Florists and Gallerists

It'll be a rarified life indeed when there comes the point in my life when I shall waft about and the most pressing issue of the day is going to the florist to pick up arrangements for the house or seeing an exhibition.  Well, for now I can kid myself into thinking those days might come sooner than I think seeing as Thursday passed by a drop by SHOWstudio's Florist exhibition, the House of Voltaire's pop-up shop/gallery and then tea at Liberty for a meeting – flowers, art, fashion, commerce and a spot of tea all combined – I'm almost sickened by my own lala-ness. 

So first to the Florist – or rather, SHOWstudio's interpretation of the Florist where instead of bouquets and baskets, the exhibiton celebrates one of the oldest still life genres in art from its purest form and contributors also actively give their version of the some celebratory flowers by creating pieces live in-studio which will be added to the very selective online Shop throughout the course of the exhibition (until 13th Jan 2011).  It's interesting that it is the form and simple intensity of the flower that is emphasised upon in all the contributions which is why specimens like roses, orchids and poppies are so effective, seen in the huge set piece created by Michael Howells for Dior Couture which I unfortunately couldn't photograph.  Some did use the bloom to add a subversive context to their work but most seem happy to revel in the beauty of the bloom, especially Nick Knight himself whose image 'Rose' is probably my favourite piece just because it needs no analysis or techniques to highlight the bloom of the rose.

SHOWstudio multimedia consultant Daniel Brown's digitalised blooms being projected on the wall // Vivienne Westwood's acrylic neon headpiece

Set designer Simon Costin's self-made skull adorned with cut-out flowers as a nod to decoupage…

Gareth Pugh's 'flower' or suggestive curve is in fact a plaster cast of his boyfriend Carson set into a cushion.  Not a bum imprint but a bum relief?  

Maia Norman's Mother of Pearl label's tees from the S/S 11 collection which I'm loving…

Antonio Marras of Kenzo's painterly encased treat…

Past works acquired for the exhibition include works by Solve Sundsbo, Guy Bourdin, Jeffry Mitchell's picke jar as well as a subtle projection installation by Mary Temple…

Andy Hillman and his set-making studio came up with this ruff-ed up floral bust, re-appropriated from a prop used on a Vogue Italia couture/Tim Walker shoot (thanks Fred Butler for the explanation!)…

Then there's Knight's own ode to the rose along with a projection of SHOWstudio's Flowers4Kate project which has Kate Moss morphing into flowers and reading poetry…

On another SHOWstudio note, I recently wrote an 'essay' (well more like verbal babblings…) to contribute to their Fashion Body project.  I may expand on it on the blog as it's an issue that probably has interest not so much in fashion circles but to personal style bloggers or Chictopia/Lookbook.ru users that on a daily basis put their 'image' out there and it's probably far too succinct a piece to delve into all the nuances and complexities of the subject at hand. 

Then round the corner on the Bruton Street/Place walk that I can only do once or twice a month lest I get lulled into a stupor that makes me believe such a gentrified existence is in any way real, lies the House of Voltaire above Rupert Sanderson's store.  Set up by the gallery/art charity Studio Voltaire in Clapham, this pop-up shop/gallery has moved to zone 1 and has put together a range of products and artworks that range from ¬£10 to ¬£10,000 making it something of a XMas shopping opportunity as well as a dreamer's space…

…gawking at pieces like this brick-printed suit by Andrea Hamilton… 

…and the beautiful 'Climate Shit Drawing 3' by Yinka Shonibare whose post-colonial thunkings have always been thought-provoking…

Linder Sterling and Richard Nicoll once again comes together in mens tees and silk hankies as well as a boiler suit with loops for the hankies to thread through that hasn't arrived in the house yet…

Julie Verhoeven says 'Bless You' with these ornamental tissue boxes, reminding me of the kitschy ones that my maternal grandma favours.  No, of COURSE you can't just have a box of Kleenex all by its lonesome self.  It needs a faux gold house! 

Other more tangible fashion-based products come in the form of bags by Stephania Pramma (grey wool one) and by Matthew Darbyshire and Grace Spooner (dip dyed with leather detailing) that are both limited and on sale on the Culture Label website (more about that later – another XMas option if you're already getting an early start on gift buying…)

I also love this Renee So blanket made for Studio Voltaire… the man reminds me of Zeus… not that I know what Zeus ACTUALLY looks like but in my head this is what he SHOULD look like…

And err… I'm no economist but these images seem to be quite fitting for all of this week's mullings on Ireland's financial state (I'm getting first hand accounts mind you from my friend who can confirm that doom and gloom is indeed hanging over people's heads…)