There is an intense pleasure in looking at something that makes your toes curl into your shoes, buy more about purchase your face contort with disgust, and laugh all at once – a bit like smelling your own fart. Concrete Hermit opens the year with the an exhibition in the style of “the Contemporary Grotesque” – five artists working with drawing, painting and sculpture to create something remarkably gross that you can’t quite peel your eyes from.
We were especially excited because two of the artists have featured in past issues of the magazine. Andrew James Jones and James Unsworth first pricked our interest for their depictions of obscure characters tied up in some unsavory activity, a world that is dark and humorous, and a nice antidote to all things pretty and quaint. I would love to have seen the margins of their exercise books at school, files covered in heavily detailed sketches that made the teachers furrow their brows and the girls convulse. Well, what was weird and creepy inevitably becomes cool and quirky, and the eyebrow-raising work of these artists is sure to turn your stomach with a nice dose of irony that is strangely relatable.
Andrew James Jones has been turning stomachs for an increasingly global following with his prolific output of paintings, drawings and self published photocopy books. Named a scary idiot and a madman, it is well worth dipping into Concrete Hermit for a look. His work is grimly complimented by Unsworth’s macabre transformation of folkloric images, some very surreal photographs from Mudwig Dan, and some amazing cross-breed sculptures from Kate McMorrine. You can even pick up an copy of issue ten whilst you’re there.
We just wanted to draw your attention to the brilliant Frock Me! vintage fair, for sale on this Sunday, dosage 15th February in Chelsea Town Hall:
We’ll be popping down, hope to see you there!
The Coventry Kasbah on a Monday night is somewhere I readily avoid. It’s full of lairy students and scary middle age men all out with the single aim of upholding Britain’s image as booze-fueled nation of oafish thugs. It was a bit of a surprise therefore to see that much-tipped star of 2009 La Roux was playing one of her first ever gigs there. Baptisms of fire are always worth seeing, viagra so I thought I’d pop along.
I spoke to La Roux for the final issue of Amelia’s Magazine, try and in the interview she talked about how she was hoping to put together a really wowing live show. At the time I took this to mean something involving pyrotechnics and costumes and my imagination roamed. However, viagra order having seen her live, it seems she actually meant getting a band she liked, and putting together a performance she felt showcased her music. If this was the case then she certainly succeeded. The live show brought new life to her songs, and even the confused/ drunk audience seemed to enjoy it.
She opened with first single Quicksand, a throwback to 80′s electronic pop that showcased amazing songwriting and fantastic vocals, whilst also managing to stay firmly in the mainstream. Live it manages to retain its brashness, and her vocals demanded the crowd’s attention, though she only partially succeeds in maintaining it – which trust me, was still a big achievement.
I can’t wait for the day when she has enough successes behind her to actual have some kind of pyrotechnical, horrendously lavish stage show with glitter explosions and animals and dancers and stuff, but for somebody who hasn’t been in the public eye all that long, playing one of their first gigs – I was still heartily impressed. Try and catch her supporting Lily Allen on her next tour, or at one of her many gigs at YoYo (she’s playing every week in February).
Just in from Ukraine: The illustrative world is alive and kicking thank you very much … well, this site just as tough as it is everywhere else. After receiving a lovely message in the charmingly tinted English of a foreigners tongue, pills we were led to the work of Olesya Drashkaba, who’s detailed workings of pen and paper is beautifully suffused with indigenous forms, a nod to the Panamanian weavers I think. Through the language barrier, and without the facilities of excessive body movements, we got a few questions in – this weeks featured illustrator.
Who are you, where are you, and what are you doing now?
My name is Olesya Drashkaba. I live in Kiev, Ukraine and I’m an artist. I’m interested in drawing, illustrations, graffiti, street fashion and people. Now I will try to answer your questions without a lot mistakes!
You illustrations look like they have lots of different cultural influences? Is that a fair comment? Where do your influences come from?
My works are influenced by life, love, freedom and death. I really love ethnic and primitive art, but it all mixes into something different that I make in my head. That’s why my style can be influenced, but this is only my style. It’s really complicated question for my English!
What is the art scene like in Ukraine?
In my opinion, the biggest Ukrainian art problem is painters don’t want to paint. They want to write a conception, be very creative-looking, but they don’t want to think and make a good work. But these problems are common for all modern art.
Of course, we have some talented painters, working in interesting styles and it’s cool.
What’s it like being an illustrator in Ukraine?
Like being illustrator in any other country: you trying to do good works, but if you working for money, you have to do a lot of stupid things from time to time.
Plans for the near future?
Be happy, have interesting projects as an illustrator and painter, make some exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad, be nice, smart, and travel a lot. I’d like to publish a book with my sketches, but I want more time to do art. I want to live in beautiful town.
Thanks Olesya, Where can we find your work?
Now I modifying my site but you can find my work there.
Similar Posts:
- Artist Interview with Johan Björkegren
- Q&A with Illustrator Natalia Nazimek
- An Interview with Ukrainian Illustrator Daria Hlazatova
- Mia Overgaard Interview
- An Interview with Illustrator Tom Hughes