Just launched a new site for St Mark Church in Cheltenham, built in collaboration with branding agency ArthurSteenHorneAdamson.

Click here to view now.

Source: Metro, 25th October 2006

Birthday card from a mate.
Copyright - Really Good 2005

We stand at a pivotal moment in the human story. For 20,000 generations, our species lived in nature, taking our cues from the sky, the wind, the sea, the animals. We only entered into an electronic environment a generation or two ago. Now we’re getting our cues from glowing screens. We watch nature shows instead of going venturing into the forest. We laugh at recorded jokes instead of joking around together and drool over internet porn instead of having actual sex. Slowly, we move toward a goal that Swiss author Max Frisch once described as “arranging the world so that we do not experience it.”

Source: Design Anarchy, Kalle Lasn, 2006

Source: Design Anarchy, Kalle Lasn, 2006

“Going harpoon fishing together and sharing the Samos wine created a deep sense of fellow-feeling.  On the boat back, they realised that they knew each other only by their Christian names and, wishing to exchange addresses, discovered to their amazement that they worked in the same factory, the one as technical director, the other as nightwatchman.”

“Ralph Lauren will become the first external company in 129 years to outfit the British tennis event’s 570 umpires, ball girls and ball boys.”

Not only that, but Ralph Lauren have also enlarged their polo pony logo, considerably, presumably to make it easier recognise at a distance. What seemed before as an inconspicuous mark on expensive clothing, now appears as a super conspicuous sign with all the regular signifieds and connotations, just taken that one step further.

Wimbledon, despite many other world tennis grand slam events, enjoys a good deal of freedom from major corporate sponsors plastering their graphics all over the venues (not to mention kitting out all the umpires, ball girls and ball boys in high-end designer clobber). The deal worth £10,000,000 to Wimbledon must have proved too much money to refuse. It does indeed appear that everyone has their price, despite 129 years of tradition. If you are going to break over 100 years of tradition, do it in style - arguably.

Sources:
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.
MSNBC

“There are now about 1.6 million Indian house holds that spend $9,000 a year on luxury goods.”

“Just before New Year’s Eve [2005], Tag Heuer hosted an all-night party for big spenders in Goa. About 400 diamond-dripping, air kissing, Indians decked out in brands like Manolo Blahnik and Balenciaga sipped champagne and sampled canapes as they watched Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan play volleyball and emcee a bikini contest. “India cannot hide behind the fact that it is a developing country anymore,” says Khan. “Every Indian now wants to own products that inspire awe and envy.” Can the French sell cake to people who not long ago had to scramble for bread? Given the ambitious plans luxury brands have for India, they seem to think so.”

Source: Time, April 10 2006
Article by Jessica Carsen/London

Photograph by Vinita Davé taken in October 2005.

Irrespective of India’s new rich, the majority still do ’scramble for
bread’ Jessica.

As India experiences tremendous economic development “…the appearance of Western gadgets [become one of] the most reliable spurs to economic growth. [A] theory, which we might term the theory of ‘pressurizing’ or economic training in consumption, linked to pressurized economic growth, is seductive.  It shows up-forced acculturation to the process of consumption as the logical next stage in the development of the industrial system…”.

Far from being passive victims in an innevitable system of development, new rich consumers should to some degree be attuned to the “whole logic of differentiation, the distinguishing processes of class or caste which are fundamental to the social structure and are given free rein in ‘democratic’ society.  In short, there is a whole sociological dimension of difference, status etc., lacking here in consequence of signs and differences, a dimension no longer grounding consumption as limited in terms of ‘harmonious’ individual satisfaction (which might thus be limited in terms of the ideal norms of ‘nature’), but as an unlimited social activity.”

Source: The Consumer Society, Myths & Structures, Jean Baudrillard, 1970.

I’ve just put the finishing touches on a new site for
The Catalina Society.

“The Catalina Society is the supporters club for the Consolidated PBY5A Catalina.

Our aim is to keep this beautiful old flying boat airworthy for many years to come. By forming the society, we have brought together people who share our aim. But more importantly, you will be joining a dedicated group of enthusiasts who can proudly associate themselves with their aircraft.”

Click here to view now.

To encourage a bit more dialogue on my journal site, I am going to post questions, every now and then, to provoke a bit of discussion. Feel free to leave comments.

Q. Some argue that Andy Warhols’ methodology (incorporating methods of mass-production into art) are being turned around by some of todays’ artists who now incorporate art into methods of mass-production. Do you think this provides a better and more unique way for artists to create work that brings more thoughtful content into culture?

A list of the top 10 best movies of all time, that you must see before you die, according to a newspaper clipping I found lying around my flat from The Times, 9th June 2005.

1. Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953, Yasujiro Ozu)
2. La Règle du Jeu (France, 1939, Jean Renoir)
3. Lawrence of Arabia (GB, 1962, David Lean)
4. The Godfather Trilogy (US, 1972, 1974, 1990, Francis Ford Coppola)
5. The Seven Samurai (Japan, 1954, Akira Kurosawa)
6. Citizen Kane (US, 1941, Orson Welles)
7. Raging Bull (US, 1980, Martin Scorsese)
8. Vertigo (US, 1958, Alfred Hitchcock)
9. Some Like It Hot (US, 1959, Billy Wilder)
10. 8 1/2 (Italy, 1963, Frederico Fellini)

Just opened a brand new site for Verity & Etta Bell of newly formed, Kickstep Yoga & Dance.

Kickstep Yoga & Dance offers classes & workshops to schools, offices & homes that are guaranteed to relax, de-stress & re-energise your body & mind.

Click here to view.

Source: Adbusters © July/August 2006

Copyright Adbusters © May/June 2006

Just finished Alpine Prints* as a self directed project. The site is a database driven, full CMS (content management system) and online-payment capable site.

Alpine Prints* offers you the opportunity to own beautiful and stunning fine art prints of the Alps, to your individual wishes, delivered directly to your door.

Click here to view.

This is America
Visions of the American dream
Centraal Museum Utrecht, June 24 - October 8, 2006

New Exhibition at Centraal Museum Utrecht that I would love to go to. There should be more work like this!

“In ‘This is America’ seventeen contemporary artists from Western Europe and North America outline their personal vision of the United States as the dominant force in mass culture and the media. They are reacting to the image of the ‘American Dream’ increasingly perfected during the twentieth century via the American mass media. Since 9/11 and the war in Iraq that dream has been shattered. In this exhibition, the participating artists show what America means to them now. The exhibition runs from June 24 through October 8 in the Centraal Museum in Utrecht.”

Click here for more info.

Source: http://www.centraalmuseum.nl

“I write following your article on five hoodies who were thought to have mugged a man but who actually saved his life (Metro, Thu). Seeing the confusion that was caused by the fact that these young people performed a good act, I offer a couple of pointers as to the hoodies who can be trusted and those who cannot.

First, if the said hoodie has the name or motif of a band on his or her clothing, do not fear. These people are alternative and can be trusted.

However, if the hoodie displays any reference to brand names, run in terror. These hoodies are chavs and happy-slappers.  Also, look for baggy jeans, long hair and piercings in alternative young people, and baldness, red faces and hoop earrings among bad hoodies.”

Ed Blann, Birmingham

Source: Metro, 20th May 2006