point of view, a bit of a cul-de sac. I still post pics every now and then, and have a quick scan over contacts work, but as Stephen Shore said “I went on to Flickr and it was just thousands of pieces of shit, and I just couldn’t believe it. And it’s just all conventional, it’s all cliches, it’s just one visual convention after another.” Looking at flickr is like eating a petrol station pasty: a guilty pleasure that manages to be both bland and offensive, where the few prime cuts are surrounded by gristle. There we go, rant over. I have stated my case about flickr, and there I stand, resolute, firmly on the fence!

2009-09-18T18:58:00.001+01:00

I always wondered where the inspiration for "Mr Hanky" came from. I wish all adverts were this entertaining

2009-09-18T18:38:00.001+01:00

There is a lot of Beatles press about at the moment, but none of it mentions Peter Max. So in the secluded safety of my blog I will pay him a well deserved tribute. For it was Peter Max that animated the yellow submarine video, and so was a huge influence on the psychedelic aesthetic. The film above manages to be funny, creepy and tender at the same time, a fitting description of an art synonymous with acid!

2009-09-18T08:15:00.000+01:00

Peter Saville

2009-09-18T07:39:00.002+01:00

Music video - "Golden Cage" by The Whitest Boy Alive. Simple visuals that have a subdued 'academic' feel (anyone who has studied animation or illustration will know what I'm on about). Ive still got (somewhere!) some illustrations I did on pedestrians a few years ago that I seem to remember having a similar vibe, I'll dig them out later on (however, old work always turns out to be much worse than you remember it!).

2009-09-17T19:18:00.000+01:00

G A R Y H U M E colourist extrodinaire

2009-09-17T17:29:00.001+01:00

A weee bit of John Carpenter magic "Assault on Precinct 13".... suspense on a shoestring (sorry if that sounds like a pun). Beautifully shot, and great a soundtrack. The lighting reminds me a bit of this and this by Bruce Davidson (who used to have a great website, however, it looks as though magnum has taken it down).

2009-09-17T11:48:00.000+01:00

I Want to shoot a project on eggs... to me they are weird, everyday and vital (in the life affirming sense) as well as being slightly comical. I made a start with this shoot called "SIX"

2009-09-17T11:24:00.000+01:00

I shot for Sandown Park racecourse (13th Aug), had no brief, and didn't have to cover the races... Dream job! The competitive element of the racing didn't interest me as much as the people and horses did. The slideshow above has a few more of the shots from the final edit (music: Trahison Vitalic)

2009-09-16T22:59:00.000+01:00

"Butterfingers" Bomb the bass

Not too sure about the track, love the video though... a good video can lift a dodgy tune, and in many ways have more of an impact. When music and video seem inseparable it is a joy to behold.... Always on the lookout for A.V. loveliness, and found this little gem recently:

"Two Dots" Lisune