A slice of Japanese culture soundtracked by underground dance music can be found in Shoreditch at Night Tales. Until Christmas the foodie pop up is serving up Tokyo Nights, looking like a scene from the back streets of Japan featuring four bars, eight Ryokans (Japanese houses), a Love Hotel and six food outlets serving Asian and contemporary food. We headed along on Friday, November 13th to get a taste.
Impossible are bringing the Polaroid instant picture back into fashion, and showcased their new technology at the 8 × 8 exhibition in Hoxton Gallery from Thursday February 19th to Saturday, February 21st.
Saturday 17th May was the first Feast in the Fields food festival of the year. Held at London Fields Brewery, the weekly event brings together local London purveyors of world food.
An exciting new way to shop and discover fashion begins at Hackney’s Oval Space this Sunday 2nd February. At East London’s newest fashion market, you’ll find established designers alongside fresh design talent handpicked by Oval Space Fashion Curator and designer Tiffany Alwis. Promising a soundtrack by live DJs, champagne bar, pop-up terrace cafe by Forza Win, vintage lounge, and fresh flowers from Oriole and Thistle, there is plenty to entertain from 11am until 8pm.
Spin London, The Urban Cycle Show, debuted over the early May bank holiday weekend at The Old Truman Brewery. One hundred percent independent, it was a three-day event for cycling enthusiasts already using two pedals as their preferred mode of transport, and knowledgeable brand ambassadors there to help if you wanted to get on your bike.
An innovative evening of interactive comedy and cabaret is coming to The Old Vic Tunnels, its exact details shrouded in secrecy until you’ve committed yourself to join the The Screen Room Society on Friday, June 3rd. Hosted by comedy duo Robin and Partridge, the two curious gentlemen are curating the entertainment which will also feature award-winning comic Scotsman Phil Kay and musical comedienne extraordinaire Rachel Parris.
For two nights the Old Vic Tunnels in London will play host to an array of artistic talent featuring theatre, film, visual arts and installation, spoken word, interactive performance, dance, music, circus and cabaret. Beneath the train tracks of Waterloo station on Friday, August 20th and Saturday, August 21st enter a space where you will be able to explore the atmospheric space ofthe tunnels, becoming part of the Dark Carnival world for a fleeting moment, a few minutes or the whole night.
Trains are arriving at Waterloo Station on tracks held up by creativity as The Old Vic injects culture into the tunnels beneath the tracks. The evolving space has already been the setting for theatre, music events, art exhibitions and the premiere of the Banksy film Exit Through the Gift Shop, while the current production Ditch makes use of the surroundings with installations setting the scene as you enter. With a diverse programme planned over the coming months, there’s also the opportunity to get involved with a unique volunteer scheme and internships available to become part of the Old Vic Tunnel community and get real experience in this fascinating space. Mike Barnard found out more.
Leading paint brand Dulux has launched its Let’s Colour project to inspire people to reclaim their surroundings and regenerate them with a splash of colour all over the world.
The Fondation Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent and the Petit Palais, Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, present the first comprehensive retrospective of the work of Yves Saint Laurent, the major figure in the fashion of the second half of the twentieth century.
Red Bull Illume is the world’s premier action and adventure sports photography competition. After a highly successful inaugural event in 2007, the 2010 Image Quest is well under way with 4,337 photographers from 112 countries registered to the website and 22,764 images submitted to the competition — three times more than the amount entered in 2007.
Juan Diaz, a born in Scotland in 1977, spent his childhood creating animated films and photographing his friends dressed as Hollywood stars. Now, London-based, he works with international icons such as his friend Grace Jones. Armed with natural talent, a bright and engaging personality, Juan brings a vivacious energy and a strong sense of individuality to all of his work.
The world’s biggest photography contest is back! The Red Bull Illume Image Quest invites photographers to submit their finest adventure sports images, illuminating the passion, thrilling lifestyle and culture behind each shot.
