“Let’s Get Lost…”

Let’s get lost,

with Chet Baker in mind…

… and wander around in fascination,

for some while….

… find ways to exchange currency of cultural evolution,

as we pound the pavements of fair Londinium!

Let’s cut-a-dash,

as finery of footfall,

with the silken swagger of Paul Smith suit-wearers,

and Converse,

as we talk.

Why not pause and reflect, on Maddox Street…

and wonder…

… how hyperrealism makes you look, on repeat,

in doubt of your own human status…

… How the naïve maturity of an Opie line,

defines the crisp colour-work,

… how staggered prisms recline.

What make you of the Moebius “Marilyn”?

No trademark bubble,

no pink, to blush in…

just the merest hint of matte rouge,

and roll-neck, en noir…

… but piercing eyes, blue…

… crystalline, stinging, compelling,

up close and afar,

that seize you with X-Ray precision…

Like yours…

Let’s go to Bel Air…

let’s make that decision to breathe in the truth of Pétrus,

cast in bronze,

with karate-chop curvature…

… How the medium moves to defy

any ocular sensor.

Nonsensical?

¡Si, pero fabuloso…

… yo quiero comprarlo, por favor!

Before we can process,

let’s accept invites to descend into ordered confusion.

Where walled icons rally with sculptural volleys…

and we play bystanders,

with ground passes,

game for meandering…

… Letting the artistry set matching doubles,

of musculature mapped-out in marble…

Marvel at mirrored maquettes, in full bloom…

… at the gentle dichotomy,

carving the room with uncovered,

and still, under wraps…

Let us project that the next private viewing

will shout,

“Yes!”, “No!”,

maybe influence a shrug….

Let’s hit the road again,

laugh and unload our collated refrain

and transpose its profundity,

let it all happen,

as we, two, get lost in a hug.

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

“The Power and Glory of Balenciaga!”

“Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion” at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a veritable rhapsody.

A rapturous round of applause to the unmitigated guile and talent of a supremely-gifted tailor and cutting-edge innovator.

Laid out over two amazing floors of crystal-clear creativity, a culmination of past, present and future clauses of the highest quality design are seamlessly-rendered, through quintessential craftsmanship and ground-breaking technology, as only the V&A can do!

From the tenderest beginnings of a Cristobal, who is born in País Vasco, Spain, raised against the backdrop of a consummately-skilled dressmaking Mother and instructed under the tutelage of only the very best in their respective fields of design, to the Master Couturier, in his own right, it is an utter delight to quick-unpick and unpack the realm of raiment which would see him thrust into the fashion foreground and remain there.

Breathless, at every turn, am I. Inspirational in every era of his existence, was he.

Moreover, this exhibition is a power ballad to sartorial intent…

…the curation process, of which, began in 2015 and reaches its maturation in an assemblage which extends beyond the ‘comprehensive’, but is deep-dyed in its sensitive depiction of a uniquely imaginative and inventive world.

From the lab-coat efficiency of pattern-cutting precision (which we might now call ‘minimalist’), to the command of experimental flights-of-fancy (which we might now call avant-garde), the genius of Balenciaga is honoured, with the finely-tuned accuracy of the Maestro, himself. It is effortless glamour-on-demand!

Rather fitting, then, that the ground-level should be sprinkled with the glitter of socialites and movie-star patrons, such as Anne Bullitt Biddle, Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Ava Gardner.

…Toile-to-attire, the entire archival lay-out is akin to the ultimate ensemble…

Yet, not to be outdone by such levels of haute grandeur, the inclusion of C21st advancement is employed, with distinct aplomb. Not only do dress-making demonstrations adorn expansive HD screens, but, on ascending a staircase as grand as the pinpoint pick-ups of a couture wedding gown, they continue to be displayed upon the vast columns of the V&A, itself. Further revelations of the boning construction which lies beneath the gowns, are discovered through inspired collaborations between The London College of Fashion and X-Ray photographer, Nick Veasey, respectively. Each technique serving to enlighten the creative process in all of its methodical glory, acting like a hand-through-time in enlisting modernity to mirror and reflect the labour of love which it took to create, then, and disseminate Balenciaga’s originality, now.

