Dover Street Market

Dover Street Market is a multi level fashion retail space created by Rei Kawakubo of Japanese fashion label Comme Des Garcons.

their is no other leveled shopping space that can even touch this place.

just the fact you cant even call it a shop or a store its a space, which means every little detail from how the items are folded to how you navigate through DSM is cleverly arranged.

all items have been hand picked by a representative of Comme des Garcons, so attention to detail again is extremely high. its sort of high end, but not a at all daunting to enter. theres no where else like it in london for sure, and if you havent been i suggest you do.

Richard Billingham

Born on the 25th September 1970, Richard Billingham is an English Photographer from a deprived area of Birmingham, his most acclaimed body of work is his book entitled "Rays a Laugh" which is a intimate portrayal of deprivation in which he grew up in. the images from the book were shot with the cheapest film he could find, which ties in nicely with the idea of frankness, and 'just getting by.' At first glace Ray his father appears to be nothing but an alcoholic, and the mother an obese chain smoker with a fascination for jigsaw puzzles. however despite their obvious bad situation Ray and Liz shine through as troubled, but very touching.
the brash colours, and bad focus adds to the authenticity of the series.
Billingham has a raw aspect which i really fine interesting about his work.
documenting people you have a relationship with can be tricky but the series is a brilliant piece of documentary.

Bape

lately I've been wondering how bape still have regular customers coming in there.
I stopped wearing bape a few years back, because i actually felt like such a fashion slut. overpriced items, with a acute selection, and the more limited edition something is, the better? Well i used to think like that, but now I'm more than happy with my Uniqlo plain coloured t-shirts, than a t-shirt that will cost me a weeks dinner.
but i was on the website the other day, and there new S/S collection is nicely put together, until my heart sinks.


this image above is annoying! Why you asked? its just the fact that predominately the label babe caters for ghetto fab/slightly urban hipsters. they are making a mockery of a style of alternative shoes, but making them accessible to the wider audience. its just the fact i have the original brothel creeper style, yet Ive received some very wired looks. the fact that this shape and style has been copied by a brand like babe, will make it rather more acceptable to wear them. darn.

Feminism

Feminist art began to start the ball rolling in the 60's and flourished thought the 70's. this was the hay day of the movement of feminism. From what I read online feminism is a philosophy in which women and their contributions want to be valued. the issue is equality, may it be political, social or economical.

i find the discussion of feminism very had to debate. i understand the idea of equal opportunities whatever you are, but if the idea is to equally live together why would you only have female exhibitions, or feminist run lessons just for teenage girls? i don't really understand the direction or idea behind alot of feminist ideals.

Ansel Adams

Born february 20th, 1902 and died April 22nd 1984, Ansel Easton Adams was best known for his black and white images of the American West, he was a true environmentalist. With photographer Fred Archer Adams created the zone system. this was a system which would allow the photographer to determine proper exposure and to adjust the contrast of the final prints.

Adams will always be know for founding the F/64 group with fellow photographers Edward Weston, and Imogen Cunningham. Adams primarily used large format cameras despite the film cost, weight, and set up time, but he always wants to ensure his images remain sharp.
i do enjoyed his work, because its very natural, but the tones he achieves with a black and white image is remarkable.

Nan Goldin

Born Nancy Goldin in Washington DC in 1953, she grew up in a upper middles class Jewish family in Boston. probably the most recognised documentary photographers of this era for her intimacy, and topics surrounding drug overdosing, AIDS and domestic violence.

what sets Goldin aside from other documentary photographers is her ability to make her images seem like a private journal that has been leaked. her work is consistently show in the form of slide shows, with her most famous being a 45 minute show, where 800 pictures are viewed. her use of lighting is key to the mood, as she usually only shoots in available light, something i respect very much about her work. It makes sense that if your trying to covey real gritty life, the images should be as "real" as they can be.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism is characterized by the objection of objective truth and global cultural narrative. it attacks the use of sharp classifications such as black versus, Male versus female and straight versus gay.
Postmodernism can also be defined by its knowing of high and mass culture. the binding of everyday life with art, and the refusal of one single style of art, and what it should be.