Now there has been a lot of press about the Savoy: why it has cost so much, why it took so long, how similar it looks now to the old Savoy…need I say more? Well my personal experience is that, as with so many things, the more one learns, the more one appreciates the subject in question. […]
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.
Louise Bourgeois – the fabric works
I’ve long admired Louise Bourgeois’ work and knew about her family’s textile background but these pieces, mostly produced in the last few years of her very long life (she lived to the age of 98 ) moved me in a way that caught me off-guard. The textile pieces included framed works. She saved old fabrics: handkerchieves, teatowels and ticking, woven stripes, […]
The Russians
There is a definite Russian flavour in the air this autumn: the Victoria & Albert museum in London’s major exhibition of “Diaghilev and the Golden Age of the Ballets Russes” has impressed with the multi-media cross-fertilisation (lots of hyphens there) of talented individuals working on a single project. While Diaghilev’s team were looking to the […]
James Plumb
This one is for lovers of the reclaimed and re-loved in interiors. Hannah Plumb and James Russell work together with the the overlooked and neglected to create atmospheric and quirky interiors and objects. You can see their work in London at Selfridges – their dog lamps are part of a window display at the moment. […]
Super Design London
This was a small show for limited edition and one-off pieces of furniture and lighting from a selection of galleries, organised by The Apartment gallery. As one visitor said, it appeals to a very particular type of person. In terms of buyers I agree but believe that many can appreciate the beauty and skill of […]
Useful new products
Whenever I see something new my first question is: will this improve our lives in some way? Well here are a couple of products that are useful and attractive. Konstantin Slawinski’s housewarming objects include Join, a cutlery set that is sculptural and requires a little application by the user to disassemble before eating. It is made […]
Design and Social Enterprise – Art House Meath
If you’re a home or gift buyer then this is definitely worth looking at. I came across Art House Meath at Top Drawer in September and was attracted by the childlike freshness and humour of the pieces on display. Once I had stopped to find out more I was impressed as this is exactly what social enterprises […]
Ai Weiwei at Tate Modern
Officially open today, this has to be one of the best installations in the Turbine Hall so far. The private view last night had the great and good tramping about, sitting and rolling in this sunflower seed beach (no, it wasn’t just me and my friend). The 100 million hand painted porcelain sunflower seeds have particularly chinese […]
John Pawson at The Design Museum
We all know that our environment affects our behaviour and even our thinking. In the past I have admired John Pawson’s work without properly engaging with it. I’m still not sure I’d be able to live in one of his buildings full-time without changing my lifestyle quite drastically but I now have a much deeper appreciation […]
Lab Craft: Digital and craft techniques
I visited this exhibition at Tent after meeting one of the makers, Ismini Samanidou, at Origin. She is a weaver and worked with wood carver Gary Allson on wooden wall panels digitally carved with an outsized twill weave pattern. Actually Gary does other stuff but the emphasis here was on wood – his bowls are fabulous to handle – Ismini was minding […]