the lost art of the unicorn- frederique morrel

and  so here we are: waitrose has their ad out, littlewoods has their tat out, and marks and sparks has joined in with their own shit x-version: it must be christmas soon.

lookingfornicethings has been travelling and apologises for the lack of recent posts. but what better way to shed your autumnal skin and get into the merry mood than with french artist duo frederique morrel’s tapestry-covered, wintery taxidermy-like pieces.

a fantasy wonderland of knitted and patchworked awesomeness at its gayest, most festive self. the artifacts are on show at london’s stephanie hoppen gallery until dec. 7. go on, get merry.

 

healing oil – chloe dewe mathews

deep in the background of the viscous history of our black gold, on the agricultural planes of azerbaijan, nests naftalan: a village where oil is extricated from its tangled web of money and power, and refined and celebrated as a therapeutic cure for the body in an oxymoronic reversal.

commonly blamed for toxic emissions, rising cancer rates and countless wars, the azerbaijani crude’s tale of healing seems like either the product of a febrile PR mind or one of those extraordinarily improbable tales native to the former soviet union.

chloe dewe mathews‘ photograhic essay on this community’s relationship with oil – from natural remedy to newfound oligarchy money – has been awarded this year’s british journal of photography prize, and will be on show on london’s host gallery from november 22.

to fly, to serve

i grew up by the time airline travel was inexorably way past its glamourous climax: bye bye groomed attendants, free drinks, sexy uniforms… hello strip-down security checks, exhaustive bag-weighing, extortionately expensive limp chicken sandwiches…

flying was never a more democratic and yet more alienating experience: even brandy has been stripped down of all historical privileges to be peddled in plastic sachets.

and so it is in these sappy fits of nostalgia for the mad men-inspired, foxier times of yore that british airways have resuscitated their old motto: to fly, to serve.

to which i, with my tongue firmly in my cheek, will gladly raise my glass.

i leave you with this luridly colourful william eggleston (‘glass on plaine’ untitled) print.

 

 

let there be light

nesting in the beautiful, labyrinthine rooms of the farmiloe building, the sculptural jumble of futuristic cut-out silhouettes that make up nadine spencer’s lamp installation beckons you into a world of lights and shadows.

making letters- dalton ghetti

london’s welcomed us back with a huge array of exciting offerings, including a chance to check out american-based dalton ghetti’s beautiful miniature alphabet sculptures.

carved into the tips of almost-finished pencils, each letter is a testimony to the labouring patience of the craftsman- injecting new life into almost discarded objects.

the piece is on show at the v&a as part of its fantastic ‘the power of making’ exhibition- a must for crafters, innovators and general wow-hunters.

 

 

 

 

 

wallflowers- emma hack

australian artist emma hack cleverly blends models into the background with her mimetic body paint. i wish i had that magical power.

animal kingdom – ben newman

 

enjoying the colourful lively designs of illustrator ben newman: from birds to animal masks and robots, he applies his geometric riot of colours to whole swathes of the earth- and beyond. catch his bird print at the upcoming ‘ghosts of gone birds‘ planned for november in liverpool.

                      

dark light – abbas & melisa teo

captivatingly moving images from two giants of photography with conflicting styles but a very similar spiritual journey: magnum’s abbas and melisa teo.

the joint exhibition, called dark light, will be on show at 2902 gallery in singapore until september 23rd.

 

tea party- mellor ware

cute little bone china tea sets from uk-based designer mellor ware: illustrated with decals of watercoulours from lianne mellor, they will make the delights of any tea-lover anywhere.

we call it a party.

tropicalia – orlanda broom

love the colour explosions of london-based artist orlanda broom’s tropical landscapes: a romantic cacophony of wild colours and fecund shapes finished in a glasslike texture.

on show until the end of the month at london’s stephanie hoppen gallery