Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach.

Ahh I bet you guys are thinking, "hasn't she had enough of blogging for one day?!" Hmm.. The answer is.. NO. Well I’ve been itching to write about this book only because I finished reading it the other day so everything is still fresh in my mind.

Did anyone know that Oxfam is ACE for second-hand books? Trust me, it's the one. I found about 5 really good books all for 99p each and in excellent condition. I guess it was a blatant sign to 'READ MORE'.

Out of the 5 I bought, straight away I got stuck into a book called Tulip Fever. It is set in Amsterdam during the 1630's. I can understand that it can be a slight put off, but it doesn't so much focus on it's surroundings, but more on the characters and paintings throughout the book.

The book contains illustrations which makes it an even more pleasant read. I'm not sure how many people have actually read this book, but after reading it, you really start appreciating the meaning of love in your life.

A brief outline of the story is that a young painter in the city Jan Van Loos is appointed to paint a portrait of the city’s most richest couple.. Sophia Sandvoort and Cornelis Sandvoort. During that time, the painters are all busy as the city's inhabitants intend to guarantee their immortality by getting their portraits painted. As the painter, Jan Van Loos, starts to capture Sophia’s likeness on his canvas, a slow passion begins to burn. Relations start building up between the two and it finally finishes with a tragic end all down to a single tulip bulb.

As weird as that sounds, it’s a great and exciting book to read. You get hooked on it and just can’t help but read on and on. A brilliant story built up with a series of thrilling events. I think it’s best if you grab yourself a copy {preferably like I did, 99p from Oxfam} or even on ebay, then let me know what you think!

Au revoir pour maintenant..

We all looove-a bit-a Hellz Bellz!

"A crime for all seasons."

Roight. The genius behind Hellz Bellz is Lanie Alabanza-Barcena, who you can most probably call streetwear royality.

She was born in San Diego but moved to New York to design for some of the most famous names of streetwear fashion. She moved on to create her own brand – Hellz Bellz.

Some people will love it {like Nand and I who rock Hellz Bellz on a regular ;)} and some people might not have even heard of it!

So come ooooon. Check the stuff out. Cool tees. Cool designs. Appreciate!

Ohh yerrrr.

Sarah Maple? Give it up.

Strong blog title? I don't think so.

In a culture we live in, is it really necessary to populate her own views and feelings knowing that it's just a means of provocation? As if intolerance towards Islam, let alone within it itself, isn't bad enough, one woman decides to defy it all and put on a gallery in West London. The hassle and threats are utterly inescapable.

The picture shown is entitled 'Haram'. The point of it? I don't see. The art? I don't get. And why somebody who must clearly understand Islam would paint it? I don't know. And there's so many more images, some more prone to the controversy than others.

I can understand her righteousness and I grant her the right to paint what she wants, because thats the country we live in, and there are bound to be opinions floating everywhere like a dense faecal smell. But what I don't understand is her motive.

Maybe her art is outspoken, but it sure is offensive. But have we come to an era where art requires a proportion of offensiveness within it? Are artists just out there to sell their work? Or do they really want to be remembered?

If I was an artist, i'd want to be remembered, but not for all the wrong reasons.

And if Maple's idea is to be remembered, then what will she be remembered for?

If you're reading, Maple, get at me.

Was she asking for it?

Ahh, I knew this would happen. I’ve told you once before, I’m PSYCHIC.

Stuck in the same position once again, I got hold of a copy of the London Paper on my way home. It’s sort of becoming a routine now.. Oww. Anyway, so I’m skimming through the paper and I catch a headline;

“Protesters trash gallery of Muslim artist’s pictures”

So as I mentioned in my previous post, Sarah Maple would definitely get mixed feedback on her artwork. She was holding an exhibition at a West London gallery when she received abusive phone calls and threatening messages by many Muslim’s who were greatly offended by her work.

I think she realises herself what her work is about and what message she is trying to send out. Not only what the paintings mean to her, but what it can mean to other people.