 Earnest testimonials from couturiers and contemporary designers throughout the timeline, signify pertinent reminders of the extraordinary profundity and reach of Balenciaga’s influence. As if his, own, dextrous fingers had extended through history into the gloves of their giftings, such stand-out creators as Molly Goddard, Simone Rocha, Josep Font and J.W. Anderson recall, not only, his pure innovative power, but the exact point of departure for its impact in their own lives, let alone practice… although, it soon becomes clear-cut, that the two are, most definitely, one-in-the-same…

… which brings a romantic reciprocity to the story… for the glorious Balenciaga blueprint is bold and beautiful…the perfect parure… an unmissable suite of style, woven into every echelon of fashion finery, from menswear to womenswear… and echoing through functionality, from sportswear to eveningwear, with architectural sensibility.

All-encompassing proof, if proof were necessary, to “[re-assert] the fact that he’s not just shoes and handbags, he’s so much more”*…

…and always will be.

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

***

“Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion” is on now, until Sunday 18th February at the V & A.

~

Quotation Credit: * Cassie Davies-Strodder (Curator)

 

 

Private View: ‘Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains’ Prog-Rocked my world!

Remember the great old days of the multi-player grams?

In essence, when one 7-inch had played, the next would fall into place, in wait for the needle-drop which, in-turn, had the listener on the edge of their seat, anticipating three-minute hedonism…The comforting, rhythmic crackle of the revolving disc emitting through the speakers, accompanied layer upon layer of delicious acoustic nirvana…

Similarly, ‘Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains’ at the Victoria and Albert Museum is an absolute layer-cake of multi-media escapism!

Thus, do not attempt perfect recall…. Simply receive the state-of-the-art Sennheiser cans, turn on, tune in and rock out!!

Far be it from me to suggest you turn up in your best swimming ensemble either, but I am charging you to ready yourself to dive into the deepest end of your psyche than, either you realised you could, or ever knew existed!

Yet, have no fear!

…Just don’t be surprised if the self-contained audio frees you to such an extent that you get raucous in your own mind, then get loose and strut like a star at your own concert!

F.Y.I…. Lay-out, unnecessary.

Simply, follow the cleverly-integrated repeat motif of telephone boxes and you won’t miss a beat.

Expect to be swallowed whole, though, by the frontal lobe of an entirely immersive moment in time, which challenges the norms of what we know to be time-travel and sends you hurtling through a vast maze of music, moods and ground-breaking creative moves.

I mean it….

…At times, everything engulfs you.

In one pace, you move through the avant-garde ambition of Pink Floyd, to the incredible physical objects of stage memorabilia. The next step, you round the corner and see pigs flying over Battersea Power Station! Mesmerising are the conceptual ideas behind the fine artwork and eclectic wardrobe and wondrous are the intimate band voiceovers, guiding you, like long-lost friends, through the stories behind such shifting sonic patterns and vivid chord progressions encountered in the vast ocean of soundscapes, known as their all-consuming albums!

What is remarkable is that you never, ever lose the feeling of being a child in the best room of toys…

…especially when up-close-and-personal with some of the most exceptional musical instruments, displayed at all eye-levels, adding an awe-inspiring reverence to guitars and drum-kits, which have vibrated some of the most directional hits in prog-rock history. However, before any childlike, look-but-don’t-touch disappointment tries to encroach upon the wow-factor, you spin on a dime and see the sweet-shop set-up of mixing desks, encouraging you to become über-producer and remix ‘Money’! Although already blessed with a biting, syncopated bass, my version became even more sizzling, when placing the line centre-stage, which is just where I love my bass to be! Then again, removing all else, save the pealing clarion of ‘Money’ and the subsequent vocal rendition was a sheer joy, particularly with a splash-and-dash more reverb…

I truly loved that particular, free-flowing quadrant of the collective Pink Floyd brain.

In fact, I wasn’t aware of trying to work anything out in a strictly linear fashion, but I am sure that there was a mass of rapid visual information processing going on, because I was still thinking about it all days later…

For me, that’s quite the point of the best memories.

No matter when or where you are, there’s no need to attempt to bring them to mind, because effortlessly, they revisit you.

In such a way will all of the treasured experiences in this extraordinary exhibition become and remain immortal.

 

©AFROW2017-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Just Kids’ Ekows youth, with g-Ilori-ous designs on life!

‘EX.TRA.ORD.INARY!’

I said.

‘Here?!… Errr, are you sure?!’

He said.

’44 Great Russell Street! Yes! This. Is. It!’ I exclaimed, eyeing-up my destination with unadulterated glee, whilst my, ex-policeman, driver suspiciously cased the joint, with entirely less enthusiasm… Pupils darting from dash-to-doorway, he confirmed the number and wished me a, no less quizzical, ‘Have a nice day?!’, as I sent a sunshine smile his way… Nothing was going to rain on this parade… Neither an unconvinced driver, nor the inference of imminent precipitation from the indecisive clouds above!

