Izis Berdmanas - ‘Man Blowing Bubbles’, 1950s
Bruce Davidson, Brooklyn Gang 1959
Getty Images Gallery, Eastcastle Street, London; Londoners at Play (6th June- 25th August)
Curated to coincide with the patriotic summer- Jubilee, Olympics etc etc etc. This is an amazing collection of black and white memories from the 19th and 20th centuries. A true retrospective. But these are also scenes we all recognise- builders with St. Pauls in the background, community events and open air concerts.
Actresses throughout the 90s and 00s (Billboard Dad (1998), Passport to Paris (1999), So Little Time (2001-02)).
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen started when they were just 9 months old, and since have a star on the Walk of Fame, and have won numerous awards including Favourite TV Actress (1999) and Best Young Actress (1989).
Unfortunately, each has battled with either drug abuse or anorexia, however despite this they have strongly matured into fashion designers and animal rights activists. Notably with their fashion lines, Elizabeth and James and The Row.
This is undoubtedly a pair of successful Hollywood siblings, turned chic and savvy designers.
Happy 26th Birthday!
Hyde Park, Leeds
Jay Joplin has long been a supporter of Gilbert and George, well since their departure from Central St. Martins. ‘The London Pictures’ on display at his White Cube galleries is the most recent conquest within this relationship.
The works consist of a monumental body of 292 black and white images, overlaid in the artists’ trademark grid format (symbolic of 1980s works ‘The Pictures’). Within each grid-section is a different statement- a newspaper headline- shown in black lettering with a highlighted red buzzword within each. With the headlines stolen from London newspaper stands since 2006, the works are archetypal of the pair’s rebellious affinity.
The statements are grouped together in themes- death, banker, tube, sex to name a few- and the backing images consist of portrait images of the artists or those related to the specific themes. These become enormously sized works of art, pinned to Joplin’s walls. However, the lack of information within the gallery setting evokes how you are expected to know about this works- their background and the story of the artists- and they aren’t just something for the uninformed art appreciator to gaze at.
Is this a work of art, or a work of tabloids? Anyhow, they are a portrayal of 21st century British scandal, horror and corruption, explaining the realities of everyday life of modern society through media vocals.
Catch ‘London Pictures’ at White Cube London galleries: Bermondsey Street, SE1, Mason’s Yard, SW1 or Hoxton Square, N1. 9th March – 14th April, before venturing on a global tour.
