London Summer

Before I went to the Green Man Festival (which was amazing) I went to see the Psycho Buildings exhibition at the Hayward Gallery. For anyone who missed it, it was so refreshing to experience an exhibition where health and safety had been tested for once. One of the most frustrating things about working as an artist of designer today is that health and safety regulations are so tight that you often have to really tame down ideas for public spaces. Somehow, the Austrian collective Gelitin had managae to push the boundaries and allow the Hayward to let them fill one of their concrete balconies with water, turning it into a boating lake. All boats and the jetty were made from recycled wood and found bits and pieces. It was the hottest day of the summer and my boat partner jumped into the water and had a swim which the stewards didn't even bat an eyelid about either. Fun stuff. If only it wasn't so difficult to change into a bikini in public. I would have joined him in a flash.

I drank jasmine tea and ate dim sum at Ping Pong after and then wandered over to the Photographers Gallery to see 'Fashion in the Mirror- Self Reflection in Fashion Photography' where I fell in love with this photograph by Grégoire Alexandre:



On my return from Green Man Festival, I went to see the boys down at the Cans Festival under one of the arches at Waterloo. Despite the overpowering fumes, it was proof again that London is brimming with exciting events to go to/get involved in during the summer. Oh and the caterers put on a right good spread. Bonus. Last but not least check out the amazing ice-cream van I spotted on my travels. Loving the vintage signage.

London Sweats No Fresh Country Air

Our mission: To take Tom shopping and give him a good, smart look. What a day to choose... I do not envy anyone working in central London in the heat. As well as finding him some dapper garments, I also managed to find myself some stuff including a shirt that is a good compromise for the blue/flowers western shirt I was after. It reminds me of mini-milks with reindeer antlers.



I also noticed this signage on Argyll Street that I have somehow managed to miss in the past. Good-ol' Coney Island style sign-writing. I need to go back to New York. My friend Leo was telling me he went to one of the sideshows when he was out there recently. We always managed to miss them and I know we were missing out big time, damn-it. Soon soon.



Now I am home and sorting images and ideas for a couple of up and coming projects. I fished these books out for inspiration:



My re-discovered love for Hairy Diamond's 'Givin up' has finally got Dizzee Rascal's 'Dance For Me' out of my head thankfully. Also I just checked out Bryony's video for Rod Thomas' 'Same Old Lines'. It cracked me up...Watch for yourself, she certainly had sock puppets coming out of her ears at the time of making:



If only he had a live sock monkey performance at Green Man Festival next weekend. I am off on Friday for just under a couple of weeks to be part of the management of the festival and listen to some more lovely music. Particularly looking forward to seeing Caribou (whose album artwork is pretty pretty pretty too) and sitting under one of the beautiful, solid oak trees in the fresh night air with a big cup of cocoa and a massive wooly jumper.