(Things we're doing and stuff we like)
There’s always something daunting about huge international art fairs. However, what struck me about the rich mix of work on offer at the London Art Fair was something sensory and almost visceral. The turpentine tang of newly finished works in oil by young artists mingled with the curiously musty aroma of lithographs, linocuts, etchings and prints by 20th century masters like Piper or Hockney. The Private View at the Business Design Centre was teeming with artists and buyers and, judging from the deals I overheard on stands, the appetite for art, old and new, is as intense as ever.
Boundary is the brilliant new venture by Sir Terence Conran. Set in the heart of edgy Shoreditch, the project includes a hotel, shop, café and restaurant. It’s a great place for a coffee and a treat or a sumptuous dinner with friends. The ground floor houses a fantastic farm-style shop and café – complete with pink and white tea cosies on Brown Betty teapots. The basement restaurant is typically Conran – über classy and quintessentially British – with dim lighting and ‘magic carpets’ on the ceiling! All in all, this is a very cool project in a very cool setting.
When I dropped into Cocomaya to see if its reputation as London’s most exquisite chocolatier was justified, I was not disappointed. From the moment I opened the door of the Connaught Street shop, I was assailed by the delicious aroma of chocolate and a visual feast of truffles, many dusted with gold and iridescent powders to resemble precious jewels. The shop is beautifully decorated in pinks and greens, with vintage cake stands and antique glass domes. Want to know what heaven might taste like? Then try the milk chocolate pomegranate dome. Or the pecans dipped in chocolate. Or anything really. It’s all delightful.
Parents of children at Soho Parish School have commissioned the renowned graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook, to design a bag to raise money for the school. The shopping bag is made from organically grown and ethically sourced jute the colourful design features the school’s name in Barnbrook’s delightful handwriting typeface on one side, and drawings by the schoolchildren on the other.
The bag is for sale for £5 Fair Share at 102 Berwick Street, London W1F 0QP, 12-6pm Monday to Saturday. Or phone the school on 020 7641 7311
We were recently invited to the Royal College of Art‘s Work in Progress show, which I attended with pleasure. As the world’s only postgraduate art and design school shows at the RCA are always an exciting opportunity for us to see what the future hopeful designers of tomorrow are currently creating. There were some great pieces on display- I was particularly impressed by Adam Bambridge’s exceptionally life-like pencil drawings- I thought at first they were photos!- And the beautifully clean, simple aesthetics of Shan Valla’s ceramics. Just watch this space- these could be the big names of tomorrow!
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Moblog
Fashion Talk Series at The Arts Club - London
Chelsea Textiles at MaisonObjet
Deco off paris
Jim thompson showroom paris
Royal morceau paris