Final Major Project Time!

I can't believe it but it has come to the last term of my foundation year. It has gone so quickly it's frightening. The final major project is going to determine my overall grade for the year so it's time to get my head down!

We were given complete freedom for what we could choose to do for the final major project. We think of the subject, we create the brief and then get stuck in! My idea came to me in the middle of the night a few months ago. Immediately I got out my laptop at about five in the morning to write all of this down like a crazy lady! I started to think of all the things I wish I had said to people but never did for whatever reason and began to wonder what it would be like if people saw these things written down. How would they react? This lead me to the idea of an anonymous post-it ballot.

I spent this week in uni handing out envelopes containing instructions and post-it notes for people to write down their 'unspoken words'. Things they have been desperate to get off their chest but never did. A ballot box has been positioned outside the library all week, where people could drop off their anonymous envelopes. The response has been amazing and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those who took part, and so I've decided to share just a few of the post-its that I received. The project is ongoing and I'm looking forward to really getting my teeth into it! Stay tuned for what I come up with!

Shhh! Babies sleeping!

It all began with Canadian sisters Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden, who began taking photographs of newborns when they were fewer than just 10 days old. These beautiful photographs are aided by the help of a third Canadian photographer, Stephanie Robin, who helps the babies into the gently 'curled' poses. As a physiotherapist, Stephanie understands the joints and flexes of the babies, who are at their most malleable between 5 and 10 days old. Most of the babies are fast asleep throughout the entire process! The scrumptious newborns are often swaddled in knitted scarves, snug in hammocks and fluffy rugs or even bundled up in wicker baskets. It seems the photographs have caused a bit of controversy with many holding mixed opinions about whether or not this 'baby-molding' technique is cruel or not (what rubbish!). Personally I think they are ADORABLE! Apparently the process takes two full weeks for the photographs to get back into the hands of the new parents and the common reaction seems to be floods of tears! N'awwwwwwww!

Dreaming of Miu Miu

Miu Miu S/S '10

I'd been meaning to write about this collection for a good few weeks but didn't get round to doing it until now! Miu Miu's spring/summer collection is printabulous! The conversational prints are adorable, slightly kitsch yet oh so chic. I love the combination of cutesy illustration with some serious embellishment. Daises, soaring sparrows, puppies, kittens and a print illustrating a reclining woman, reminiscent of the outlined figures of Matisse, adorn the silk garments. I think the last time we saw something so tooth-achingly sweet walk down the runway was in Giles Deacon's 2008 S/S collection which boasted an array of sugary pinks and Bambi prints!

Giles S/S '08

Giles S/S '08

Miu Miu S/S '10

Matisse

This collection is both youthful and playful, yet maintains a sophistication that can make any fashionista swoon. If I could own any piece from the collection it would have to be a pair of the silk printed platforms! Swoooooooooon!

Miu Miu S/S '10

Chris Ofili at Tate Britain

A Mancunian after my own heart, Chris Ofili has become one of the most iconic artists of his generation. After seeing his new exhibition at the Tate Britain this afternoon, I left feeling excited, inspired and ready to work! Ofili's work aims to change stereotypical representations of Black culture. He uses his own idea of contemporary iconography combining traditional African aesthetics, hip-hop, gangster rap and comic characters with biblical imagery.

'Afrodizzia (second version)' 1996

I loved this exhibition for so many different reasons. Firstly because of Ofili's creative techniques; his paintings are vibrant, energetic and unbelievably decorative. He uses a wide range of mixed media consisting of oils, acrylics, glitter, map pins, collaged magazine cutouts and elephant dung balls- yes you did read that correctly. However, once you get past the colours and the textures and patterns, you see just how evident Ofili's sense of humor is in his work.

'Pimpin' Aint Easy' 1997

This painting, entitled, 'Pimpin' Aint Easy', quite clearly depicts a big black penis- a humorous and well known stereotype. However, notice the faces of famous black men, each collaged on top of a pair of wide open female legs! Names such as Nelson Mandela, Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson, James Brown, DMX, 2 Pac, Timbaland, P Diddy all make an appearance, and be sure to notice Tiger Woods' head sitting comfortably on a pair of open legs toward the bottom right hand corner- how appropriate! I walked around this exhibition both admiring and having a good laugh.

Controversial I hear? To give you a taster of what to expect, here are a few of his piece titles; 'Painting With Shit On It', 'Space Shit', 'Seven Bitches tossing their Pussies before the Divine Dung'- (Mum if you're reading this I'm sorry!) One thing I will say is that if you are easily offended don't go to this exhibition! As I was walking around the gallery space I overheard two orthodox men discussing the exhibition. I overheard one of them utter, "I'd never have one of those in my house! Just vulgar!" Well Mr Orthodox, luckily for you no one is asking you to hang one on the landing.

'Blossom' 1997

It has to be noted, Ofili's work should be taken with a pinch of salt. However his work isn't all about pointing out well known stereotypes within black culture. He also makes a lot of biblical references in his most recent work. Ofili's paintings are so beautiful, so humorous and accessible on so many different levels.

The Chris Ofili exhibition is on at the Tate Britain until May 16 2010, if you're in London with an afternoon to spare, GO GO GO!