MOXVOX

One week ago today I went to bed early, so that I could awaken at 2.45am, dress and make my way to ‘THE BASE’, Spencer Tunick’s latest installation. It took place on the steps of the opera house forecourt as well as inside the concert hall.
I still feel extremely priviledged and lucky to have been involved. It was truly a profound experience. People came from all walks of life and in all shapes and sizes, although as soon as they got their kit off, none of this mattered. In the mass naked sea of people, no-one could judge each other, we all had our flaws, we were all completely vulnerable. But as soon as we all removed our clothes, it was as though the taboo of nakedness was also removed. Clothing suddenly seemed heavy, the simple act of dressing yourself each day seemed like it was a burden. I had always believed that self expression through fashion was very important, now my thoughts were being challenged. What we chose to wear each day is so much more than just self expression. Like armour, it protects us, what we wear affects how people may see us, how others may judge us. Whether or not we wish to blend in or make a statement, express our personality or pretend to be something we are not…there are soo many layers to why we wear what we wear. And even though I will not stop expressing myself by means of fashion, I will never forget the liberating feeling of being naked (and I am not entirely sure if this same feeling will be achievable again, as I can only imagine a nudist beach or resort when no doubt have some kind of sleazy element to it)…it transcending the physical act so to speak….for 3 hours I was not bound by any notion of what others might think of me or the need armour myself. Fear is definitely conquered when you allow yourself to be vulnerable…….

I like letters.
What can I say…words and the alphabet appeal to me. In my creativity I have always incorporated some kind of typography or written word of some kind. Maybe its charm is the nostalgia I feel about first learning to read and write, fond memories of watching Sesame Street and using my Sentence Maker at school.

Even now as an artist and designer text and lettering features in my work.

At University I was always challenged by lecturers to explain why I used text and words in my art. I guess only recently has it really really made any sense. Before you can read and write, your world is made up entirely by images, sounds and feelings. So for me the appeal with typograghy and letters comes from that intial recognition of the shape and beauty of words. Some letters are more appealling than others and this can obviously be said about words also. Then introduce the vast array of fonts and you can see how I am in heaven ;]

Anyway…needless to say I was excited and beside myself to find these two cookie cutters out there in the interwebs.

WANT WANT WANT!!

Ok firstly we have these Helvetic cookie cutters and although they are not in production yet, I think  Beverley Hsu is pretty cool to have come up with them. Her calendar is quite nice too!

Luck for me the second beauty is alive and kicking in the world of online sales.  Message-in-a-Cookie sets are available at Williams-Sonoma exclusively

Make your own messages – more than awesome!! It’s awesome+awesome=AWESOMER

and when these babies arrive in my mailbox…first thing I will be doing with them is making these…. (oh!! and some french swearing ones also ;] )

In a world obsessed with perfection and the ‘plastic’ attainable beauty one may purchase, by succumbing to the scalpel, unconventional beauty seems all the more attractive. Unique faces with slight imperfections and so called flaws to me are much closer to what beauty really is. Nature is never perfect, so why is it that in our culture more and more frequently, we are obsessed with flawless, symmetrical, well balanced faces? Is this a sign of our times? In this computer enhanced digital culture, it is sometimes hard to remove oneself from the bombardment of  ‘photo-shopped’  imagery thrown at us from all angles.

And yeah sure…unconventional beauties have claimed their space in the fashion world, but is it merely to keep it fresh… are these Pretty Uglies ever going to make it to be the supermodels such as Christy Brinkley, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangalista became? Stella Tennant came close. She has the ability to look quite harsh and strong, almost masculine with her hardened features. Then on the other hand she can also look quite gentle and more ‘pretty’ in other instances. Some may consider Kate Moss to be someone that has achieved this recognition for her beauty,  her look was not considered at all conventional when she first gained attention in her career.

No doubt my curiousity and thoughts on this topic arise from my general rejection of mainstream ‘hollywood’ films. Fake tan, fake boobs, fake lips etc etc does nothing for me. I prefer women that grace independenet cinema, art house/foreign films, it is generally the case that the more subtitles the more ‘jolie laide’ the women. Now this word or term Jolie Laide…arkwardly translated it means Pretty Ugly…but in essence it’s about beauty that does negate the imperfections or quirks, rather it’s about celebrating them – after all it’s these things that make us unique.

Perhaps this is what I love about the women that could be labelled as ‘Jolie Laide’. There is a certain fearlessness in their ability to show their strong side and not just the vunerable ‘pretty’ side.  It is also claiming beauty on their own terms. And this is definitely what we need more of if we want our youth to grow up without thinking they need to fit into a box. The more diversity the better! It’s as though there is a more compelling message here, a message for women and also for men. After all, in my eyes there is nothing quite as ugly as a pre-packaged airbrushed pose à la Paris Hilton. So become the master at showing off the features that make you unique, chances are that’s what makes your beautiful.

