Constructivist Architecture

We went to the Russian Constructivist Architecture exhibition at the Royal Academy the other day - 

Building the Revolution: Soviet Art and Architecture 1915-1935

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/building-the-revolution/

There were all sorts of extraordinary buildings beautifully photographed by Richard Pare in their various states of crumbling delapidation. The sense of a new architecture for a new order must have been incredibly compelling and exciting for the architects who designed and the people who inhabited the buildings.

For me though, the most magical and ethereal images were of Schukov's towers. This is his radio tower in Moscow, built in 1920-22. It is so extraordinarily delicate and ghostly.

And these twin sentinals (sadly no longer standing) are electricity pylons, overlooking the Oka River, built between 1927 and 1929. They feel almost visionary in their grace and scale.

Kneading Bread

One of my favourite picture books is 'In the Night Kitchen' by Mauruce Sendak. I loved the night city-scape made up of kitchen implements, and was deliciously scared of the gruff bakers.

 

The other day Borja Garmendia from Pensando en blanco sent me a link to their lovely film about weaving and flour sacks. The baker in the film really reminds me of Sendak's bakers.

www.pensandoenblanco.com/prominent/87/03am-reg-bean-bag/

Inventory

The lovely folk at Inventory Magazine in Vancouver have given me a nice little write up on their blog. It is a really interesting magazine - looking at the stories and processes behind the things that they like. When I'm next in Vancouver their shop is top of my 'to do' list.

http://www.inventorymagazine.com/updates/eleanor-pritchard-woven-blankets.html

Another thing of Beauty

I've been collection photos of concrete car park mouldings for a while now. They are such beautiful exercises in perfectly balanced functional and decorative design. This one is on the side of the Tesco's on Bethnal Green Road.

And this is on Redchurch Street, just by Shoreditch House, on a very quiet Sunday morning. 

A Thing of Beauty

It seems a bit bizarre in this amazing Indian summer weather we are having, but with the advent of October, we spent Sunday morning making a log pile up at my parents place on the Worcestershire/ Herefordshire boarders. There is something very pleasing about all the shapes and textures, and a very snug smug feeling about preparing for the winter. I remember a few years ago seeing a book of photographs of Austrian log piles. They were beautiful exercises in repeat pettern and construction - but had the whiff of tape measures and spirit levels - much too perfect to use. Ours is very amateur in comparison, but hugely satisfying none the less.

Diagonal Twills

Deptford, where my studio based, is an amazingly vibrant part of London, with new architectural landmarks jostling for space among the mission churches and charity shops. When I moved to the studio here about eight years ago, the Laban Dance Centre had just opened. Looking out onto the Creek, the steeply banked lawns are a favourite summer lunch spot where you can watch the dance students going through their paces while eating your sandwiches.

For the last few months on my cycle to the studio I have been watching another landmark building going up. It is a huge monolith, entirely clad in perforated brass sheeting. I'm not sure how I feel about it - it needs to bed in for a while, but there is something very appealing about the diagonals which step across the surface - like a giant twill weave. I took this photo on my phone a couple of months ago as they were adding the final panels.

Poster Boys

Yesterday Peter and I went to the McKnight Kauffer show at the Estorick Collection up in Cannonbury. Although I didn't know much about McKnight Kauffer, a lot of the pieces were very familiar. He was probably best known for his posters - for London Underground, Derry and Toms, and this - my favourite - for the Daily Herald. The poster is huge - well over 6 feet tall, and the composition is so strong. I love all that yellow, with the really graphic feeling of the movement in the birds. Perfect.

Upstairs in the permanent collection is a room full of etchings by Giorgio Morandi. Although I love Morandi's still life paintings I haven't seen the etchings before. They are so sensitive and beautifully observed. It is incredible how he conveys light and shadow with the weight and density of line - they feel very poetic. The Estorick is well worth a visit - it is a real treasure.