One man’s doubt was my wonderment!

To me, this crumbling Georgian townhouse in the centre of London, was the architectural embodiment of a stroppy teen. Unkempt, undone…. As if it had just rolled out of bed, to be faced by early-visiting relatives… whilst utterly overshadowed by its beyond-presentable, elder sibling opposite, in the guise of The British Museum! In this case, considering myself the ‘cool Aunt’, who sees beyond the skin-deep, I sought to get to know the narrative behind the edgy, yet dishevelled styling of this work-in-progress…

No sooner thought, than materialised Maria, Gaby (and later, Emily), of Plinth UK, part of the four-strong collaboration (including ‘Photo London’, ‘Sedition’ and ‘Thames and Hudson’), presenting this on-edge edifice for its imminent launch, that evening, as ‘The Magnum Home’…. a boldly inventive, site-specific, multi-media presentation of ‘Magnum Photography’ and interior design installation, as curated by Cultural Polymath, Ekow Eshun and Artist extraordinaire, Yinka Ilori, respectively.

As I was to learn, there would be a lot to celebrate… What with Magnum celebrating its 70th anniversary, a range of complementary, unique merchandise and a Thames and Hudson publication to fête…there would, in addition, be the sheer triumph in overcoming the feat of transforming this shell and nurturing the angst-ridden, adolescent assembly into an absolute must-see, Magnum Home-of-a-house-party!

This was my idea of pre-private-view perfection!

My diehard loyalty to experiencing the behind-the-scenes process, in search of the sneak-peek pieces of the progress-report were, as ever, fuelling my creative engines… Such anecdotes as the microscopic attention-to-detail with which Ilori approached his responses to the photography, which co-curator, Eshun, had ‘trawled’* through, were captivating. From conceptualising the ‘Venice Beach Room’ in lengths of lofted, multi-coloured Dalston drapery and matching beach umbrellas, to upcycled deckchairs with bespoke Aburi fabric, designed by Eva Sonaike, the primary relationship between hues, not only juxtaposed the stark black-and-white series by David Hurn, but further, seemed to pull the emotional richness and spirit from each image, rendering the substance alive within the space. Having drawn the eye up through soft-furnishing treatments, the skylight reconnected me to the sun (not rain!), and as swathes of rays came flooding in, I was immersed further into the West-Coast world of ‘Perfect 10’, bikini-clad babes and bicep-curling bodies, some on-the-cusp of ‘Muscle Beach’ glory… others not! Yukka plants further guided my eyes down to a floor which had not been ignored….quite literally inscribed with a single series of lines, as to invoke the boardwalk and roads, which, to me, mirrored the plethora of teen human traffic, waiting to flirt their afternoons away, before finishing or, moreover, starting their homework! The youthful need to be centre-of-attention, was represented by a bold block of blue, upon the courtyard wall. Definitely flashy… almost gaudy, it is accompanied by a bench, in-turn, supported by sherbet-lemon yellow barrels, embellished in pen-and-ink, utilising Ilori’s idiosyncratic flourish….the prime position for a selfie-centred shot!

The Plinth ethos of integrating art and design in an authentic and multi-accessible way would spiral upwards through the house, which, with every step of my expertly-guided tour, was transforming into an ever-increasingly, thought-provoking, home. Eshun’s awareness of the ‘danger of romanticising youth culture’** was compressed into a finely-assorted array of photographs, acutely dissecting its rollercoaster-like dichotomies…. From the chilling portrayal of political ambition of the next-gen UKIP candidates, being displayed, disconcertingly prom-style, ascending the staircase… and the extreme anger captured through the monochromatic lens of Ian Berry, in the stiflingly small ‘Skinhead Room’, to the feisty ode to West Midlands glamour on a gregarious night out and the high-octane Harrow Boys, flanked by disapproving parental looks, which formed Martin Parr’s collection, the visceral intensity of the ‘pack tendency’ was, at once, hard-hitting and eye-opening.

Chris Steele-Perkins, meanwhile, packed a punch with a room that visually soliloquises the group aesthetic, through the viewfinder of the Black diaspora… Encapsulating the joy of the dancehall days, through ‘Disco’, the larger-than-life print, mirroring the flamboyant females who’ve taken-to-the-floor… holding court up-high, whilst mid-twist and bowing down-low, in almost reverential catharsis! Not to be outdone, a portrait sits above the mantelpiece… pride-of-place, as if to suggest the ‘number one son’… Staring, quietly confident, through a crown of cascading dreadlocks, the unframed persona showcases effortless style and profound substance. This palpable freedom threw me back to Parr’s Harrovians, whose hyperactivity, although captured in a full-bleed palette, is being contained by the use of solid frames…which, to me, spoke to the hovering constraint of tradition.

