Category: Art

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Probably not Born this Way.

I have a confession to make…I think I am in love with a zombie boy.

Rick Genest (aka Rico, aka Zombie Boy, aka the Mugler Muse) is fashion’s latest unconventional star. Moving from sideshow (used to star in a Montreal Circus) to main attraction (Mugler, Nicola Formichetti and Lady GaGa).

Rick and Nicola
Rick and Nicola
Rick and GaGa
Rick and GaGa - for her Born this Way video

 

The Muse of Mugler
The Muse of Mugler

Genest walked in the Thierry Mugler Fall 2011 runway show, and he was recently photographed by Mariano Vivanco, (styled by Formichetti) for a spread in Vogue Hommes Japan, Hard to be Passive.

hardtobepassiveIt it these pictures – along with about a million views of the GaGa video and constant stalking of his tumblr – that have made me slightly obsessed with this unconventional hotty. He encompasses two of my loves (fashion and tattoos) in a form that in theory sounds unappealing (sexually not in a human intrigue sense), but with those cheekbones, that body and an undeniable sex appeal, I just – like many others – cannot resist.

And for those of you intrigued  to see the before…which I know you are…feast your eyes on this… (unfortunate about the unattractive mouth-open face he is pulling).

Before Rick Genest
I thought long and hard about what I really wanted, what my passion was. And I decided I wanted to be a fucking zombie.

So who’d have though it? I think the skeletal look is rather becoming. With the face above, I fear, he would never have made it onto the Mugler Catwalk or the pages of Vogue (although I am intrigued to see more before shots of the un-photoshopped variety).

Rick, I salute you , your vision and your overactive imagination. You’re a celebration the art of obscenity and the macabre in a high-fashion form.

To read an in interview with the man himself go to www.bizarremag.com

and Rick I truly hope that one day I will get to meet you in person…

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Pens and Needles.

A contemporary exhibition celebrating the realisation of tattoo art, culture, and lifestyle.

Pens and Needles

Forget everything you think you know about tattoo art. For the first UK art exhibition of its kind, London Miles invites a selection of the world’s top tattoo folk to finally liberate tattoo enthusiasts and artists from ingrained prejudice…their manifesto No more ‘I LOVE MUM’. It is time to redefine the stereotype.

As attitudes evolve, tattoo technique follows. Much of today’s fine art isn’t too disparate from that which tattoo artists create on bodies. The most accomplished and skilled of tattoo artists assign exacting precision to composition, tone, perspective, and conceptual design when producing their inimitable works of art.

London Miles is to take an in-depth look at all forms of tattoo art, lifestyle, and culture. Featuring original artwork, tattoo stencils and photographs, Pens and Needles brings together artists from across the tattoo and contemporary art sectors to shed light on the entire domain of tattoo art. It will document, discuss and celebrate one of contemporary art’s most burgeoning yet contentious art forms.

The opening night of Pens and Needles will be a fiesta of tattoo art with live music performances and live tattooing taking place in London Miles’s very own pop-up tattoo parlour on Friday, February 25th 2011, 7pm to 11pm.

As I can’t make the opening night Olivia and Keely (Th’ink feature girls) will be attending for me. My first contributing bloggers, I cannot wait for their feature post on this original exhibition.

London Miles address:
Westbourne Studios
242 Acklam Road, Studio 303
W10 5 JJ
London, UK

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Illustrated bodies.

ACOFI Cover imageCut and PasteDon’t rub me it’s Fake.

Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration invites the reader to ‘be inspired’…and it is certainly inspirational reading, in more ways than one.

Amelia's Compendium of Fashion IllustrationOpening the beautiful book (also becoming slightly giddy from the wonderful new book fumes) you instantly get lost among the beautiful pictures. The book features the work of emerging illustrators and they depict the work of 50 ethical fashion designers.

123 store

I was very lucky indeed to be invited to the launch of this inspirational book, an intimate affair with entertainment from 6 Day Riot and the Pipettes. The event was held at – small but perfectly formed – 123 Bethnal Green Road in east London.

Display of books

ACOFI goodie bagLucy Bag

I could not resist purchasing a book and I was lucky enough to receive a wondrous goodie bag filled to the brim with treats from Tatty Devine and Dr. Hauschka. Much merriment and dancing ensued…


Kissy

Number 8 ponderings
Drunken pondering on the number 8 bus

..and so on the journey home myself and Lucy, a little tipsy on  Adnams beer and tonic mixed with Vodka O, perused the pages of ACOFI (as it is know in the Twittersphere) and decided that not only are the illustrations beautiful, but they would come alive as tattoos. So here is a selection of some of my faves from the book and let’s see how they work on the body…inkspired.

Antonia ParkerKatherine TromansNancy Dee

Natsuki OtaniNina Dolcetti

ACOFI tattoosNow who wants one of these? I love them

All illustrations are taken from Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration. Go buy it now…also do let me know if anyone does already have one of these beautiful illustrations as a tattoo….

ACOFI Goodie Bag
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Things for the weekend.

This weekend I shall be attending two very exciting events.

Tonight:

ACOFI-inviteThis event, at 123 Bethnal Green Road, will celebrate the launch of Amelia Gregory‘s Compendium of Fashion Illustration. I am particularly excited about the goodie bags as they look utterly splendid (let’s face it who doesn’t love  good tote?) I can’t wait to blog about this one, but in the meantime I must find something to wear…

Sunday:

Brighton Tattoo ConventionThe fourth annual tattoo convention in Brighton.
I attended the convention last year – I was a virgin convention goer back then – and I am a little more excited than apprehensive this time round. Some of the photos from last year are here, I will endeavor to get lots more photos, inspiration and artist info for you. As ever my trusty photographer Looby will be accompanying me, are you ready for this Loobs?

See you at the after party?

Extremely excited about both for very different reasons. Once the weekend has passed expect blogging, pictures and beauty of wondrous contrast.