Mr. Hudson & the Library

Best sound of the moment and great talent...especially if you're sick of all 'bands' jumping on the indie band wagon. Something a bit different.
mr.hudson

Well worth a look: 22nd October, the Cockpit

Liverpool

On a recent visit to Liverpool I decided to take my camera into the town centre, just on the off chance there were any sights worth glogging. The rewards of are obvious. Although these images may not do the city justice, I found all of these buildings fascinating. The face of the city is very smart and quite modern, but just turning up one of the side/back streets brings a new world of incredible buildings. I love the look of these, they have such character. Character that would have been present even in their early days, but the years of vandalism and general weathering has made for some awesome spectacles. There were a large number of buildings that almost stood alone, or rows of housing or shops that just ended abruptly, creating some great sights.

the Tate, Liverpool

The Albert Docks in Liverpool has to be one of my favorite places. The architecture is incredible, it is very dated and yet at the same time has a real 'current' feel about it. Whilst at the Docks I decided to see what Liverpool's Tate had to offer...


The most fascinating aspect of the Tate for me was the views from the upper windows, looking out over the docks. Unfortunately I have not captured the quality of these views in the photo below but it gives some idea.



I will look at some of the exhibitions and works displayed in the Tate in another glog entry as I was really inspired by some of it. But in terms of the gallery itself, it was the cafe that had the biggest impact on me. Frankfurt-based artist Tobias Rehberger was specially commissioned to transform the Café into a multi-coloured three-dimensional work of art. He has created a vibrant installation that combines coloured acrylic glass garlands branching out from the centre of the ceiling with a prominent wall installation, merging text with graphic elements executed also in coloured acrylic glass. The text reads 'Together a New Liverpool', but it is arranged in a manner that suggests a number of poetic variations such as 'To Get Her a New Liver/Pool', a comment on the city's current renaissance. Disappointingly I was not allowed to photograph the inside of the cafe and so had to make do with this image from the internet to show it's value.

Martin Parr

'England, Liverpool'
Having spent a time capturing images of the rundown buildings that I found most fascinating in Liverpool, I was very excited to see some of Martin Parr's work in the Tate. This image stood out for me. The architecture and setting in this photo was just what I had been so impressed by whilst roaming the city. The contrasting mood created by the little girl has such a strong impact and gives the image an incredibly strong emotive quality.

Neville Gabie

'Playing Away UK'


This piece consists of 12 lambda prints mounted on aluminium, each showing make-shift or adapted goalposts dotted around the UK. An ingenious idea for an exhibition, and just as impressive in its execution. The settings for the majority of the goals is again similar to that of those that interested me so much in and around Liverpool. 'Playing away UK' is such a simple yet strong idea, and evokes such a strong emotion for any lad lucky enough to view it.

Vanley Burke

'Toxteth, not Croxteth'
This image from Dr Vanley Burke is another that leapt out at me. The Birmingham-based photographer regularly visited the black community in Liverpool. The images he produced show a city that had not changed significantly since the war, in much need of investment, and in many ways ostracised from the wider country as well as being divided within itself, problems that culminated in the media-dubbed ‘Toxteth Riots’ of 1981. Burke captures a city of grafitti, one where jumble sales take place on old bomb sites and a dog chews on a brick, yet also a city where the spirit of community shines through in street festivals. Taken in Croxteth in 1980, this image has the feel of an old Nike advertising campaign, or one of a similar ilk. I love the composition of the photo, and the energy it has, not just from the jogger, but from the buildings and the landscape that make up the majority of the image.

turning the place over

this time I had my camera....

Odeon

The back of the old Odeon cinema in Birmingham has always been one of my favorite architectural sights. Built in the 1930's, it stands out like a beacon, surrounded by ultra-modern architecture such as the Bullring and Selfridges. The building has quite an intimidating feel to it and is made to look incredibly run-down by its surrounding structures. I was interested to find that the Odeon building in Liverpool has a very similar style. This was built many years later but it appears that the architects were keen to keep the classic feel of one of the oldest cinemas in the country.

Saatchi gallery, London

The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art, opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 in order to show his sizeable (and changing) collection to the public. It has occupied different premises, first in North London, then the South Bank by the River Thames and Chelsea (opening to the public in 2007). Saatchi's collection, and hence the gallery's shows, have had distinct phases, starting with US artists and minimalism, moving on to the Damien Hirst-led Young British Artists, followed by shows purely of painting and more recently promoting once again art from America in an exhibition entitled USA Today at the Royal Academy in London.

The gallery has been a major — if not the major — influence on art in Britain since its opening. It has also had a history of media controversy, which it has courted, and has had extremes of critical reaction. Many artists shown at the gallery are unknown not only to the general public but also to the commercial art world: showing at the gallery has provided a springboard to launch careers.