In the ‘East-Coast Room’, such tacit messages would continue to register via the compelling works of Ferdinando Scianna and Eve Arnold. Surrounded by images in New York subway trains, you are with the people…. watched over by ‘The Guardian Angels’ at one end and an extreme close-up of a fellow male passenger at the other… hanging off the ceiling handles and leaning into the lens, as if he were about to kiss you on the cheek! The sense of belonging, as witnessed in one group, is beautifully contrasted by the sensibility of developing flirtatious assertiveness…

By the time you reach ‘Cuba’ (a.k.a ‘The Isle of Youth’) on the top floor, creaking floorboards and dust-clouds give way to full-blown ‘amor’! Entering through a heavily-beaded, rust-hued curtain, an amalgamation of its dynamism and passion are symbolised texturally, through woven textiles, tonally, through clashing fabric patterns and sonically, (during the evening viewing), with booming Cuban-heel-tapping basslines! A visually vociferous canon of calorific attraction by Michael Christopher Brown, are pinned-up, like teen idol posters, devouring the den walls… The hours poured into Instagram research into the country, conducted by Ilori, have certainly paid off!

Absorbing the greatness on offer left me full-to-bursting… and returning to the start of my journey I was carried, three-sixty, from the hot Tropics, back to the ‘Club Tropicana’-vibe of Venice Beach… More enthused than ever, I was also left anticipating the night ahead… which promised much and, due to teamwork-making-the-dream-work, completely over-delivered, in every way imaginable!

‘The Magnum Home’ is a thunderous meteor amidst the ‘Photo London’ firmament… ‘Just Kids’, a free, all-encompassing, once-in-a-lifetime rendition of the thrills and spills of youth lifestyle… Its masterful curation distils the ‘white cube’ experience, by expanding it into an, unintimidating, tangible environment with which we can endlessly relate, namely, ‘home’. ‘Barbie Dream-Home’ it is not, but its raw and undercooked state segues seamlessly into the very nature of the young, rough-diamond within us all and with interactive events and tours set to run through Sunday, who knows what unearthed potential you might discover?!

~

©A_F_R_O_W2017-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

Click-through for:-

Events at ‘The Magnum Home’

Limited Edition Merchandise for ‘The Magnum Home’

~

Quotation Credits:-

*Ekow Eshun: @EkowEshun (Twitter: 16/05/2017) ~ **Ekow Eshun: P.V Q & A (‘The Magnum Home’ 16/05/2017)

Congratulations and warmest Afrow-appreciation to ‘Team Plinth’ for such an amazing time…with special mention to Maria, Gaby and Emily for being the most illuminating tour-guides…and Team VERNISSAGE__ for the Blogger recommendation!

***

How do you solve a problem like ‘Utopia’? Follow the Arts Trail!

September was a SCORCHER of a creative month!

First up, was London’s inaugural Design Biennale, held in a Somerset House, replete with a host of 37 global delegations, problem-solving the notion of ‘Utopia’, through pure, clear Creativity… Yes, friends, I repeat, Creativity, with a definitive, capital ‘C‘!

Something about the socio-political mood revealed the V and A weathervane, in the courtyard, with new eyes. Surrounded by a singular weather-system, within the cobbled square… the perfect, windswept movement of a majestic installation called to mind the damage that the ever-developing power of such wind would and could do, in parts of the world which I could not see.

Ensconced within the wings, both East and West, resided ingenuity and innovation borne beyond blue-sky thinking… such as Sweden’s curated ‘We-topia’, which encapsulated the impact of serendipitous community collaboration, to form a collective of artisans, articulating the diversity of devastatingly desirable, stylish and, moreover, sustainable, homeware… via ‘Level’, Austria’s paean to light and balance, reflecting the pointed delicacy of the global butterfly effect… to Spain’s neon-laced, VR Reality vision of the future, accessed through a mirrored time-tunnel, reminiscent of the final, technicoloured vortex to the full-circle life-span, in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’… From navigating the modernisation of irrigation systems, in order to enhance the growth and yield of vegetation, in addition to stimulating ecosystems, proposed by the U.A.E, to Greece’s audio-visual honouring of the migratory patterns of peoples and their bespoke utilisations of a unique composition of marble…the entire London Design Biennale experience did more than represent the United Nations of Innovation… Underneath, and often, starkly, beautifully evident, was the best of expertise in fabrication, function and flair, infused with joyous wit and extensive wisdom. It has been, and will remain, one of the most engaging, thought-provoking private viewings which I have ever attended… where offerings (some of which were tantalisingly unfinished the day before the launch) of the power of dreams, were made pragmatically, believably real… It was a undeniable triumph and I am already declaring, alto voce, ‘Roll on 2018’!

