This weekend while Mawi and Tim jetted off to Ibiza for Tracy (of Linda Farrow)’s birthday, I stayed in the almost as scorching London. On Sunday I finally made it down to the Wapping Project- I’ve been meaning to go for ages but there’s little else to draw me there and I’ve been putting it off. But it’s definitely worth the trip. What was once a hydraulic power station has been converted into a wonderful restaurant and exhibition space. Sunday brunch in amongst the fantastic old machinery is famously good and they have now added a smart rooftop dining space for the summer aswell.
Behind the main space there is an exhibition room where a piece called Chorus is currently being exhibited. You enter into the closeting darkness and are instantly confronted by a spectacular installation of swinging pendulums accompanied by co-ordinated light and music effects. It felt hypnotic and almost reverential. And I was completely inspired by the use of darkness as a kind of immersive blanket. I left the space with my head buzzing with ideas for future projects.
I also loved this Lily Pond, created by another artist on an unassuming roof space. There was something hopeful about it that I found completely enchanting. It reminded me of the idea of late gardener and writer Elspeth Thompson of ‘Gardening Against the Odds’. More on her soon because I think she merits her own post…
I also loved these charming bright yellow bird boxes!
The bookshop is probably my favourite aspect of the whole project. It is housed in a little greenhouse and packed from floor to (not very high) ceiling with interesting art, fashion and design titles and magazines. I was very tempted by the big Tim Walker book but settled for a copy of new magazine, Industrie- more on that soon too.
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July 20th, 2010 // 1 Comment »
JM Ferrater or José Manuel Ferrater is a bold Spanish photographer who started out in fashion but now also works in advertising and portraiture. The team’s online project- Ferrater Studio is well worth checking out for strong and inspiring images.
There’s a veiled and haunted quality in the photography and styling which belies its immediate beauty. Faces are troubled, masked, concealed… We loved this bittersweet image in which the model wears a trio of metallic Mawi necklaces from the Spring/Summer ‘10 collection bunched at once carelessly and artfully together.
Spring Summer 2010- Mawi Dynasty Collection- Sunray Tube and Boxchain Necklace £351
Available Here
Spring Summer 2010- Dynamite Collection- Triple Bauble Necklace £473
Available Here in Gold
Spring Summer 2010- Mawi Necklace
Contact sales@mawi.co.uk for availability
And while we’re on the subject of creative projects we like, you must check out David Dunan’s amazing new video for Felder Felder. Enjoy!
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July 14th, 2010 // Comment »
Much as I love Frank’s- the bar, cafe and sculpture park perched atop a Peckham multi-storey car park, I must admit that it’s a bit of a nightmare to get to. However I was soon helped out… “It’s that way,” volunteered some guys, sitting by the side of the road. Sure enough, they knew exactly what I was looking for, without me having to tell them. Thanks to Franks their little corner of Peckham has been invaded, and evidently the locals know just who by.
But putting that slightly embarrassing element of the whole thing to one side, the views from the rooftop are completely beautiful. The buildings surrounding the carpark aren’t very tall so although you’re not actually that high up you can enjoy spectacular almost 360 degree vistas.The project is run by Hannah Barry of the Hannah Barry Gallery and her team (on the level below the rooftop bar there are some light installation sculptures, although fewer than I had been expecting.)
The ‘bar’ itself has been designed by Paloma Gormley (daughter of Antony) with its red tarpaulin flapping like a tall ship in the breeze.
The bar does shut quite early so it’s worth getting there early and although last year I felt like I was in on a secret, this year there’s been mountains of publicity and when I went along on the 2nd day they were so busy that they’d stopped serving food by 9pm when we finally navigated our way there.
Still, head down early with a group of friends and some cash (they don’t take cards) maybe on a weekday night and soak up the sunset and some of the best views in London!
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July 13th, 2010 // Comment »
On Saturday night I was lucky enough to be invited to see Manon at the Royal Opera House. The two leading performers, Vittoria Grigolo and Anna Netrebko have received rave reviews for their performances and it was easy to see why. Their voices were rich and incredibly powerful and as the plot developed I found their acting genuinely moving. (In the first act her affected girlishness and eyelash batting met with some irritated glances between audience members- myself included).
The set has met with some criticism for being ‘cardboardy’ and austere but I loved the simplicity of the clean lines and organic-looking materials set against epic photographic backdrops.
And when the chorus appeared en masse and froze into posed positions, the stage was momentarily transformed into a Manet canvas, complete with fabulous corseted dresses, ostrich-feather hats and those distinctive strings of naked light bulbs, which I love. The story even offers the excuse for a brief balletic interlude, which ended rather disturbingly with the young ballerinas being man-handled off the stage by over-enthusiastic older men. The world of Manon is one in which men are hunters and women are prey.
Not wanting to be completely outshone by the outfits on stage, of course, my new Miu Miu shoes (a summer sale purchase) had their first outing, worn with a simple navy Cos dress and a Mawi necklace- not a new purchase but an old favourite that always gets lots of compliments.
And my beautiful, swallow-print Miu Miu shoes:
I got them in the sale at Matches on Ledbury Road, and guess what the girl who served me was wearing? A fabulous Mawi necklace! I loved how she had styled it with a simple, sleeveless dress and flat sandals. Cute!
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July 12th, 2010 // Comment »
Lately I’ve been obsessed with all things French (I’m even planning a French road trip at the moment for later in the summer), and I don’t think I’m the only one, judging from the number of breton tops and riviera-style espadrilles I’ve seen out and about in London… And now Hoxton’s gone a bit Gallic too with the invasion of KK Outlet by none other than Paris’s iconic Colette!
A Mawi contingent went to celebrate the project which sees the restrained French also get a taste of East London eccentricity. Danielle Pender, curator and gallery manager of KK thinks they have found a perfect match: “[Colette and KK] have a similar model in that they’re both multi-functional spaces housing retail and a gallery. Colette stock KesselsKramer books and we have worked with the same people in the past such as Anthony Burrill.” It’s like the French exchanges you were sent on as a child, except with great clothes and much, much more fun!
So, until the 28th of August Londoners don’t need to head to Paris to get their hands on a special selection of books, art work from illustrator Darcel and paintings by Irina Dakeva, jewellery by Yazbukey, scarves by Julien David and lots more…
It’s the Julien David scarves, like the one below, that I’m probably most excited about. He also has a blog with lots of amazing images that’s well worth checking out.
London Dates
Shop Swap: 2 July – 28 August
KK Outlet: 42 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6PB
Paris Dates
Shop Swap: 6- 31 July
Colette: 213 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
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July 11th, 2010 // Comment »
