art august in london - part 1

Playing the Building: an Installation by David Bryne
till 31.08.2009
The Roundhouse

the roundhouse by you.
antony gormley's standing man at the edge of the roundhouse (not part of the installation)

playing the building by you.
people queuing for the piano

playing the building by you.
some of the keys on the keyboard are not working any more, probably broken by previous visitors

playing the building by you.
these buttons add special effects to the sounds

playing the building by you.
the labyrinth of cables & wires at the back of the piano

playing the building by you.
the wires connecting to each sound box on each column around the hall

playing the building by you.
close-up of a sound box

official video by the Roundhouse on youtube

Full photo set here

*****

Rankin Live
till 18.09.2009
The Old Truman Brewery

rankin live by you.
Entrance of the show in truman brewery

rankin live by you.
Banner opposite the entrance at brick lane

rankin live by you.
Is this an official edit?

rankin live by you.
Cute graphics by Them Design www.them.co.uk

rankin live by you.

Rankin (full name as John Rankin Waddell) is one of the big names among British fashion photographers, if not the only one. This comprehensive retrospective show is a unique opportunity for people to understand how the master develops his career and, with a bit of luck, the chance to see him in action shooting models or even your good self.

rankin live by you.
Works are grouped in themes, visitors could see for themselves the essence of Rankin's works in different topics/subjects.

Apart from his commercial works, the show also has a generous collection of his college years' shoots, his self-portrait collection and a series he did for the people of Congo. It demonstrates how he has grown into a celebrity on his own from shooting all those fashion campaigns for Dazed & Confused magazine, and yet not forgetting to use his fame for promoting social causes and helping the underprivileged.

rankin live by you.
show catalogue

behind the scenes

*****

Jack Freak Pictures by Gilbert & George
10.07-22.08.2009
White Cube Gallery

jack freak pics by gilbert & george by you.

Gilbert & George's signature "church stained-glass"-like paintings have a mysterious psychological power, perhaps due to the prevalence of such medium in religious art. They use the Union Jack, the british flag pattern, extensively in many works on this show. Nevertheless, their version of the Union Jack is not identical to the official one - the proportion of the 3 colours in their own version is equal and unbiased, giving a subtle twist in line with the contemporary context of political change in the UK. They also apply various symbols of street art in some works - maintaining their "relevance" to a new generation of the audience.

Further Reading -

Rankin live - official web (bandwidth-intensive)
Rankin live! preview from the Guardian
Rankin live at Sky Arts
Rankin as property developer, report from the Times
Playing the Building - office web
Official web of David Bryne
Official page of Gilbert & George's show in White Cube Gallery's website

art july in london - part 1

One & Other at Trafalgar Square

The fourth plinth got an interactive take this year initiated by famous british artist-sculptor Antony Gormley. Lots of media coverage was brought to the participants' actions. When I arrives last night, a man was playing tai-chi -

While people who get the chance to have their 1 hour on the plinth are showing how imaginative they could be and those watching definitely enjoy the acts, it is a pity that the overwhelming safety concern has resulted in an enormous safety net surrounding the plinth, which completely outcast the tiny person standing on the plinth and deprived of any beauty whoever performs up there...

Perhaps Antony or the organiser should have given a bit more endeavours to come up with a better safety solution.

the project office on site

*****

The Driftwood AA Pavilion 2009

Students in Unit 2 of The Architecture Association in London have completed this year's summer pavilion based on a concept by 3rd year student Danecia Sibingo.

The pavilion styles like Thomas Heatherwick's works, the morphing & steamlined slices create an unique focal point at the venue (Bedford Square) and blends well into the surrounding period blocks and trees -

The pavilion would open till 25.07.2009

AA pavilion 2009 by you.

full photo set here

Further Reading -
Official website of One & Other with live webcast on who's on the plinth & what he/she's doing
Dezeen's article on the AA Pavilion with some making-of pics
Creative Review's article on the AA Pavilion
AA Pavilions 2008 - photo set