The SaLon Gallery on Westbourne Grove had its doors and windows smashed. It was even under police surveillance because of protests over the exhibition. Gallery chiefs were furious and called the police because of the smashed windows and abusive phone calls that Sarah was receiving. She even received hateful emails with negative feedback about her work which reached up to about 12 a-day.

I think it’s safe to say that Sarah truly fears nothing. An image of her wearing a headscarf with a cigarette in her mouth and holding two melons against her breasts was published against the article which I think gave the impression, “I don’t give a f**k”.

I don’t think I know of anyone else apart from Sarah Maple who would feel so strongly about Islam and Sex. Her work definitely means a lot to her and she will carry on painting about the things she feels and believes. How the public perceive this is a different story.

Her show, ‘This Artist Blows’, will carry on running till mid-November.

Ladies and Gentleman, there's a new member in the family..

Let me introduce you all to.. Khya, The Bitch.

Me and a friend brought her just recently, and she's a good look. You wouldn't believe how a dog can bring the common ground between a white and asian person. Its unbelievable.

Today we trekk'd down to Acocks Green or AG sides, and its a predominant white community around there. The amount of attention the bitch got was impeccable! But isn't she just the cutest?

So we decided to have an early morning drink, and no not of the alcoholic sort. We're not that bad.

Costa, isn't really my preferred choice but it'll make do. I opted for the usual, cappo.

Look how she hides when she sleeps? The little..

But she's still awake! Look!

If anyone's planning on getting a dog, prepare yourself for cleaning some of the grimiest shite i've ever seen.

And thats me!

A Shock to the System.

So I was going back home from university one evening, and luckily on the way to the tube station I got hold of a copy of the London Paper. For those of you who may not be familiar with it, it’s a free evening newspaper distributed all over London. And yes, it’s another own owned by the one and only Mr Murdoch.

Well anyway, I got onto a pack out carriage but still managed to squeeze myself past the crazy sweaty people and found myself a seat. Rush hour madness is something I absolutely HATE {and for those of you who have seen my massive suitcase bag, it’s a NIGHTMARE}. I finally got comfortable in my seat and open up the paper. I start flicking through the day’s main stories, when I come across the arts interview article.

I’m not usually the type of person who always reads the reviews of arts and books, but this time the article really caught my eye. With a massive image of a girl wearing a t-shirt saying ‘I love jihad’ on it, it made me wonder what exactly the article was about. I started reading the Intro and it was something like this..

“Religion, masturbation, Kate Moss’s breast – a young Muslim woman’s art is causing quite a stir..”

At this point I see that the train has reached Bank Station and a lot of people are getting off. Many seats around me get empty and through the crowd I see my friend standing in the corner. I called out her name and made her sit next to me. She is also a Journalism student but in her third year. I pointed the article out to her and with curiosity we started reading in silence. After a few moments we both were in shock looking at each other thinking ‘WHAT THE HELL?!’.

The article was a general overview of Sarah Maple’s art work. One piece of her work was a woman in Hijaab covering her whole head, but exposing one breast to the front. A picture of that painting was included in the article at the bottom. Another painting was of her masturbating a paint brush but with a Dolce and Gabbana dress on, which she actually made a 3min film on as part of her work. The article continues..

It all makes her sound like a button-pushing big-mouth who would sell her mother for a show at White Cube. But in person, the 23 year-old from Sussex is friendly, earnest and a practising Muslim. Until she starts talking about Kate Moss’s boobs and why art is like sex, I feel I’ve got the wrong person.

“I’ve been brought up with two different cultures”, she explains after a three min video piece Who Would Wood Wank, in which she masturbates a paint brush and bizarrely was too embarrassed to sit with us while it’s screened.

She says “My dad was born in Britain and my mum’s Muslim. A lot of my work is about growing up wanting to be a good Muslim, but struggling to embrace my Western side as well.”

The video, collaboration with Dazed and Confused co-founder Jefferson Hack, is one of Maple’s art works that plays with sex and religion. This is why the British Muslim Association spoke out against her and why the cops showed up to check out her exhibition before it opened.

