The World Goes Pop!

Proving that pop art is more than Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, The World Goes Pop at the Tate Modern is an exhibition that tracks pop art through the ages and the world. We couldn’t recommend it enough. Rarely has such an amazing

Cubania

It feels special when you see a living legend in real life.

I was front row for a Michael Jackson concert, went to two Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan concerts, saw Mo Farah win gold in London and I have even chatted to Pele.

Last night I saw Carlos Acosta at the Royal Opera House and was blown away. Cubania is his show, he curates and dances in it. Modern ballet and dance set to some live Cuban music.

MF Husain, A Great Master at The V & A

Maqbool Fida Husain, known as M.F. Husain (1915-2011), was one of India’s most eminent and prolific artists.  Often described as India’s Picasso, MF Husain is one of my favourite Indian artists.  He is one of a group of Indian artists known as the Great Masters and they are indeed great, possessing a quality and perspective yet unmatched by generations of painters since.

Tarun Tahiliani: Art & Ornament

Tarun Tahiliani WIFW AW 2014

‘…Ornament as the principal embellishment is the glue that binds this collection together’ Tarun Tahiliani.

Setting the standard for the rest of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week with a stellar opening show veteran Indian designer, Tarun Tahiliani, did not disappoint. His AW14/15 ready to wear collection was an indulgent voyage in worldly ornamentation and clever layering. Precious jewellery provided the colour palette and inspiration for embroideries.

Ruby, emerald, onyx, sapphire, gold, turquoise…an Aladdin’s cave of rich inspirational colour. Textiles included silk brocades, draped into structured salwar trousers and other fine silks used in flowing kaftan inspired silhouettes or as a base for amazing kaleidoscope prints. I was lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the collection at the fittings prior to the shows and the fabrics and styles are even more gorgeous close up.

Grayson Perry Delight

Have you ever heard the Reith Lectures? Presented by the BBC, it is series of annual lectures be leading thinkers of the day. They usually have me yawning and switching over. Good lord, I remember a mathematical physics science type talk once and I couldn’t even get through 5 mins of it because the speaker was duller than the dullest dull day in January.

Enter Grayson Perry! What a delight he is! His first of three lectures came on this Monday and he instantly grabbed my attention that I missed my gym class to hear the full thing.

Hall of Fame: Samant Chauhan

WIFW: Samant Chauhan SS14

Young Indian fashion designer, Samant Chauhan designs beautiful clothing for both women and men.  He exhibits internationally and is on an upward trajectory after many years of dedication to his art.

Samant was born in Rajasthan and is passionate about working with master weavers from his area.  The NIFT graduate embarked upon fashion after first completing a physics degree at Bhagalpur University.  Samant consistently selects neutral and softer tones to counter the colourful spectrum typically offered by other designers in India.

So Samant, please tell me about your latest collection.

This is the series of Rajputana and this is the fourth season we are doing the same concept.

What is Rajputana?

Rajputana is about reviving the Rajputana name.  Rajasthan’s ancient name is Rajputana and I belong to that place which is one of the reasons I wanted to work on it.

WIFW: Samant Chauhan SS14
The first season we did a collection, the story was based on how the Britishers influenced the entire Rajputana region … so we were inspired by a lot of Victorian motifs and shapes and volume. 

Swan Lake Reloaded

Swan Lake… I loved it as a child and I’ve seen it so many times I lost count.  It’s my macaroni of entertainment…comforting pleasure.  I even saw Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall and Princess Di was there a few boxes away.  (Yes, I’m kinda old and yes she was stunning and yes so were her bodyguards!).  This coming week a new darker street dance version of Swan Lake is in town

Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art at Sotheby’s

MF Husain

Sotheby’s London will hold an auction of modern and contemporary Indian art on June 11th and an exhibition of the available art will open from the 6th of June.

I simply love the works by the Great Masters of Indian art.  Dead and dying, these rare icons of Indian art are inimitable.  I wasn’t exposed to them growing up and learned about them through my frequent trips to India.

Rosa Parks Honoured

Earlier this week Rosa Parks became the first black woman to be honoured with a life-size statue in Washington.  The first statue commissioned in 140 years in the USA, President Obama said it was because of civil rights activists like Rosa Park that he is President.

In 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested

The Mughals at the British Library

Have you heard that the British Library is showcasing its Mughal dynasty masterpieces?  The exhibition is only £10 and is open until April 2013 so there is plenty time to catch one of the most exclusive exhibitions of Mughal art for a very long time.

The British amassed an incredible vast treasure trove of artefacts during the Empire and these go on drip feed display.  A tiny part of me wonders whether it ought to be returned

The Soul in the Space

One of India’s most respected and coveted couturiers, JJ Valaya is also set to dominate Indian fine art photography.  The Soul in the Space (A Journey of Architectural Influences) is now open to the public at gallery Nature Morte in Delhi.  JJ Valaya captures abstract architectural images from

Asian Art in London Week

From 1 to 12 November 2012 London galleries and museums will be hosting antiques and fine art from Asia including India, China, Japan and the Himalayas.  The British Museum is hosting a lecture on the drawings of FN Souza and Picasso widely regarded as founding members of the modern art movement in Europe and India respectively.

Olympic Tangle

The ArcelorMittal Orbit opened last week as the newest addition to the London skyline and caused much debate.   Publicly funded, the structure was designed by artist Anish Kapoor and it offers a panoramic views from the top for an entry fee of £15.

Criticisms have been compared to

Bus-Tops

A new initiative as part of the 2012 Olympic cultural legacy is to use the tops of bus stops as spaces to display art. Bus-Tops project digital art  in London on the top of 30 shelters in 20 boroughs offering commuters a surprisingly pleasant view from the top of a double decker bus.

  

Degas

Degas’s ballerina collection is currently being shown at the Royal Academy on Picadilly, which represents the most fun you can have for £15.

The collection has been assembled from all corners of the world, from museums and private contributors, and shows

Miro At The Tate Modern

Spanish surrealist artist, Juan Miro, took my breath away 4 years ago when I went to see his work at the MIro Foundation in Barcelona and I am delighted to see the first display of his work in Britain since 1964, at the Tate Modern.

Amidst the fairytale Gaudi architecture of Barcelona, Miro’s playful and colourful style represented the Mediterranean vibrancy and humour through a political kaleidoscope. The Ladder of Escape captures his life’s work over 70 years including his first masterpieces dating back to 1921.

Pleasure Pillow Is The Talk Of The Night

I was invited to the launch of an amazing collection by Darkest Star, called the Pleasure Garden, at London’s Coco De Mer. A collection of paintings, photography, fashion and home accessories were exhibited as a window installation celebrating feminine sexual liberation. The star of the night was the much talked about accessory, Pleasure Pillow. I want one!!!