Contemporary street art has popped in Mayfair for the weekend as part of an exhibition aimed at displaying and selling some of the hottest works by the best artists producing cutting edge work today. The first Flying Eyeball production is an urban visual feast at 27 Cork Street in London until Sunday (December 12th) and with work from Shoe, Inkie, Eine, Mysterious Al, Sickboy, Insa, Zeus, Hush, Mau Mau, Kid Acne, Steff Plaetz, Chu, Shok 1, RYCA, it’s a must-see with the option to buy your favourite.
A selection of art from the Flying Eye Ball Pop Up Shop and Exhibition in London’s Mayfair.
Until January 23rd, Pierre et Gilles will be unveiling, at Gallery Jerome de Noirmont in Paris, their latest works created between 2007 and 2009 as part of a single series entitled Wonderful Town.
Inkie, the king pin of the UK graffiti scene for the last 25 years, is putting on a special show this Christmas featuring original art works, canvases, prints, toys, sculptures, T-shirts and books from Europe’s finest artists. The Flying Eye Pop Up Shop is coming to Cork Street in Mayfair, London next week for you to pick up an impressive festive present or two.
The Take a view Landscape Photographer of the Year Award has quickly become one of Great Britain’s most prestigious annual photographic awards. The award is the brainchild of celebrated landscape photographer Charlie Waite, who hoped for a competition that would be “an on-going platform for capturing images that best symbolise our land and our times, and that will stand as a record of our country.” The main award (and £10,000 prize money) was awarded to Parisian born Emmanuel Coupe for capturing The Old Man Of Storr, Isle of Skye.
Art plays a major role at The Big Chill, especially as it is the only festival of the summer to offer a specially curated programme every year. For 2009, sculptors Henry Krokatsis and Claire Morgan, photographer Rankin, and a Jean Luc Godard-inspired charity initiative called Blank Canvas took centre stage.
Nicole Sclair has always been encouraged by her family to pursue her natural artistic flair. Her father Irv recognised her ability at a young age. Having dabbled himself in the arts world, as an actor, he wanted to ensure his daughter had the best of chances. Extra-Curricular art classes followed, where Nicole thrived. At school she was clearly aligned with art set. In a typical High School, social groups had hang out zones. It was here that Nicole first became Nikki. Nikki was never happier than in the studio, where her and her friends experimented with as many different mediums as possible. Post High School, Nicole won a place at New York’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology, where she graduated from with a degree in Fine Arts. Following graduation, Nicole’s work has been exhibited all over the place from 220 Gallery to Temple Beth-El and Hofstra to name but a few. This September, Wantagh’s The Cup plays host to her solo exhibition Untitled. zap! bang! took a moment to talk to Nicole about her forthcoming exhibition.
Fancy settling down with a sassy novel in the run up for Christmas, or looking for some spirited chick lit as a present? Then comic tale The A-Z Guide to Arranged Marriages is the book for you.
In The Metamorphosis and A Hunger Artist, Kafka implements the presence of “unknown nourishment” as a means of addressing characteristics of both the human and animal worlds. The unknown nourishment in The Metamorphosis, Grete’s violin playing, defines Gregor’s most apparent ‘human’ quality amidst animal-like transformation. The hunger artist utilizes unknown nourishment or, rather, the lack of nourishment to position himself between human/animal worlds. Specifically, the unknown nourishment in both stories encompasses both the transgression between human/animal worlds and the intangible motif of existence seen throughout Kafka’s works.
The Salisbury International Arts Festival in England returns at the end of May with a host of arts events covering literature, film, theatre, music and more. The Festival’s main theme this year is ‘relate’ with an artistic focus on storytelling which is reflected across all the events. Here Zap! BANG! takes a look at the visual arts offerings.
The Salisbury International Arts Festival in England returns at the end of May with a host of arts events covering literature, film, theatre, music and more. The Festival’s main theme this year is ‘relate’ with an artistic focus on storytelling which is reflected across all the events. This, the first Zap! BANG! feature covering the festival, takes a look at who will be featuring in the literature section.
The contemporary state of cultural production has become stagnant, strangled and made impotent by the subjective quasi-conclusive spectacle of the parties involved. Art, the definitive explanation being left unmentioned, upholds inherently within its conceptual structure a formulaic expansion that can be molded and manipulated to fit any form.