Student summer shows, today visiting the final year show at the RCA today, some interesting work. The use of 3D printers is prominent at pretty much all the degree shows this year, and across all subjects. Love its use in recreating these collars and cuffs from the around the 16th Century, as contemporary pieces.
The Patek Phillipe exhibition had the feel of an exclusive retail outlet. There was a lot of glitz, huge expense and often sadly very iittle taste. Classics win every time with the pocket watch a favourite.
Fabric draped and then set in resin offer a surreal illusion, the folds and drapes suspended seemingly without support. This is a medium that could be pushed further and that has much potential. We were lucky to meet Christine Hawley at the show. It was good to see her as it has been a long time since we last taught at The Bartlett UCL, fond memories indeed.
Mask Brothers chocolate shop. A clear concept and a well executed design.
The V&A What is Luxury exhibition. This was a difficult exhibition as much of it seemed subjective but there were some gems such as this 3D printed coat by Iris Van Herpen and hair combs made from real hair set in resins. There was is certain richness where seventeenth century objects sit alongside contemporary on equal footing. Each a labour of love and passion created with incredible skill and dexterity, with hours, months, years put into each piece. Perhaps the ultimate luxury is the luxury of time.
We are at an exhibition explaining the use of forensics to solve crimes. There are cabinets not unlike the work of Joseph Cornell. There are collections of specimens in jars, almanacs, inventories, classifications, and bibliographies, all are techniques used to display and make the unclear apparent.
I have three research projects I want to undertake whilst in Tokyo the first is graphics. To be immersed in the saturation of neon while I walk the Pulp Fiction reflections of cartoons, dragons and calligraphic re-inventions. Space here is defined by symbol, it permeates every pocket of the urban infrastructure. It covers the vending machines, the road-works, the schools, every building’s façade and the packet I hold in my hand. Enclosure is defined by graphics and each graphic is a symbol of something else or somewhere else. See Tokyo Characters.
Germany, Memories Of A Nation expressed through 600 years of made and engineered objects.
Roaming the Antique shops in Holloway looking for props.
Textures, patterns, form, craftsmanship, perfection are all sadly lost skills in the electronic age.
