Tracey Emin - Love Is What You Want

Review coming soon

The Summer Exhibition

The Royal Academies Summer Exhibition has become a staple of my calender not just because of its guaranteed varied display but because it ignites my lust for practicing art again.( I graduated in Fine Art but rarely find time to do any) .

The first piece you are confronted with is the large stainless steel statue by Jeff Koons. He has always had his opposers, and quite openly admits to championing the tasteless, kitsch or bad, but I've always rather enjoyed his plays on scale and texture, his clever use of materials and fascination with child friendly forms. The reflective quality of this particular piece was enhanced by its situation, being encased by the walls of the beautiful academy building, the classic architecture with its columns and mouldings is in great contrast to the modern vivid pristine finish that it reflects onto. This piece was delicious for me.. I quite literally wanted to lick it. You may not be thinking I a tad odd but I think it reminded me of the Zap lollies I adored as a child.... I digress.

This years show had a different feel for me and that was mainly due to how the curators had hung their rooms. It seemed more sparse than usual. While I usually enjoy a minimalist approach to galleries with their expanse of white walls this is not what I have come to aspect from this particular exhibition. I have always enjoyed the organized chaos of the rooms where work was stacked to the ceiling and you would find yourself scouring the walls for an innumerable amount of time and crooking your neck to see the tiny images unfairly placed metres up. The collection of work, depicting drastically different styles and topics would make for a collage that represents the talents of that years entrees, but this year it felt somewhat incomplete it some rooms.

In the lecture room Michael Craig Martin is showcasing work by famous Academicans, who are mainly women. Considering the women included and possible works that could be featured the rooms feels surprisingly safe. Jenny Saville's Oil painting is typically uncompromising. Her work has always appealed since it's inclusion on one of my first favourite bands, The Manic Street Preachers, Holy Bible album artwork. One of Fiona Raes instantly recognizable painting

looks typically fantastic against the blank backdrop.. I sadly felt the opposite of her small scale pieces I found in another room. Cornelia Parkers work must be hailed as the stand out piece of the room. 'Endless Sugar' consists of 30 pieces of silver plate that are apparently antique sugar bowls. They have all been flattened by a 250-ton press, and suspended several centimetres above the floor in a line. There something magical about the tension caused by the hovering nature of these glistening objects. The fact that you know the objects have a history and a story behind them and have been forced into another form adds another fascinating dimension.

I could ramble on for hours about the exhbibition and its vast catalogue of works but I'd rather you go and make up your own mind....but I will say that there is something for everyone here.. if you desire to see humour from 'art' the moving dog rooting in a bin ticks that box, if you want to be unsettled the wooden shed house which shows a machine gun darting from the net curtain will deliver, if you want to challenge what art is Martin Creeds totem of stacked chairs will do the job....

Let me know what you think!

Skydive for The Hep C Trust and Trekstock

To Donate....

Trekstock
www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Eggleton1

The Hep C Trust
www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Eggleton

Praying for survival

Good crotch shot

Good Face

Idiom to supprt Senser

Message me for interview or review requests for Idioms date with Senser on the 24th June

Tickets £9 from ticketweb.co.uk
Direct link: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=448670&interface=feedmemusic

Feedme Music present - The 'Future Rock' Club Night.
Featuring a full Senser show with support sets from Idiom and Colour Will Run. Also featuring The Future Rock DJ’s who'll be playing a mix of rock, metal, old skool hip hop, DnB and electronica ‘till late.

Pioneers of British rap/rock SENSER play the legendary 100 Club in support of their new single '2 3 Clear'.

Since 1989 Senser have produced a unique fusion of rock, metal, hiphop and alternative electronica. They became known for their political lyrics and a huge live sound which gained headline slots at most major UK and European festivals. Senser achieved worldwide success with their album 'Stacked Up' in 1995 and it reached No. 4 in the National Charts. Subsequently they split up having toured half the planet with bands such as Rage Against The Machine, Tool and Skunk Anansie.

