One to Read

Fingerprint: The Art of Using Handmade Elements in Graphic Design
Chen Design Associates

CMYK's book review provided me with a new publication to add to my list; I have been passionate about a hands-on approach ever since the days of cutting and sticking during my Art Foundation year prior to coming to University. Following a recent loss of my beloved apple mac, along with the majority of my stored work, I was advised by Mike Sheedy (Head of Year) to make the most of idea development 'the old fashioned way'. It worked, and the project was my most successful to date.
"This book doesnt celebrate the completely unplugged, but by surverying design work with a degree of handmade.. is a welcome counterpoint to the smooth digital perfection we now encounter daily" (Glen Helfand, CMYK Spring/Summer 2007)

Art of the Middle East

I was struck by this image discovered in the latest edition of Art Review; initially thinking it was work produced by an artist I have previously taken a keen interest in; Chris Ofili. In his work he uses Acrylic on canvas, accompanied by the unusual choice of elephant dung to portray figurative elements such as the 'Virgin Mary' in a provocative manner. However, this is art from an emergence of a dynamic market in Dubai. The rate and scale of property development in the Middle Eastern City, means there are many white walls to fill. This 'painting' is by Farhad Moshiri; using "glitter and crystal-encrusted acrylics inspired by his hometown's kitsch confectionary and visual culture".
I have been lucky enough to visit Dubai, and was infact inspired by the huge contrast in traditional arabic culture evident amongst a construction cluttered skyline, I wish I had known of the existence of art galleries within City. As I leave for Thailand tomorrow, I shall keep my eye out there instead!

The American way

Competition is plentiful. As a Graphic Design student, I can often forget that the industry is not just based in London - Our Capital. Whilst scouring the pages of Spring/Summer edition of American Visual communication Mag 'CMYK', I took in some of the work produced for competitions elsewhere.

I have selected two of my favourite 'visual thinking' solutions designed for tampax and Miele Vacuum cleaners. I am a huge fan of ideas communicated via one clever image alone. The tampax design can be understood and appreciated within seconds by a Worldwide audience of women due to image speaking its own universal language.
I am always amused by quirky outdoor forms of advertising media, so this literal reference to a powerful new vacuum cleaner caught my attention.

D&AD student award

Following my own personal achievement of being chosen to feature in the 2007 D&AD student Annual, I am eagerly awaiting its release in September. I answered the brief set by 'Land Securities' - to design an 80m length of hoarding, to be erected for a 4 year period along Oxford Street whilst an exciting new development takes place.

Following my completion of this work, I was curious as to the winning design; Design Week (Number 27 - July) answered my question.
Students from Central St. Martins College "Created cut out wording with plants being trained to grow through and spell out the message in greenery. This could bring some texture to London's worst thoroughfare" (Fiona Sibley, Design Week, Number 27 - July 2007)

Encouraging it is that the winning formula does not differ too strongly from ideas produced during our very own crit sessions at Leeds University; we discussed the lengthy time based constraint - how to keep people interested over the course of 4 years? What could be produced that changed/developed/grew over time within such a busy fast paced environment?

The John Lennon Wall

The "John Lennon Peace Wall" stands in a quiet square amidst the baroque architecture of Prague's diplomatic quarter. I unexpectedly discovered it, awash with vivid colours, the wall is long and it takes a while to appreciate some of the smaller significant details due to its scale. Lennon was a hero amongst the pacifist youth culture of Central and Eastern Europe during the communist period. In the decade following the collapse of Communism, the Lennon Wall came to represent not only a memorial to Lennon; his ideas, words and lyrics, but also a monument to free speech against the repressions of neo-stallinism.

Next to a freely drawn
portrait of Lennon are the words, "People don't die, they turn into flowers."

Prague visit

I found the city of prague visually stimulating, from the domes and spires of the grand palaces and chapels, the breath-taking view from the infamous Charles bridge, to the old fashioned trams running across the cobbled streets past traditional tourist shops and cafes. This image was taken from the roof of museum kampa looking out onto the City, The chair installation is huge in scale and sits on the river as if it is its rightful home! I found it to be a huge juxtaposition, contrasting such ancient landmarks, with contemporary modern art.


Museum Kampa was established following the 1989 revolution as a gift to Prague from Meda and Jan Mladek. The Sova Mill in the heart of the City was reconstructed to create a layered open space, a haven for a huge collection of 'Central European Art' created by Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Polish and Yugoslavian artists dating mainly from the 60's and 70's. In each room, the eye is entertained by sculptures, drawings, paintings, installations and photographs. I was mesmorised by the sheer variety of context, materials and subject. Downstairs I was met by digital moving imagery, upstairs; wooden carvings reminiscent of the dark ages.



This image depicts one of my favourite rooms within the museum. The space was light and airy, and yet cleverly full with metal towers, sculpture, perspex reflective art, with the walls showcasing contemporary minimalist works resemblent of the cubist period.


"If a nation’s culture survives, then so too does the nation."
Jan Mládek

For further history and exhibition gallery images, visit http://www.museumkampa.cz