'Haram', the portrait with the pig, is another controversial one. Named after the Arabic word for ‘unclean’, she made it whilst studying art at Kingston University.

In another portrait, Maple wears a headscarf, but has one breast exposed – which she’s keen to point out isn’t her own. “It’s Kate Moss’s boob. I was too scared to paint mine. I didn’t want to upset my mum.”

ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS?! DIDN'T WANT TO UPSET MY MUM?! Ohmylife. After everything she has painted, she thinks about her mum. Nice one.

Sarah herself says, "People often think I am trying to be offensive with my Islamic based art. This is a huge misconception as I am Muslim myself and would not want to offend my own faith. The work is about the distorted view many Muslims have of their faith and culture and what makes a 'good' Muslim - especially in a western society."

So after all her artwork is displayed at her exhibition, it is clear that she is obviously going to get mixed feedback and maybe even some abuse. What she is painting is something she feels very strongly about but may not send out the right message to people trying to understand her work. She has caused a mega-bigtime stir with her work and is already being touted as the new Tracey Emin. She is a bold and charismatic woman who is straight forward about sex, but how many people has her work affected or even offended..?

La-la-la-love this.

Beyonce-'Single Ladies'
I love the routine. So energetic. The songs growing on me i guess. or am I waiting for it to grow on me? I just like the vid.

Also, Janelle Monae's 'Many Moon's' video is SUPERDUPER classy. She's got the cutest face. Don't stare at it too long, you'll get lost.



Luana and let me know what you think.

na-nana-na-na-na-na-nana-nanaaaaa#

xx

One Trick Pony

TEK 13, JIM CEREAL, AMOE2, SAMER, JOE LUNG, DAISY1, HAWS1.

These seven names are all part of one group who work as freelance artists/designers under the name of ‘One Trick Pony’. These seven people came together because they all shared the same interest of graffiti art and appreciating its true meaning!

‘One Trick Pony’, also known as ‘OTP’, in the past have worked with; The World Music Awards, The Mobo Awards, Brit Awards, HMV, Supreme Clothing, Boxfresh and Stussy. They’re all very VERY talented artists.. Lets take a look..

Night Of La Tigra.

Aloha Aloha.

This party should grab you well and truly by the spring rolls. As well as ladyboys, a martial arts fighting display, and a karaoke room, we've got musical entertainment provided by the UK's hottest young producer Herve, as well a selection of some of the best DJs and bands around, including Filthy Dukes, Chicks Dig Jerks, Jonny Woo, and Ladyboys.
It's all happening at Birmingham's Bambu on Friday October 31st. And guess what? It's all TOTALLY FREE.
Just go to nightofthetiger.com to get on the guestlist.

Piece.

Oh My Diddy

3 posts in one day. Christmas came in October. (It was snowing today so why not!?)

Wooo,
What's "goin' on" people.
I need to do a vellcome blog (for all you Eastern Europeans - including Germany, just because *shrug*) so here it is...

My name is Jendella aka Jeni and I'm a Graphic Design and Photography student at Kingston University with a slightly obsessive personality...slightly...

You will see more of this obsessiveness potentially manifest through the course of this blog...

But since I have run out of things to say, let's start by listing some "cool" stuff...

1) Jourdan Dunn

Heaven's knows why she's a Jourdan instead of Jordan, but she's allowed to be because she was the first black chica to walk for Prada. She's NOT the next Naomi Campbell OR Tyra Banks...she's Jourdan baby!!

2) Doc Marten's

Punk Sweets for Your Feet. I still need to cop my pair (£60 don't grow on tree ya'kna'...) but when punk turns pop (and I'm talking like the candy kinda pop) Doc Marten's come in acid candy colours...waheeyyyy...enough to make me wanna shave a mohican and pierce my face.

3) Pret a MangerThe No Bread Chicken and Avocado salad is the staple food for my Fridays. I never thought that healthy food could make a bad day turn good but it does! And they've got cute little food illustration posters up and about. Collect with your eyes.

Bizzle! (That's bye...)