The work in the Saatchi is amazing. Much of it would be considered the 'anyone could have done that' kind of art work. But as Damien Hirst so brilliantly responded to this comment... "but they didn't". The work displayed in the gallery is so raw and true, much of the abstract work takes a few minutes to get used to as it is quite shocking on first viewing. Aside from Marcus Harvey's Myra Hindley which is possibly my favorite piece, I was amazed by the 'oil room'. A room that has been half filled with oil, creating what looks like a solid surface. This must be seen to be fully appreciated but this image gives the idea.

Marcus Harvey's Myra Hindley

Possibly one of the most controversial pieces of art created in recent time, but definitely one of the most impressive. Viewing this masterpiece for the first time 'in the flesh' was quite an experience. I had seen images of it before my visit to the Saatchi Gallery, the sheer scale of the actual thing was breathtaking. Marcus Harvey used children's hand prints to create the profile of the notorious killer. It was this aspect of the piece that created such uproar and controversy, but for me this is the most impressive aspect of it. The use of such a poignant medium is what makes this painting so impactful and raw. In 1997, Harvey's work provoked an outcry from the parents of the murdered children. It was attacked with eggs and ink and had to be restored.
I can see that it must be incredibly hard for those directly effected by Hindley, but for me this is what makes art special. To get such a reaction from people is what makes for a truly iconic piece of art.

style icon. Kanye West

"I always said if I rap I'd say something significant, but now I'm rapping 'bout money hoes and rims again".
Kanye West is a breakthrough. He has broken the mould that had formed within black music whereby to be cool you had to carry guns, deal drugs, pimp 'hoes' and drive cars 'rollin on 20's' etc. I love the fact that Kanye's confidence allows him to effectively mock this way of life, both through his lyrics and through his fashion sense. As he said on the Friday Night Project, "I wear clothes that fit". He then went on to analyse his outfit, revealing that the majority of his clothes were Dior, and not just the usual hip-hop makes such as Fubu, Echo, etc. By combining styles associated with different music genres (indie ad hip-hop), he has created his own unique style, that only separates him further from the competition.

HIV awareness

The script reads:

"His mates call him Jack coz he's got a hairy back. He's 6'2" and the best in the box on the pitch. when he was 4 he pushed his primary school teacher in the pond. He lost his virginity when he was 16 on a pool table. By the time he's 40 he wants to drive a Ferrari."


This is an incredibly powerful piece of work by a Graphic Designer from Nottingham Trent University called Ben Kennedy. The use of the body as the medium is so effective. The lack of fonts and the absence of a 'traditional' layout makes it raw, direct and relevant.

Florence

I visited Florence on a trip with my Art class in 6th form. I love the place! I have never been anywhere that has had such an impact on me and left such a mark. The city's style, its class, and most of all it's buildings and architecture is just breath taking. The countless fashion boutiques were well represented by the people walking along the streets, everyone looked so stylish and so smart. The staff in the Hugo Boss outlet, situated in the main square, were incredibly groomed and very well dressed, this just summed up the whole city.
Unfortunately the camera I took with me was not digital and so all I have to show from my visit are some actual photos, which do not translate very well onto screen and really dont do the place justice. I have therefore used a couple of images I have found on the internet, but to be honest these still dont do it justice!


This was my favorite building in Florence. It is called the Palazzo Vecchio, or 'old place', and is located in the main square. I was keen to see this when I visited as I had seen it in 'Hannibal' and thought it looked incredible. It did not disappoint although was smaller than I had imagined, but in many respects this made it all the more impressive.


Even the bridges crossing the Arno River were incredible. This aspect of the architecture reminded me of Venice.


This is one of my photos, I was determined to put it up as it shows the stunning views of the rooftops that can be seen from the top of the Cathedral. I think this gives a superd idea of the layout and feel of the city. Well worth a visit.

Sony bouncy balls, an innovation?...

The Sony Bravia advert, featuring the bouncy balls and Jose Gonsalez, was hugely popular. It is doubtlessly one of the most awe inspiring and stunning adverts created, and most certainly the start of a trend.

Strong yet calming visuals, complimented by a soothing acoustic soundtrack, has become a very popular combination in the world of television advertising. I have been focusing on such adverts over the past year or so, as I have chosen to investigate the use of music in advertising for my dissertation. It is clear that advertisers are confident in this style of advert, with many popular brands. .T-Mobile, Orange, Guinness, Kleenex, Kingsmill and Vodafone (advert glogged earlier in glog) to name but a few. Even the BBC have realised it's potential and have used it to great effect with the Planet Earth adverts, showing awesome images of landscapes and wildlife to the backing track of Sigur Ros' epic 'Hoppipolla'.

I love this style of adverts, and the popularity and frequency in which they are appearing on the screen would suggest that I am not alone...

'Duke' - Genesis. artwork by Lionel Koechlin

As far as album artwork goes, few are better than that of Genesis' album "Duke". "Duke" may be regarded as a transitional album, and therefore became regarded as the album where many Genesis fans would draw the line between the "old" and "new" Genesis. The style of drawing, coupled with the well as the poignancy of the scene, makes for a great image. It is timeless. The artwork of the inner sleeve of the LP is equally impressive, with all of the song lyrics written in an almost juvenile, sketchy kind of style.