If that were not enough, up popped the first, ever, Catford Arts Trail! This free, open-house event (including workshops and activities), spread over two consecutive weekends, was based in-and-around 31 venues, enthusiastically celebrating the creative energy and spirit of entrepreneurialism flowing throughout the area (much like the River Ford used to do!).

Event experience corroborated that I was up at the crack of dawn, set up with a super-hearty breakfast, my trusty map and an empty bag… ready to be filled upon my Arts Trail adventure… and what a brisk few hours of flying-visits it was! In fact, I’m sure that my, somewhat, ‘Phileas Fogg excursion’ at the London Biennale, had prepared me for my artistic treasure hunt…

Every house was handsomely bedecked in a clutch of brightly-hued balloons, a signpost, standing proud and true, emblazoned with the ‘Catford Arts Trail’ logo and quite often, the added bonus of a handwritten welcome, second only to the glorious souls inviting us in!

I first paid a visit to see the wondrous world of intricately-woven 3D structures created by Stella Harding… some which resembled robust, warrior masks, others, no less impressive,  fashioned with measuring tape! I was delighted to ascertain that there were two places remaining upon her contemporary basketry course, at Morley College (although I somehow doubted that would be the case by the day’s end, so great were the pieces). Work by accomplished ceramicist, Robert Cooper, was also on show… this time, woven around narratives linked to the Japanese tea rituals and foraging at the River Thames for broken fragments of old crockery, from which to devise new stories, through re-purposed pieces. I believe I overheard him regaling a tale of his Aunty, to a fellow visitor as I left!

With a cool breeze for company,  directing me onward, I wound around the corner, to take in the home textiles of ‘Sophie Home’ and locally-themed prints of ‘Place In Print’. Once again, the array of wares was first-rate! Although demonstrating differing elements of the design spectrum, both sets of products screamed ‘modern classics’. From tea towels to cushions, I was particularly taken by the bold use of minimal, neutral colourways, spiced up with slices of citric tones, in the soft furnishings, as well as the quirky and most charming individuality to the playful prints.

Now, you won’t believe this…but, what with all of the fun and creative fact-finding, time veritably flew by…but I had one last stop to make before winging my way back to the homestead… Quite frankly, amidst all of this awesomeness, I needed my fill of fantastic fashion… I found it, and then some, at House 24, upon the trail… which is where I also remembered to pick up my ‘Catford Arts Trail Card’, which, when stamped 9 times, at 9 different venues, would automatically enter me into the draw to win £100 worth of goodies from my chosen Catford Artist!

Once I got my stamp, I got to know the uber-cool sculptural jewellery of Katie New. Colourbursts, like the richest of cabochons, radiated through her collection of handmade articles. Standouts combined the strength of precious metals with the embossed textures of fragile leaves and were a perfect foil to the stunning designs of Jasmine Carey a.k.a ‘Deco 22’. Having followed Jasmine’s continual rise as an exceptional style artisan, I am an absolute aficionado of the clean-lined aesthetic of apparel that she produces, with the quality of her precision-cutting and the overall outstanding execution of assembly, giving masterly substance to highly-covetable and wearable works of art. Highlights? The entire collection!…If pressed, then, my star-buy would have to be the nod-to-40’s-glamour, expressed as a belted black-and-white overcoat, with a fit-and-flare silhouette to live for, invisible pockets that are so invisible, you’d think they were trompe l’oeil, and a steal at £65, (due to it being a sample)! As for accessories (yes, she designs and makes those too!), I adored all of the leather goods.. from wallets/ card-holders, to folios… and the cutest gift bags, containing a pin cushion and pins, perfect for new and experienced crafting types, which were simply darling!

With that… I was creatively spent!

