Whitecube, Hoxton

Unfortunately I think I missed the point of these two shows at the Whitecube.  Normally I enjoy the shows at the Whitecube, but not today, they fell very flat.

Kris Martin's What's the Time?

A sound loop lasting 3 mins or so...

Mario Garcia Torres slide show and film also fell flat...

Shame, perhaps I will get there again another time and see them with fresh eyes.

The Photographers' Gallery

John Davies' black and white photographs at the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize at The Photographers' Gallery are a cliche of the North, but they are still good.  They are reminders of industrial times that have passed by now we are in the call centre era.  Martin Parr is one of my favourite photographers, I wish his work was exhibited.  The other photographers are Jacob Holdt, Esko Mannikko and Fazal Sheikh.

Nanotechnology

The flexible future of mobile phones is here.

Some of the possibilities of nanotechnology for the future.  This is a concept demonstrating a likely scenario in the future.  Nokia would allow Nokia Morph concept phone to be laid flat like a keyboard or folded into a bracelet that can be connected wirelessly to a headset.

What's Your View Point?

What is your viewpoint?  Today it's all about viewpoints...visual viewpoints that is.  How much does the world change if we change the angle that we look at things?

If we look up to the sky.  

Or bend our knees and look down below.

Look over our shoulder at where we've just been.

Take a look at a different time of day or night at the things we always see.

I think there is always a new way to look at something.

Materials Research

Is it strange to discuss materials on what is meant to be a visual journal?  No, not really, as materials inform the design, what you can do and how innovative the end result can be.  Also, I think a really interesting material could either inspire designs or design solutions.

These two companies seem to be interesting, (but not really relevant to what I am researching):-

Ingeo - the world's first manmade fibre from 100% annually renewable sources

Cloverbrook - performance fabrics for big retail companies

Bio Fibres - Materials Research

I was researching Biofibres for my project and trying to buy some in the UK from fabric shops and I couldn't find what I wanted.  I'd found Carole Collet's talk on biofibres very interesting and wanted to explore it a little bit.

I wanted to buy samples of soy silk fabric and bamboo (not jersey), but I couldn't do it in the UK.  

Cloth House's website seemed to show that they sold these fabrics, but in actual fact they don't only a bamboo jersey.  

It seems to be very easy to source them in the States and Canada but not in the UK.  Hmmm. I can buy soy silk yarn, but I don't want to knit with it...I think this is going to take time and it's something I will have to research further.

Pickhemp - seemed the best site to me and I like the look of the bamboo indigo twill denim. 

Bambrotex 

Loop fabric - lots of hemps, cottons and muslins

Near Sea Naturals - hemp and silk

Leah Beuchley's E-Textiles

Leah Beuchley's work with arduino and LEDs is very inspirational. She's a rare breed, a Computer Scientist working in e-textiles.  Her Lilypad Arduino is well known and she seems to do lots of fun workshops and projects, but they all seem to be in the States.  I particularly like the LED bracelet.

Another Light Photograph

This light caught my eye whilst I was waiting in a crowd for a fashion show during London Fashion Week.  Without the light reflecting into it would have been quite dull, but as the light changed and created beautiful greens and reds.

Heatherwick Studio Zip Bag

Heatherwick Studio 
This is an architectural practice based near King's Cross with a difference.  This zip bag designed for Longchamp looks fun.  (The photograph above is from the Heatherwick company website.)  The bag is made from parts of a 200m zip.

Surelight and imagination

Surelight are UK distributors of electroluminescent wire with a wide variety of applications.  The site suggests that your only limitations are your imagination.  To help trigger your imagination there is a viewing gallery of products and also 20 architects and designers listed to inspire you.  Rachel Wingfield, one of tutor's work is included and also her company, loop.ph.

The wide variety of applications from environmental, to visual, to practical and for safety is impressive. 

Aerogel

Aerogel, also called blue smoke due to its appearance and it's an amazing futuristic material.  First discovered in 1930 it is still being developed for future uses as a possible thermal insulation material for light aircraft and spacecraft.  It's also being developed for, amongst other things, sports wear and house insulation.

Fascinating Fact

Aerogel is a silicone-based solid that is 99.8% air.

Look at these sites for more sophisticated information and visuals: 

http://aerogel.com

http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/tech/aerogel.html

Look too at youtube for a film about this material.

(With thanks to http://www.astrophys-assist.com for use of the image)

Golden Viewpoint

Who would have believed that the Barbican could shimmer with gold?

Dermasilk

Dermasilk is an interesting fabric that is meant to alleviate eczema and other skin problems.  It would be interesting to know if it really works. 

Abstract Photograph

This is one of my favourite photos I have taken this year.  It looks a bit like a planet in space, the reality is mundane.

Lina Kusaite from FoAm

Lina, an illustrator took us through a drawing workshop for a few days this week, it was just like foundation course.  

Fo:Am - is an inter-disciplinary non profit organisation.

Lina spent years drawing for 6 hours a day at a time - and you can tell.

She gave some great advice - 

• don't think too much
  
• don't be afraid to make mistakes
  
• do alot of research beforehand on the web
  
• music is a big influence
  
• do original work
  
• re-drawing same drawings with photoshop.
  

Moritz Waldemeyer

It's worth googling Moritz Waldemeyer to see his work with electronics...really beautiful, not sure that I would be able to use the technology.

John Maeda's blog

John Maeda.  Not only is he a fantastic artist but his blog is also very well written and meaningful...

You Are Here by Katharine Harmon

You are Here by Katharine Harmon.  This is a book of personal geographies and other maps of the imagination.  It's one of my favourite books.

Exhibition: Madelon Vriesendorp, Architectural Association

Paintings/Postcards/Objects/Games - the world of Madelon Vriesendorp at the Architectural Association sets off her surreal illustrations, visions and postcard archive collection.  Her postcard collection is beautifully presented in an old leather suitcase.

There is a psychology game to play too so make sure you have the time if you want to come face to face with your inner psyche.

14 January 2008 - 8 February 2008, Architectural Association