The Tate Modern Continued...

During my visit last weekend to London, I spent a full day at the Tate Modern.

One piece that really rocked my world was Marcel Duchamp's 3 Standard Stoppages. The description quoted Duchamp's idea of chance as a means to combat logical reality. The description continued on stating that "This work was made by dropping three threads, each a metre long, from a height equal to their length, then cutting wooden rulers to record the shaped in where each had fallen." Duchamp described these as 'a preserved metre, preserved chance.'

Wonderful. A preserved conclusion in the numerous variables of this question. To also show the negative space, the surrounding, creates a new result. Yes! Possibilities are endless and there is an opposite/negative reaction to the possibilities.

The MOMA collection has this well documented and explained, with pics. take a look:)
and i also like this website for process and thoughts

It was very cool to see Joseph Beuys, The Pack, 1969, in person. This is a piece that art history books can't quite capture. take a look

I was reminded that my home is full of art, design, and knowledge. The exhibit that I viewed at the Tate Modern was John Baldessari: Pure Beauty. John Baldessari is an American artist who made his name in the 1960's with his text and image paintings. His works are referred as "witty and ironic." He uses words and images interchangeably with equal measures of self-reflection and wit. He uses visual one-liners, but beneath his playful approach lies a deep and sustained interest in ordering the world around him. (Tate Modern) He is also a longtime art professor at UCLA.

I viewed a video of him stating over and over again "I am making art, I am making art, I am making art" all the while he is turning his hands and limbs slightly over and out. Funny, awkward and annoyingly true. Just claim something is art--why not? here is the video

Here is a piece that is quite humorous and fun for most, Tips for Artists Who Want to Sell, 1966-68.

London's Swinging Sixties

Poor me. I went to London again. This time with two beautiful friends, Nina and Natalia.

Friday we went to the Fashion Textile Museum which was exhibited the works of Foale and Tuffin: Made in England. The fashions were great! I actually saw a paper dress--true it was still in its envelope, but that is because it is insanely difficult to keep paper preserved over the years. The one I viewed was from 1966. (Here is some info on paper dresses)

The exhibition was setup like a swinging boutique accompanied with a Partridge/Mondrian-esque film of a girl from today's times wearing the dresses displayed--loved it! Really digging the fashion films.

While viewing the great clothes, a sweet petite lady with a pixie haircut, and sparkle shadowed eyes approached Nina and I. She asked us what piece we liked most and I pointed to chic knitted red herringbone jacket, Nina chose a lime green shift dress. We both then asked why she asked? She, herself, Sylvia Ayton, worked in constructing garments with Foale and Tuffin and has been life long friends since the 60's. They also all went to the Royal College of Art and Fashion together.

Nina and I interviewed and chatted with Ayton. Sylvia has constructed coats for 30 yrs, most notably for the Wallis Fashion Group, Ltd. Today, between teachings and lectures, she also examines the final collections at St. Martin's. (Sylvia's bio)

Sylvia Ayton (1937-) and Zandra Rhodes (1940-)
1966
Paper

Sylvia Ayton and Zandra Rhodes's innovative designs were taken up by boutiques and some of the more commercial stores. When Miss Selfridge opened in 1966, the buyer stocked their distinctive printed paper dresses. Customers loved them, but kept tearing the hems to see if they really were made out of paper - they were!
Sylvia Ayton

I asked her what she thought of the fashions of today and she replied, "I just like fashion. There is no decade that is better than another; fashion is just fashion." (Nina, Sylvia, and I)

Do take a look at the links and here is the dress that Nina liked. It is from the Victoria and Albert museum's website, which you should browse through. Cheers!

The London Tube

The London Tube feels like an airport terminal. There is much more space than the Paris Metro. Some areas in the Tube even have two escalators going up.
The signage is nice. The directive arrows help. The signage actually spells out to stand on the right. This allows the people in a hurry to move on your left. In Paris, this is understood, but there is not a sign of this, therefore; the travelers/commuters are more in a free for all mode.
There are also posters along the walls of the escalators that are video screens and show commercials or video ads--this is nice on a long escalator ride.
Pretty simple. Just like the Paris Metro, but the ticket goes stripe side down, and same for the electronic monthly pass just run it over the top of the console.
Well lit, clean, comfy seats, and people talk, not that people don't use their cell phones or talk to one another on the Metro, but there is much more verbal communication, and less despondency, "in my own world" attitude on the Tube.
does a white background add to the terminal feel? Does it help with clarity? This font is large and easy to read. The font is actually called the London Underground, or the updated version London Tube, which was originally designed by Edward Johnston for London Transport in 1915 and later updated in 1994 by Jonathen Paterson.


Less stops than the Metro. Here is a look of the Tube map.

Marriage, Murakami, McQueen

Feeling quite at home in London. Conley's good mate got married on Friday at the Ethlam Palace--Textile magnates Stephen and Virginia Courtauld built their glamorous Art Deco London showpiece in 1936, next to the remains of a medieval royal palace which was originally Henry VIII’s boyhood home--it was a fantastic and a gorgeous setting. We both stayed at Think apartments--totally ikea-ed out--near the London Bridge.
We checked out the Tate Modern and saw the Pop exhibit. The exhibit is a full experience. The exhibition designers for this show did a great job. I began walking through Warhol's work with his videos playing. Next, I enjoyed the setup of Keith Haring's replica shop accompinied with loud 80's hip hop. Then I moved on to a special 18 and over room for Koons--trully fun to see people's reactions to what sex, ego, and well excuted art techiques. Finally I stepped into the Murakami world. A music video of Kirsten Dunst dressed up like an anime charicture titled, Akihabara Majokko Princesss, directed by McG, and produced by Takashi Murakami, was on rockin' continual roatation;) here are some images from the film
You could be the next twins for Damien Hirst's installation!!!


Yesterday I experienced another well designed and engaing exhibition: SHOWstudio FASHION REVOLUTION at Somerset House. Yes. Yes. Yes! SHOWstudio is really pushing the Fashion envelope. There are touch screens that you pull and twist the garments with your fingers and mirrors everywhere, scrutinizing you at different angles. This really shows that there is no one right way to look at fashion. I enjoyed the films by Gareth Pugh. One of the films has shots through black lace--love. So check all these goodies for your eyes, mind, souls and/or wallets.

this is my favorite movie by Nick Night