Blog — Page 201 of 275

The Stranglers

Enmore Theatre

Sydney, Australia

February 8, 2018

As a teenage delinquent in his early stages of punk socialization searching for the next kick in the local record store, I came across The Stranglers and was impressed by the band name. Expecting an assault along the lines of The Exploited’s emission, I was more mildly underwhelmed and confused by the new wave-y, art rock with gothic tinges.

Fast forward a couple of years, a bit of maturity, appreciation of musical virtuosity, the company of ladies and a deep interest in Jean Jacques Burnel’s thoughtful lyrics, and The Stranglers and their more psychedelic songs fell on more fertile ground.

Witnessing The Stranglers’ on their “The classic collection” tour in 2018 translates to a setlist brimming with hits, anthems and classics that were frenetically welcomed by the sold out house.

Forty years into their existence, The Stranglers bring a tight show that borders pitch perfection, effortlessly holding the audience in the palm of their hand with their charisma and displaying that their secret sauces could never be simmered down to neither singular musical styles nor the sum of its ingredients – what makes them is their idiosyncratic x-factor that pervades each of their ditties, no matter which genre is most prominent.

Evenings that from start to finish was a celebration of The Stranglers’ musical prowess, relevance and timelessness of their musical catalogue.

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Photos by KAVV

Footpath Guides

Architectural Walking Guides

Footpath Guides, the headquarters of which are situated in a Bauhaus inspired building of epic brutalist proportions, is a conglomerate of three creative heads with backgrounds in film making and academics with a shared interest in architecture.

Eventually they decided to honour the architectural heritage of their hometown Melbourne via a pocket-sized walking guide shedding light on the different eras and incarnations the city went through, which finds its equivalent in the design and illustrations, courtesy of Sonia Post of Design Democracy fame.

The first, Melbourne centric installment of their architectural walking guides is a triptych, featuring buildings, transitions and new developments along with their impact on the present from the early 1850s to the 1970s, charmingly showcasing the expansion of the city at the tail end of the 19th century, the emergence of St Kilda from the Edwardian via Victorian, art deco, Spanish influences and modern apartments. The third part is highlights

What followed were three books on the city of Sydney, which followed the original formula in that it sheds light on how the architectural DNA of Sydneytown evolved and blossomed and where among the ever expanding central business district, true gems can be found in the historically not insignificant urban enclave The Rocks.

Particular interesting is the part of the Sydney triumvirate that focuses on what developed between the ravages of the two World Wars and became the foundation for the post-war innovations that are still resonating throughout the pillars of the city.

With the descriptions that are accurate and concise in nature along with the illustrations that are both informative and visually appealing and the overall playful approach, it will hopefully only be a matter of time until other, international cities will get the Foothpath Guides treatment.

https://footpathguides.com

How To Be Chap

The Surprisingly Sophisticated Habits, Drinks and Clothes of the Modern Gentleman 

Gestalten Verlag

Dandyism.

Being a gentleman.

A man of taste.

Taking care of yourself.

Worldliness.

Wit.

Humour.

A modern day equivalent to someone Oscar Wilde would not have minded to have in tow.

Is that too much to ask?

“How To Be Chap - The Surprisingly Sophisticated Habits, Drink and Clothes of the Modern Gentleman” is both a documentation and a guide book to explore the roots, the most prominent exponents and underpinning ideas that inform what constitutes a “chap” in this day and age. Beautifully illustrated, it is a source of inspiration in a world of prefabrication that makes choices for you conveniently with the click of a button.

Even though there is an attitude that is an integral part of the chap-package, we are not necessarily talking elitism here – we are talking lifestyle and digging a bit beneath the surface of face value appearances. Revisiting the traditions and values of the past to enhance the now and confidently stride into the future and enhance your persona – be it with accessories like an umbrella, tweed outfits and a pipe or a general demeanour based on cultivated tastes.

While there is effort made in terms of research and shedding light on the fine things in life, one of the merits of the book is that it does not take its approach religiously serious and therefore makes for an enjoyable read no matter what your personal style may be.

Once you open yourself to the chappish ways, it is not hard to see that there is something to it – something that might add a bit of pizzazz to your blokey way of carrying yourself, especially if your style is informed by the notion that it is unmanly to look after yourself and out thought into how your carry yourself.

Savile Row

Thames and Hudson

Not sure if you are into what is referred to as classic gentlemen style and its intricacies, but if you like a well-fitted great looking suit, getting it tailored at Savile Row is not the worst address – one that comes inextrivably linked with  the connotation of poise, savoir vivre, wordliness and elegance.

James Sherwood’s coffetable book on the commandpost of fine high fashion is richly illustrated with material sources from archives along with specifically orchestrated photos and fashion shootings, along with the history of Savile Row’s tailors.

It not only lists the facts in terms of detailing what goes into the creation of a fine suit and the considerations that are part of the process from sourcing and choosing the fabrics and serves as a guide and resource on how to get your own gear made, but it also dishes up a bit of gossip and inside information and sheds light on some of the larger than life personalities that inhabited and frequented the exclusive street.

It is those skilled tailors that not only give Savile Row its prestige but also make the book as their stories, view on things, the relationship with their renowned and notorious clientele as well as their vision go far beyond the surface and what could be dismissed as a mundane concern with outward appearance.

Being able to chronologically follow the development and different incarnations of the suit as we know it as well as its individual components and seeing how and why it has arrived in what we wear today is an interesting feature that should be interesting not only for the initiated.

Anyone remotely interested in quality, handmade, crafted goods should find this book interesting as it is a celebration of an art that had inspired generations in range of disciplines, which is why it is not further wondrous that the foreword was penned by Tom Ford.

Wim Delvoye

Introspective

Yale University Press

If you have ever read any of our features on the Museum of Old and New Art and the artworks it harbours that were specifically created by Belgian artist Wim Delvoye and focusing on the body and its functions, you would have gotten a sense of how high I hold his oeuvre in esteem.

Delvoye and controversy seem to be inextricably linked, specifically with his more political inspired works and those tackling religion.

Wim Delvoye Introspective is the outcomes of a close exchange between the man himself and distinguished scholars and critics. The beautifully embossed tome entails a comprehensive overview of works artist, highlighting the wide range of media, applications of different techniques, and thought-provoking subjects that inform his art.

Even if Delvoye is not your cup of hot beverage, the depiction of especially his bigger installations think full-size dump-trucks made from laser-cut steel plates fashioned in the style of Gothic architecture and ironwork or massive 60-foot towers constructed of the same material, are a sight to behold. Let alone his pig tattooing projects and footage of his acclaimed multi-media exhibitions.

Delvoye has found and defined a lane for himself – nearly always tongue-in-cheek, at times ridiculous, hardly ever not challenging – a lane for does not abuse conceptual art for obscuring mediocrity or reframing ambiguity.

At over 350 pages, with multiple paper changes, the tome entails, photos, sketches and several essays giving the reader the necessary background info to appreciate Delvoye's approach to contemporary art.

A beautiful and fascinating book detailing the works of a contemporary conceptual great.