The Book of Everyone project allows you to create your own personal book for someone special of your choosing. Your one-of-a-kind booked is made by you – and creative and talented artists, illustrators and designers – and filled with interesting art work and imagery, including photos from your own collection.
Everyone deserves a book with their name on the cover
The short video tells the alternative love story behind tattooing. The film was made by Scottish photographer/director David Boni and was shot in Glasgow, hence the rainy street. The tattoo parlour featured in the film was Fleur De Lis and the soundtrack is by The Mostar Diving Club.
You have got just a few days left to see The “Love Bomb” at Pitfifield, London.
Help spread the love and be part of the ongoing struggle for peace!
We spoke with artist Daisuke Sakaguchi who has collaborated with Wendy Meakin, dealer on C4’s Four Rooms to create The “Love Bomb”. Daisuke painted The “Love Bomb” with traditional Japanese symbols of love.
Daisuke Sakaguchi, 33, Artist and Creative Director of THE 27 LIFE, London.
How do you know Wendy Meakin? why did you decide to work together on the project?
I graduated from Central Saint Martins University back in 2003. During my studies, one of my most influential lecturers was Wendy Meakin. I had the choice of having other lecturers, but I stuck with Wendy because I was really drawn to the topics that she covered, but I also loved the way she explained them and the style of her teaching. After I graduated, we stayed in touch and naturally became friends. We worked on a few very interesting projects together, but within the last 11 years we always said we’ll do something major together and the Love Bomb is the result – and just the beginning!
What inspired you to create the Love Bomb?
For me, three-dimensional objects are an extremely fun canvas to paint on. I enjoy studying the original shapes and seeing how I can camouflage certain areas of the object and sometimes enhance and highlight other areas. In my career I have painted on a variety of different objects and the bomb was a great challenge. It is almost like creating a massive back piece or a huge sleeve. Usually I embrace the object that I am painting, however in this case it was almost having have to do the opposite.
What is your motivation?
I am against war and that this bomb had no functional use other than a reminder of what it was once used for. Similar bombs like this one, 20,000 of them were dropped on Iraq in One night! Imagine the death count. We wanted to take a symbol of hate and turn into love. We wanted to give her a new life! As an artist I feel like I had the opportunity to resurrect it and turn in to something completely unique. I know that it is an inanimate object, but being a spiritual person I feel like it now has a life and a soul.
What do you hope people will take from this project?
Never stop creating!
What happens now? Is it for sale?
Yes, we’ve had high offers, but we would like it to go to the right buyer and home. Whether it is a single collector or a company, it will be awesome if the Love Bomb’s new placement allows it to be viewed and enjoyed by many others. So we think it will be amazing and look beautiful in an epic foyer of a hotel or office reception.
Will there be future collaborations?
Maybe “Wendy Meakin and Daisuke THE 27 LIFE Sakaguchi present Love Guns”, or “Love TANK”
It is my hope that one will stop and think about bombs, there indiscriminate power and what an efficient killing device humans’ have created, we are in this together. Love and peace require patience, empathy, and the ability to sit and talk with those who have diametrically opposed ideologies.
Artist Victoria Selbach paints female nudes as they really are – as their bodies truly are in domestic, everyday settings. The women are just that – women, cast free of social projections and celebrity airbrushing.
The human presence stripped bare of pretense and accouterments is simply alive, revealing a deeply personal identity, present in the light of one unique moment.
Inspired by the greek legend of the Phoenix, the short filmBlackened Wings tells the tale of a young boy fighting to overcome bullying and oppression. It’s breathtakingly beautiful and stylised with a moving score.
How did you get into jewellery making?
I have been into jewellery all my life, when I was a child I loved to adorn myself and make jewellery out of leaves and flowers. From childhood to teen and adult age, I believe that jewellery has always been present in different forms and shapes – decorating myself and my feelings. Like all the early passions in life, it developed into a way of being, into a research of the different techniques in the making and design process.
What inspires you?
The main inspiration for my designs is nature in its wildest principle.
Only nature contains perfect shapes, shades, scents and colours, emotions and sensations. It’s life and death, it’s unchangeable, but in some ways changing, it’s stable but alterable – an eternal contradiction. My love for poetry, philosophy and art transcends into each pattern of design and it reflects the sinister rebelliousness of my emotions.
Part of The Wildness Collection
What draws you to jewellery?
Jewellery has marked a fundamental part in the history of designing in different eras and cultures. I believe that jewellery is an extension of beauty and the expression of its power.
Part of The Wildness Collection
What is your favourite piece that you have created?
My favourite piece that I have created is the skull and butterfly ring part of ‘Les Fleurs du Mal’ jewellery collection inspired by Baudelaire’s poetry. It’s a skull ring blinded by a butterfly, it’s love and death… Another of my favourite pieces is also the Dante Alighieri ring – the author/genius behind the journey to hell (Divine Comedy).
Skull and butterfly ring
Dante Alighieri ring
Is your work inspired by tattoos?
My work is definitely inspired by art, and different combinations of art such as tattoos. I think that jewellery and tattoos follow a parallel meaning of expression in body adornment. It’s a very similar statement in my opinion. I love ornamental patterns, that are also used on tattoos and sometimes I incorporate them into my designs.
Stefania’s tattoos
Can you tell me about the tattoos on your body?
My back is fully tattooed with paisley, flowers and geometric ornaments. This back piece was done by Matt Black at Divine Canvas. My sides are a work in progress by Silvia Zed from Shall Adore, it’s a beautiful Victorian filigree pattern. I also have two symmetric tribal tattoos done a long time ago by Silvia Zed on my upper arm, old Love and Freedom scripts on my wrists and lines/rings around my ring fingers. My aim is to have most of the back of my body tattooed…
Stefania’s back by Matt Black
Who are your favourite tattoo artists?
I’m totally in love with Victorian filigree, (designs and shades) of ornaments done by Silvia Zed and also her black and grey roses designs, she is definitely one of my favourite tattooists and also a dear friend of mine. I also love the geometric work of Xed LeHead and the amazing fine work of Philip Milic.
By Silvia Zed
Part of Stefania’s collection
Do you think there is a relationship between tattoos and fashion?
Tattoos have became more and more common. I believe that, in our days, tattoos are one of the most popular forms of self expression and definitely related to the fashion world. The aim of fashion, in my opinion, has always been to create a form of statement and that’s exactly what tattoos are about. I think there has always been a strong link between art and fashion that in the modern society has finally extended into the world of tattoos and body modification.
What’s next for The Wildness?
I believe that the steady path between imagination and creation of The Wildness will evolve into many more creations. I’m also working on different collaborations with fashion designers. The ‘Next’ for the Wildness is to keep and progress with the wild pattern of designing and to adorn the best corners of the world with handmade creations…