For me Jolie Laide is personified best by the following beauties (at least as these women are well known):

(If I were to include a few more, women such as Grace Jones, Cate Blanchett, Sofia Coppola and Tilda Swinton would no doubt get a mention.)  So who would you consider to be ‘Jolie Laide’??

1.Vanessa Paradis

2.Rossy de Palma

3.Charlotte Gainsbourg

4.Juliette Lewis

5. Charlotte Rampling

Lately I have been thinking a lot about ‘the self’ and self portraiture. During September, my 30 new things project got me thinking a lot about the celebration of ones self/image… hmm self and image! How exclusive are these two of each other, really? What do these two things mean in popular culture right now? With the bombardment of social networking and celebrity scandals and imagery, it’s almost like a race to be seen. What is my part in this circus? At times I truly feel that life is too short and one should have no qualms in the excessive portrayal of one’s image. But it this excess just for the sake of it?

Whilst under going my 30 new things project I dare say I indulged (for lack of a better word) in a few self portraits tinted with narcissism. Many may see it as nothing more. No doubt some may say this about many of my facebook photos also. So why have I found myself at this place…slightly obsessed with portraying ‘me’….perhaps it’s as my friend Robstar so kindly put it the other night…I am evolving! Am I subconsciously fearfully of the change being so constant that I need to attempt to document this change. Each self portrait being a slice of time. I will never be that person again. I kind of like this idea. I also like the idea that it push people’s buttons…but that’s maybe another story.

When I think of all this I can’t help but think of Cindy Sherman. Since studying photography at University I have always been interested in her work. Cindy uses herself as the subject in her photos, although they are far from being considered self-portraits. Always a different character in her work, Sherman communicates her views on women in society, their depiction in the media as well as raising questions regarding the modern world in general. Her photos have a distinct style and no matter what the message are always theatrical.

Although much more humourous and lighthearted, I guess my Tankgirl series touched on a similiar thing. And what girl doesn’t want to be Tankgirl!

…..and then there was my Dali-inspired attempt at being a man….

So OK maybe I’m no Cindy Sherman…but she no doubt influences and motivates me to not only feel at ease with using myself as the subject, but also use this medium as a valid form of art. It’s not narcissistic!! (ok maybe just a tiny, tiny bit ;]) presently I am devising an idea/project that will take this concept further.

I really love the daily self portrait projects people undertake…and 09h09 often makes me laugh. It’s the blog of Jean-Michel Gobet…he takes a photo of himself everyday at 9.09am…no matter where he is..the caption is in both french and english…an added bonus for people like me trying to learn french. And..he has been doing these daily arms length self portraits since 2002….Wow!!

Stay tuned for new MOOKIE adventures containing high amounts of narcissistic tendencies and cheap arms-length snapshottery!

I am a firm believer in everyone possessing the ability to draw. We all start off as small children having an innocent and free spirit with mark making…It’s primal. Mankind has always done it. The older we get the more we get told we either have talent or we don’t…so chances are that if you were told throughout school that your drawings suck, you probably stopped drawing. But…just think of the amazing artists that ignored this criticism.Your marks on paper are unique..it’s not about confirming…it’s about expression. Yeah OK there are other ways to express yourself…of course…but making mark on paper is a simple thing we can all do daily.

I while ago I started a daily doodle thing…but I guess it was not really that structured and I kinda lost direction. Here are 3 daily doodle projects I think are really inspiring…

Lunch Bag Art A dad draws on a brown paper bag daily for his kids!!

Awesome!

Postcards to my Parents -  Carolyn Sewell of Pedestrian Typography has started a project as an anniversary present to her parents. Everyday she sends them a new postcard that she has doodled. Love it!

Natalie of Definatalie.com offers her monthly desktop calendar for free download

and here is a little doodle project via twitter LUNCHDOODLE doodle during lunch and tweet it!

So whatcha waiting for…grab a pen and get doodling!!

I found this list of ‘100 of the most beautiful english words’ via Tumblr. It was compiled by Robert Beard. I am undecided as to whether I agree with his list…but with his 40 years experience in the field leaves me slightly intimidated to even begin debate. So! yes ok, nice list…beautiful words, hope to incorporate them more in my everyday life for a more fulfilling experience, blah blah blah…but wait!

According to Monkey Typist there are only 15 (yeah the blue ones) that are of old english origin…the rest are borrowed. Oh English, thou art one magnificent bastard!!

Ailurophile A cat-lover.

Assemblage A gathering.

Becoming Attractive.

Beleaguer To exhaust with attacks.

Brood To think alone.

Bucolic In a lovely rural setting.

Bungalow A small, cozy cottage.

Chatoyant Like a cat’s eye.

Comely Attractive.

Conflate To blend together.

Cynosure A focal point of admiration.

Dalliance A brief love affair.

Demesne Dominion, territory.

Demure Shy and reserved.

Denouement The resolution of a mystery.

Desuetude Disuse.

Desultory Slow, sluggish.