The artwork was produced by French artist Lionel Koechlin. Koechlin was born in Paris, France, in 1984. After studying art, he began to illustrate for magazines and newspapers, cinema posters, publicity campaigns, and childrens books. In 1973 he published his first book and since then he has created more than 40 titles for children and young people. His cartoons have been adapted in several TV stations in France.




Through researching Koechlin I have come across many of his illustrations and have come to the conclusion that I am actually not a fan of his work. "Duke ' must be a one off, it may be the style of the album artwork, it may be the medium that it is on. I am not sure, but what I am sure of is that it is one of the best album sleeves I have seen.

more fonejacker wit...

Here is another great use of image and phrase from fonejacker:

"You don't sell?"

Accessorize + Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton's image was used to promote Accessorize in 2006, and proved to be a very successful choice of profile. This picture in particular was placed on a large scale in the shop windows, on the bags and all around the stores. The image is close to perfection. It is sexy and striking without being intimidating.

I studied this particular picture of Barton for a design theory assignment in which the aim was to investigate the relationship between the measurements of the face and the Fibonacci series, or the Golden Section. Her face turned out to be almost perfectly symmetrical, with many links in proportion to the both Fib series and the Golden section. It is an amazing image and ideal for promoting any form of beauty products or ladies fashion.

impossible is nothing #2

Another great image from adidas' impossible is nothing campaign. It encapsulates everything that the tagline suggests. Having one of England's greatest rugby players confirming it makes for a very strong and impactful promotion. Similarly with David Beckhams input into the campaign, I adore this juvenile style of drawing and the naivety that it suggests.

sutton signage: the good...

This is the front of a hairdressing salon that has recently opened in my hometown of Sutton Coldfield. For some reason I am really drawn to the place solely for the reason that I love the sign and general appearance of the shopfront. I love the fact that the sign reads 'Browns Art team'. There is no mention that they cut hair, but just the way the employees are described as an 'art team' inspires me with confidence that they would be very capable hairdressers. When I first saw Browns I was unsure about the fact that the shopfront had no suggestion of a salon, but then on passing the place it is quite clear that that is what it is. The copy on the sign has a quiet confidence about it, almost as if they dont feel the need to clarify what it is they do.

The situation of the road sign, for me, really adds to the impact of the shopfront.

nike advertising

Nike have always been at the forefront of advertising campaigns and as the worlds leading sports brand, they clearly get it right. For me, this billboard shown above is one of the best examples of their perfect use of imagery and placement. This billboard was used to cover temporary fencing that had been erected to corden off an area of parkland, popular with joggers, that was undergoing work.


Nike's promotion for football is always greatly received by sports fans. Above is an excellent example of their awesome and impactful use of ambient media. This huge football was placed on one side of a busy street, with a huge image of Thierry Henry placed on a building on the other side of the street, suggesting he had just kicked the ball. Such large scale adverts are bound to get people talking, all adding to Nike's publicity and popularity.

the world according to Karl Pilkington

'not many idiots could make something this funny' - Guardian Guide

Karl Pilkington has made a name for himself being a part of the record breaking podcast team, alongside Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The man has the most incredible mind i have ever come across. His sheer idiocy makes him close to genius. In his book, he gives an insightful yet unique view into his bizarre philosophy, covering many of the topics brought up on the Ricky Gervais podcasts.


The book features a large volume of transcript from the show, as well as many hand illustrated and annotated drawings, detailing some of Karls theories and inventions. It is rounded off with snippets from his diary, which makes for hilarious reading.

fonejacker

A recent television programme to take E4 by storm is fonejacker. A show that basically sees a man making prank calls. Aside from the great humour of this show, I have become drawn to it for its extremely clever use of imagery to compliment each phone call. For the majority of the calls, 2D moving images are used. These are made up from various pieces of images cut and pasted together to create characters and scenes. These are very clever and witty.

However, it is the ingenious use of random images, used to reiterate what has just been said, that I find most interesting. If you havnt seen an episode of fonejacker then I would strongly recommend watching it, if only for the clever visual aids.

My favorite example from the show is the photo and caption below. (forgetting its use in the show, I find this photo one of the most striking and impressive images I have ever seen. It is extremely emotive and I think it makes for such a strong all round image).

"time is of the essence"

nike plus

The Nike swoosh has to be one of, if not the most iconic logo in the world. Nike Plus is an extension to the Nike brand that concentrates on linking sport and music. I think this is an excellent logo. The '+' just fits in so well with the swoosh and makes for a simple but very cool logo.

MTV switch

Saving energy and in turn, the world, is all the rage of late. There are so many different promotions going around highlighting the importance of energy saving and the potential impact of global warming etc. But for me, this MTV switch advert is the only one that has any impact on me. I think this is down to the graphics. I find the visuals of this promotion absolutely stunning. I love the tone of the advert as well, the way that it seems so gentle and friendly, but at the same time is communicating such deep and very serious messages underneath.