The Art Detective’s Muse with Pandemonia
It’s Frieze week which means there’s so much art being bought, sold, shown and talked about in London this week it’s hard to keep up with everything that’s going on. In fact I should have organised my diary way before Sunday evening because by this morning I was so overwhelmed I had to take time out from the scene already. So instead of going into town to view 1) The Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation (BJHRF) Benefit Auction ‘Arts for Human Rights’ being held at Phillips de Pury, 2) the M16 exhibition in support for Peace One Day at the ICA and 3) the contemporary art sales at Christies, Sotheby’s and Bonhams, I went for a walk on Primrose Hill instead, bought a cornfed chicken in the new butchers on Regent’s Park Road and made myself a nice cuppa tea.
Will do it all tomorrow but getting back to yesterday, I was mega inspired and touched by both events I went to. The first was “We Could Not Agree” a contemporary art exhibition held on the -3 level of Cavenish Square Car Park (behind the John Lewis store on Oxford Street) followed by the screening of “Abandoned Goods“, the documentary about asylum art which won a Golden Leopard for Best International Short Film at this year’s Locarno Film Festival.
Biblical Chocolate by Tasha Marks
Highlights from the first event include “Biblical Chocolate” by Tasha Marks who makes edible curiosities such as edible antique prints and renaissance sherbet. This is taking food as an art form to a whole new level. I’m inspired and want more. There’s a great video of her talking about her work here.
‘Lion Hearted’ by Thomas J Ridley
I was so mesmerised by this one, I forgot to ask who the artist was or even the name of the work. To me it’s the male version of Pamela Andersen – bar the bloody hands. No he’s not real. Thanks Thomas Ridley for the updated info.
The Object of its Own Grace by Mark Woods
There’s something very David Lynch about “The Object of its Own” Grace by Mark Woods. Underneath the floral print and fluffy pink and white frills lies a mass of sexual innuendo. Check out the objects up close and you’ll see what I mean.
And then the fabulous Pandemonia arrived. Described as “London based post pop conceptual artist”, what’s not to like? I loved her or him underneath the vinyl or latex although I once befriended a blonde air hostess at exactly the same time of year so I may just be perpetuating a habit.
Then on the other side of the river and in a completely different mind set I nestled into my comfy chair at the British Film Institute to watch “Abandoned Goods” a documentary by Pia Borg and Edward Lawrenson on art created by long term patients at Netherne Psychiatric Hospital. I wrote a post about it a couple of weeks ago called The Art of Being All Screwed Up. It was touching, saddening and also inspiring. It was followed by the documentary 72-82 about ACME but I was so tired I skipped it. It was raining as I walked over bridge to Embankment tube, I thought of taking a photo but couldn’t be arsed to get my camera out again. At that point the only thing I really, really, really wanted was my bed.
The Art Detective's Muse 