Diaphanous Filmy.

Dissemble Deceive.

Dulcet Sweet, sugary.

Ebullience Bubbling enthusiasm.

Effervescent Bubbly.

Efflorescence Flowering, blooming.

Elision Dropping a sound or syllable in a word.

Elixir A good potion.

Eloquence Beauty and persuasion in speech.

Embrocation Rubbing on a lotion.

Emollient A softener.

Ephemeral Short-lived.

Epiphany A sudden revelation.

Erstwhile At one time, for a time.

Ethereal Gaseous, invisible but detectable.

Evanescent Vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time.

Evocative Suggestive.

Fetching Pretty.

Felicity Pleasantness.

Forbearance Withholding response to provocation.

Fugacious Fleeting.

Furtive Shifty, sneaky.

Gambol To skip or leap about joyfully.

Glamour Beauty.

Gossamer The finest piece of thread, a spider’s silk.

Halcyon Happy, sunny, care-free.

Harbinger Messenger with news of the future.

Imbrication Overlapping and forming a regular pattern.

Imbroglio An altercation or complicated situation.

Imbue To infuse, instill.

Incipient Beginning, in an early stage.

Ineffable Unutterable, inexpressible.

Ingénue A naïve young woman.

Inglenook A cozy nook by the hearth.

Insouciance Blithe nonchalance.

Inure To become jaded.

Labyrinthine Twisting and turning.

Lagniappe A special kind of gift.

Lagoon A small gulf or inlet.

Languor Listlessness, inactivity.

Lassitude Weariness, listlessness.

Leisure Free time.

Lilt To move musically or lively.

Lissome Slender and graceful.

Lithe Slender and flexible.

Love Deep affection.

Mellifluous Sweet sounding.

Moiety One of two equal parts.

Mondegreen A slip of the ear.

Murmurous Murmuring.

Nemesis An unconquerable archenemy.

Offing The sea between the horizon and the offshore.

Onomatopoeia A word that sounds like its meaning.

Opulent Lush, luxuriant.

Palimpsest A manuscript written over earlier ones.

Panacea A solution for all problems

Panoply A complete set.

Pastiche An art work combining materials from various sources.

Penumbra A half-shadow.

Petrichor The smell of earth after rain.

Plethora A large quantity.

Propinquity An inclination.

Pyrrhic Successful with heavy losses.

Quintessential Most essential.

Ratatouille A spicy French stew.

Ravel To knit or unknit.

Redolent Fragrant.

Riparian By the bank of a stream.

Ripple A very small wave.

Scintilla A spark or very small thing.

Sempiternal Eternal.

Seraglio Rich, luxurious oriental palace or harem.

Serendipity Finding something nice while looking for something else.

Summery Light, delicate or warm and sunny.

Sumptuous Lush, luxurious. Surreptitious Secretive, sneaky.

Susquehanna A river in Pennsylvania.

Susurrous Whispering, hissing.

Talisman A good luck charm.

Tintinnabulation Tinkling.

Umbrella Protection from sun or rain.

Untoward Unseemly, inappropriate.

Vestigial In trace amounts.

Wafture Waving.

Wherewithal The means.

Woebegone Sorrowful, downcast.

Oh and if you read this far…just so you know Serendipity and Mellifluous have always been two of my favourites.

I just added this maze to THE LIST of things to do. Created by Isabelle de Beaufort and Bernard Ramus, who have been constructing mazes for over 10 years Find more info here (in french).This particular maze is based on the Medieval plan of  Toulouse. It is in Cordes-sur-Ciel, France. The abandoned cottage at the centre of the maze symbolises the legendary dragon which apparently lurked underneath the streets of Toulouse.

I wonder if it has something to do with this sculpture of Saint Margaret.

Saint Margaret (aka Marina) an Early Christian martyr, endured many painful ordeals she before her eventual death during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305). She was apparently swallowed by the devil in the guise of a dragon and after making the sign of the cross, the saint burst unharmed from its body. The sculpture itself dates from around 1475 and is a great example of the Languedoc style of the late 15th century, which Toulouse was the centre of during this time. Although this sculpture quite obviously depicts t the victory of Good vs Evil. I want to know about the dragon!!!

Why is it said to be under the streets of Toulouse? And is this to be taken literally or in a more symbolic sense? I mean it is a legend after all. Googling Dragon of Toulouse reveals plenty of references to the word dragon. But is it the dragon.

(wow I kind of feel like I have created my own labyrinth to get lost in here)

Anyway I digress…

If I had a property of substantial size I would indeed construct a maze, just to get lost in it.

Amazingly detailed stencil art from Evoltaste.com of Berlin. Awesome, awesome, awesome!! I am currently in awe of this guys stencilling. I love the detail and the way in which he makes boxes of all kinds into buildings. I came across this work after seeing a post a friend had made on Facebook. Check out his flickr photostream here. Below is the finished piece.

Check out these awesome cloaks by Lindsey Thornburg