Waste Not

These images are from an amazing installation at the Barbican by Song Dong.The whole curve gallery is filled with thousands of objects collected and used by his mother during her lifetime.

"...A poignant meditation on family life and the artist’s own childhood during the Cultural Revolution, the installation comprises over 10,000 items collected by Song Dong’s mother, Zhao Xiangyuan, over five decades - ranging from a section of the family home, to metal pots and plastic bowls to blankets, bottle caps, toothpaste tubes and toys. The activity of saving and re-using things is in keeping with the Chinese adage wu jin qi yong – ‘waste not’ – a prerequisite for survival during periods of social and political turmoil. artist, Song Dong. A poignant meditation on family life and the artist’s own childhood during the Cultural Revolution, the installation comprises over 10,000 items collected by Song Dong’s mother, Zhao Xiangyuan, over five decades - ranging from a section of the family home, to metal pots and plastic bowls to blankets, bottle caps, toothpaste tubes and toys. The activity of saving and re-using things is in keeping with the Chinese adage wu jin qi yong – ‘waste not’ – a prerequisite for survival during periods of social and political turmoil..."

"Song Dong is known for his conceptual and often very personal performances and installations. For his London exhibition, Song Dong has developed a new iteration of Waste Not. First conceived in 2005, it remains of the utmost significance to the artist. Unexpectedly and tragically Zhao Xiangyuan died in an accident in 2009. Each time Song Dong remakes the work, assisted by his sister, Song Hui, and his wife Yin Xiuzhen, the entire family is brought together again. Memories are rekindled and personal family objects are rediscovered, bringing powerful emotions to the fore. "

 "Ultimately, Waste Not speaks of the strong bonds between family members and the power of objects to tell stories and shape our lives.

The installation invites you to intimately relate to their extraordinary life story..."

Text from the Barbican's website.

http://www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery/event-detail.asp?ID=12878

Co-Operative

Here is some lovely old signage for the Co-Op in Bradford on Avon. I love the way that the letters gently interrupt the scallop pattern underneath.

And also, a carved stone altar from an old Saxon church. The pattern is just like the traditional Welsh double-cloths.

'Rigor and Urbanity'

What a nice little write up in American Vogue for my Ziggerat blankets for Margaret Howell! Click through to image six from the link:

http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/editors-eye-february/

Nicholson + Mondrian

Yesterday we went to a new exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery exploring the relationship and mutual influence of Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholson. Nicholson had visited Mondrian at his studio in Paris - a friendship that grew much closer when Mondrian moved to London from 1938-40.


http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/exhibitions/2012/mondrian-nicholson/index.shtml

For me, these two abstract paintings by Nicholson really stood out. They are both really beautiful studies in colour, proportion and composition.

John Berry - Ladybird

These illustrations by John Berry have been on my pin board for a while now. I really love the muted palette and the extraordinary compositions. They were painted for the Ladybird 'People at Work' series. These are from 'The Postman'.

"His pictures for the 20 books of the Ladybird People at Work series form a complete visual record of British industry in the early 1960s – an age of industrial prosperity where potteries, coalmines and car manufacture were flourishing, while obliging porters carried suitcases at railway stations and the only equipment a smiling customs officer required was a torch to shine into ladies' handbags."

- Cressida Connolly - see link below

These three are from 'The Roadbuilders'.

John Berry died on 10th December 2009 - there is a lovely obituary by Cressida Connolly in the Guardian:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/22/john-berry-obituary

Soldiers and Sailors

These beautiful mosaics are on the WWI war memorial in Ledbury, Herefordshire. I love the accuracy of the details - the insignia on the cuffs, and buckles on the belts.

A bit of mid-winter cheer

In this, the gloomiest, darkest bit of the year, here are a few images to bring some cheer. They are from Carter's Steam Fair - a wonderful fully working Victorian fun fair which turns up every now and then in our neck of the woods.