Since reforming Senser have continued to pave the way in cross over music. 2010 saw them play a rammed set on the Pepsi Max stage at Download Festival and festivals all over Europe. Newest album 'How To Do Battle' gained critical acclaim from Metal Hammer mag, Kerrrang and Rock Sound, and single's from the album 'Resistance Now' and 'End Of The World Show' were praised by Ian Camfield (Xfm) and Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden, BB6) to name a few.

Support from IDIOM: a quartet of veracious males from the South West of England whose mission is to bring down the house. In a few short years IDIOM have already shared stages with the likes of DevilDriver, 36 Crazyfists, Skindred, (Hed) PE, Aiden, Young Guns, InMe, Bring Me the Horizon, From Autumn to Ashes and Exit Ten, plus made appearances at The Bulldog Bash, Blood Stock and Aeon Festivals, not to mention self-releasing an acclaimed debut EP ‘Sideshow’ on Dirt Track records

Interview with The Noisettes

I chat to the stunning Shingai and dapper Dan from the Noisettes after their set at Get Loaded in the Park. By this point it was fair to say I was a drowned rat but they perked me up with their amusing Total Wipeout and Time Team aspirations as well as their inspiring passion for their craft and determination to showcase it the world over....

Interview with Tracie Giles and Review of Eyelash Defining Treatment

To read the full article....

http://www.stylebible.com//Establishment/AllArtical/AllArtical.aspx?ArtID=783e6ebf-a5be-4c69-876b-d34c89acbe3f

My Interview with Tracie Giles http://www.stylebible.com/Establishment/interViews/All%20Interviews.aspx?ArtID=083a40e8-56e4-4463-b86e-c03944082861

I suffered with a bit of a reaction on one eye

But this is the fantastic finished result

Inside the opulent treatment room

The lovely technician

Jinny Lash Lash Extension Review for Stylebible

To Read the review head to http://www.stylebible.com//Establishment/AllArtical/AllArtical.aspx?ArtID=783e6ebf-a5be-4c69-876b-d34c-

Interview with Los Campesinos at Get Loaded In The Park

I was grateful to get out of the rain for ten minutes on an extremely grey Sunday at Clapham Common to speak to the charming Tom and Jason of Los Campesinos....

We chatted about their new album, recording in Barcelona and touring amongst some other more random topics.. If I had had more time to natter I would have loved to have found out more about their new quarterly zine Heat Rash...

http://www.loscampesinos.com/heatrash/

Be sure to check out the musical troupe at one of their remaining Summer Festival dates...

16 July – 2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham

23 July – Tramlines Festival, Sheffield

12 August – Sonorama, Spain

13 August – Feest in het Park, Oudenaarde, Belgium

10 September – Bestival, Isle Of Wight

TREKSTOCK CHARITY AUCTION

Blackout frontman Sean Smith showing his support for Trekstock in the studio

This week the amazing charity Trekstock have launched the third and final lot of plectrums to be auctioned which includes the likes of Band Of Horses, Paramore, Ellie Goudling and Coldplay to name just a few of the many artists involved. Regulars on my blog and lovely chaps The Blackout have also offered up a signed plectrum which is now up up for auction on Ebay.You can learn more about the auction and the charity project over at Benshermanvip.com and for further updates on twitter check out the hashtag #BSVIP and the account @bensherman1963

While we are on the subject... the date for my skydive has been finalised for the 24th June... to sponsor me for the skydive and donate money to TREKSTOCK..... head to this link.... every penny counts!! http://www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Eggleton1

Interview with We Are The In Crowd at Slam Dunk

I grabbed a quick chat with the guys of We Are The In Crowd after their second performance for Slam Dunk festival.

I didn't gleam too much musical based information for you, but hopefully fans will enjoy their funny stories and food based chat. Not long till we find out whether they win Best International newcomer at The Kerrang Awards.

Whoever is lucky enough to be seeing the guys at Borderline tonight, enjoy!!

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