PS. Picture soon come...when I find a suitable one...

Saw VI, anyone?

Events, which soon will be blogged, were the only things hindering my attendance to the first screening of Saw V on the release date. So I end up watching it some 4 days later, meh.

Got into AMC on Ladywood to see, a lot, of people queuing and most seemed to be buying tickets for the same movie I was going to see. No film is worth seeing without nachos and cheese, and nachos and cheese I did, with the help of a 'Samantha' from behind the till.

We make small talk about gore and blood and how she almost puked when she saw it, I mention how she'd have to look out for me running back and forth to the mens' toilets throughout the film. This makes her laugh but lets not be fooled, it was a joke. Really.

The film itself was, as expected, blood-smothered. I mean, to describe it you have to make words up. What is with people whispering the plot or what happens next? Really, stop doing that shit guys.

Obviously i'm not one to ruin someone's fun, so I won't get into detail. However, if you're going to see it, then by all means see it. BUT, and this is the j-lo, there's really no point in seeing it if you just want a pre-halloween fright night, and haven't seen the previous installments. Watch the first 4 parts, no matter how long it takes you, and then go see 5.

Personally, I was speechless for a while in contemplation of what is yet to come. I wonder what she finds in the box..?

Post your thoughts if you've seen it, hate it or love it?

The Ugly Kids Club - LETS GET UGLY!

"This is ugly lurrrrve."

The Ugly Kids Club is something I’ve been meaning to write about for quite some time now. After their performance at the Newham Fashion Show, they made an even larger impact on the audience by their new designs.

Cleverly established by a group of keen artists in 2006, The Ugly Kids Club came together to make their art work known and appreciated by people and to get their work recognized as something different and unique. Over the years, the name ‘Ugly Kids Club’ has become well known worldwide as they have made designs for celebrities ranging from Cheryl Cole to Lupe Fiasco.


What they were trying to achieve by starting this group was to make people appreciate graffiti work as an art and not just a form of vandalism or nuisance. By bringing this idea together, they launched the Ugly Kids Club t-shirts.

The Ugly Kids Club t-shirts were launched at the beginning of 2007 with designs done by Uncle Pins, Linxman, Ninja D, Bomb Foley and Kesh. These immediately became best sellers as many people started requesting their own designs and sprays made. Uncle Pins designed the ‘are you donuts?’ range in collaboration with Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The Ugly Kids Club spent a lot of time promoting these t-shirts with doughnut designs all over the place including sneakers! They certainly made sure that the doughnuts t-shirts became well known and quickly sold out! They were the nicest designs you’ll ever see.. Ahh love ‘em :D

Since then, the Ugly Kids Club has been bringing out new designs of t-shirts like the mastercard tee, love hearts, duck hunt, lollipop and many more. And they’re not just sticking to t-shirts, their artwork moves on to body spray designs, new era hats, trainers and pretty much anything you want to get a design on! They also teamed up with brands such as Urban Nerds, Keshwear and many others. They’re going strong and will

soon be coming out with even more designs, ideas and themes for the winter collection 2008. Their colourful designs definitely stand out and you won’t be able to find them anywhere else!

So go ahead, check it out..
www.theuglykidsclub.com

Vania Zouravliov

Right, I'm the kinda girl who's deep into her illustrators.. Mostly fashion illustrators.

VANIA ZOURAVLIOV
^^This dude's got it to a tee. Russian painter.^^

I discovered him on www.bigactive.com, a site holds the work of some amazing artists.
Big Active. Big Love.

"Full of symbolism and often multi-layered, his art is shocking, sensitive, provocative and engaging"






His shits quite eerie and wrong. But i like it, liking the darkness of it all. Allow that; I love it.
So much I've fallen in love with one of the girls and am proceeding to get her permanently inked onto my skin. Of course, my lover ain't gonna make it on the blog just yet, shes on her way to the tattoo parlour.

He has some cool photography too. This is probably my favourite one.. Its so good, I've put a copy in my room.

Check him out, and leave your thoughts.

Mahalo.