… I returned to Afrow-H.Q, a fully-fledged member of the Catford Arts Trailblazers (as I like to call us!)… with the enduring memory of, not only the warmth of welcome at each and every home, the willingness of each designer-maker to share their inspiring stories, but most of all, the camaraderie of fellow Arts Followers, cheerily directing one another along the way…

The sincerest of congratulations to all involved in continuing to spread the word about the strength-in-depth of creative endeavour, both borough-wide and globally….

In an ever-changing world, moving from relative strangers to creative neighbours is, surely, the greatest treasure of all!

©A_F_R_O_W2016-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

~

London Design Biennale 2016 ~ Somerset House

Catford Arts ~ Stella Harding ~ Robert Cooper ~ Sophie Home ~ Katie New ~ Deco22

 ~

Twitter Testimonial from London Design Biennale!

“LDN Design Biennale Retweeted Afrow:

“Problem-solving the notion of ‘Utopia’, through pure, clear Creativity” – thanks to @A_F_R_O_W for a great review of @londonbiennale 2016”

~

Twitter Testimonial from Sophie McNiven, Catford Arts Trail Organiser and Founder/Designer of ‘Sophie Home’

“Sophie Home ‏@shopsophiehome Oct 30

@A_F_R_O_W thanks so much for this write up! As one of the organisers of @catfordarts too, I’m particularly delighted to read of your joy!”

‘DOTTY FOR MATT FORSTER’S UBERART!’

So here’s what you’ll do…

When your soul cries out for sustenance of the extrasensory kind, follow my lead, to the ‘Royal Opera Arcade Gallery’, London, and begin a most fulfilling journey of delicious ‘Über Art’! Created and developed with relentless fervour by the man, whom I like to call ‘Watercolour Wizard’, but whom is better known by the moniker of Matt Forster, this latest exposition is a vibrant testament to all of his dedicated efforts…and being of the ‘über’ variety, there’s more than enough to go around!

Noticeable is the space which houses the majestic collection…

A split-level gallery, flooded by luminescent white-light, akin to that of Skywalker’s sabre…Poised, yet utterly yielding to the array of immersive, wrap-around watercolour works!

Flowing from figurative to abstract, landscape to dreamscape, multicolour to monochromatic, über to klein, each piece immediately resonates with a clarity of purpose and distinctive technical execution, which speaks volumes to the subconscious. Forster is fearless in experimentation… collaging, cutting-out, scraping-back, slicing angles… Each, a willing foil for expressing his vision. In one mesmerising series, he seems to ‘liberate’ paint-spots and yet, contain the liquid movement, so as to become controlled ‘dot-formations’, of ever-increasing tonal and visual depth. In fact, with such gusto for graphics and colour collaborations, you would be forgiven for thinking him a designer of a couture collection for Spring-Summer 2015!

The opportunity to sojourn in the selection of global destinations is wonderful… In a hushed millisecond, collective languages can almost be deciphered exchanging tales of their pictorial formation! ‘Dos Pinturas’, ‘High Noon’ and ‘The Band San Cristobal de las Cases’, masterfully regale of reflective days in sunsoaked climes, whereas ‘Über Autumn’ and ‘Über Pennines’ celebrate the richness to be found amidst the more muted hues of our glorious British Isles. The latter, particularly capturing the masculinity of terrain, with the femininity of undulating hills or rippling waves… Pure, authentic, beautiful and boldly interpreted.

However, I would entreat you not to overeat the enticing wall-mounted fayre, for this is a week of artistic delights which offers even more! Indeed, this selection coincides with the launch of ‘The Art of MJ Forster’, his first, limited edition, retrospective book, the production of which, was made possible by a hugely successful crowd-funding campaign. What you will see displayed is accompanied by what you will get in the stunning publication, produced by ‘The Town and Country Gallery’…so you can snack on further morsels, at leisure!

What I would encourage you most definitely do, is partake of the ‘Über Art’ experience, firsthand… Meet Matt himself. He’s a highly personable and witty character, with an underlying intensity and creative sensibility, in perfect complement to the idiosyncratic medium of watercolour. Assuage that artistic appetite…go on….but be prepared to want, at least, a second helping from such a prolific menu!

***

‘The Art of MJ Forster’: A Retrospective Exhibition (and Book Launch) is on now until Saturday 11th October at The Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, 5B Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 4UY.

Books are available for purchase during the exhibition, from ‘The Town and Country Gallery’ and via Matt’s newly revamped website!

***

Afrow-Appreciation to:-

Simon de Pinna and the ROA GAllery for hosting a fabulous P.V and…

… HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Matt Forster….

…‘Über Artist’ extraordinaire and, hopefully, future fashion/fabric designer!

©AFROW2014-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED