I’m always interested to see what Top Drawer will reveal each season and it didn’t disappoint this time. New companies mixed with established ones and it’s always surprising to see who is there. This year I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen for over 20 years! Here are just a couple of exhibitors worth watching: […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Think about your chopsticks…
As you know, I keep an eye out for anything interesting to share so I couldn’t resist this one from Moe Beitiks. OK, I know we can view it as a bigger problem in Asia than here but it still relates to us. This 5m high tree, displayed in Shanghai, was made out of 30,000 […]
ARC Lighting Show
This show is very useful to see what the latest developments are in the world of commercial lighting. We know that LEDs rule; what is interesting now is the range of low-energy lighting available and by that I mean the different colours of light. Toshiba had an interesting stand with little cubby holes of warmer […]
William Forsythe’s The Fact of Matter: interactive art at Move.
Most of us have been on gymnastic rings from childhood days, even if only to swing on them for a while. This installation, recently seen (and experienced) at the Hayward Gallery’s Move exhibition, made me ache for 2 days making it a very memorable piece in a way I hadn’t anticipated. The choreographer William […]
The Town Hall – new hotel and apartments in East London
Yes, the name means what it says: this was the old Bethnal Green Town Hall , now converted into a boutique hotel and apartments. The bar and gourmet restaurant are open to non-residents making this a welcome meeting place in Bethnal Green. The location is ideal for access to the City as well as other […]
Chanel’s Byzantium collection
What impressed me about this collection was the colouring and the amazing embroidery and embellishment. The semi-precious stones and tarnished metal convey an established opulence that is very much an antidote to all the brightness of technological development. I love technology but you can’t beat a bit of historical interpretation every now and again. I’m […]
Shadow Catchers – photography without a camera
Many of us have played with the simple exposure of objects onto photographic paper but this exhibition opened my eyes to the immense possibilities of camera-less photography. I find this concept of using light and paper terribly romantic. Light is something all artists and designers use at some point or another but these five creators […]
Merchant and Mills – couture from home
This new company has recently been set up to encourage women to make clothing again but in a highly finished way. The notions are pure looking and beautifully packaged in a traditional haberdasher style. It is a similar concept to Labour & Wait but more focussed. You can make the garments yourself. This is style rather than […]
Happy Table
Another new business with a very good idea: personalised placemats that you can change around at will. And they’re not just for children either. www.happytable.co.uk
Diaghilev & the Ballets Russes
Still on for another few weeks this exhibition was much more comprehensive than expected and certainly inspirational in the colouring and design. I was staggered to learn that The Rite of Spring, one of their most famous ballets was only actually performed 9 times. The costumes were all handpainted on quite heavy cotton and wool, making movement difficult […]