WILSON - by Dan Clowes

 Daniel Clowes' Graphic Novel 'Wilson' is an incredibly well-observed tale of a cantankerous aging American man, searching for love, meaning, a family... himself. The book begins with Wilson walking his beloved dog, and striking up small talk with a fellow dog walker. Once she begins to engage in conversation, Wilson kills the chat dead with his 'for God's sake, don't you ever shut up' quip. Funny, wry and sad, the book engages various styles through the pages. Cartoon simplicity to sketchy portraiture, the different styles function to discourage too much emphasis on the art, encouraging a bond with the tale. In usual Clowes' manner, the choice of 'camera angles' and – most crucially – the narrative rhythm give this book an incredible pace throughout.
Recommended... it's a great book, both as an object and for narrative content - Kim

Dog Costumes 2

Dog Costumes 2 - a pick of Kim's favs.

Mother, Come Home - Paul Hornschemeier

Mother, Come Home - Paul Hornschemeier

This elegant, concise graphic novel was a chance discovery for me. It tells the story of a father and son who are left behind after the mother dies from cancer. The story is told from the child's point of view - including the breakdown of the father, and the boy's periodic slippage into fantasy. A moving, well observed story with absolute economy in each panel. The colour palate helps to further reinforce the starkness of the subject. - Kim

'The Pettifogger' Lewis Klahr

Lewis Klahr's new feature length film 'The Pettifogger' at the BFI London International Film Festival, October 2011

The word ‘Pettifogger’ is an archaic term used to describe a small-scale con-man and is the main character in Lewis Klahr’s experimental first full-length feature.(65 mins)

The Pettifogger  becomes hypnotic as the viewer is taken on a journey across America - a year in the life of an American conman/gambler

Set in 1963, the film uses a wide variety of materials against textured backdrops – playing cards, markers, crumpled period photographs, cocktail sticks, cut-outs and figures taken from comic books.
Using repetitive imagery – cars, licence plates, gas stations – against overlapping soundtracks, we follow the character until the narrative becomes a less clear-cut. As we move towards the end of the year, a dramatic storm takes you into a dream-like state - flashing lights start to move to the fore and fast-moving blurred images are interspersed with casino chips and whisky bottles. A disorientating and compelling film. - Kim

Charles Avery at Pilar Corrias Gallery, London

‘Place de la Revolution’ is the latest installment in Charles Avery’s endless project, The Islanders.
Since 2005, Charles Avery depicts a fictional place/island through drawings, objects, installations and texts. Avery’s imaginary world is a 'meditation on philosophical themes', according to the exhibition text. I say it's good drawing with a story to keep it going. - Kim

Hoshino Yukinobu at the British Museum

Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure

Hoshino Yukinobu (b. 1954) is a world-famous manga artist. One of his most popular characters is Professor Munakata who investigates history and folklore in his manga adventures. In this display, you can see original artwork by Hoshino, including drawings showing the start of Professor Munakata’s new adventure set at the British Museum. - Kim

Yetis

                                                 Part human, part furry...

 

 & Cosplay at it's strangest.... - Kim

Spirit of the Beehive

If you want to know where Guillermo del Toro got his inspiration for 'Pan's Labyrinth' from, 'Spirit of the Beehive' is the film to see.

The Spirit of the Beehive  is a 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice.  Made during the last few years of  Franco's dictatorship, and set in 1940, the film subtly criticises post-civil war Spain.
The film focuses on the young girl Ana and her fascination with the 1931 American horror film Frankenstein, as well as exploring her family life and schooling. The film beautifully portrays Ana's haunted inner life: visually, the film is sparse and desolate, however, the cinematography is stunning. Each image lingers in the mind, and the child actress is amazing. - Kim

Melancholia - Lars Von Trier

This film created a certain atmosphere, and contained some striking imagery. It was a refreshing change to have two female characters as the lead roles, and the camera close-ups created a sensual viewing experience. The fact the two women were physically as different as they could be and yet were supposed to be sisters, didn't distract from the believability. At times it felt pretentious though, and plodded along. Overall, a film worth seeing- Kim

Charles Matton - at All Visual Arts, London

 

Theatrical, atmospheric, meticulously constructed, Charles Matton's small scale interiors are housed in see through boxes with glass fronts.
                        
The miniature spaces represent real world interiors and revisited memories from Matton’s own life, as well as other recognizable places. 
 
Matton and his assistant painstakingly handbuilt, painted and sculpted every visible detail to 1/7 scale, from fading wallpaper to broken light sockets. Some of  his  enclosures of  famous artist’s studios; such as Francis Bacon (above) and Alberto Giacometti.

 (above) Matton's miniature version of Freud's desk complete with totemic sculptures in perfect scale

                                             (above) Matton in his model, an idea of the scale - Kim

Mike Kelley recreates Superman's birthplace 'Kandor' at the Gagosian Gallery, Kings Cross.
Kandor was apparently shrunk and bottled by a villain...
Loved the sculptural elements - interweaving comic book/sci-fi references with coloured resins, glass and miniature sci-fi worlds. Contrasted with monumental dark boulders, a cave and slabs that depict Superman's Fortress of Solitude.
Couldn't stand the Vice Anglais video - well it did focus on a group of sadistic perverts... - Kim

James Casebere at the Lisson Gallery - model village heaven!

                                         Particularly liked the 'night' view one above - Kim

Dan Clowes' Mister Wonderful

The central character, Marshall, has been set up by his friend Tim on a blind date with someone named Natalie, and has been waiting nearly an hour...
He’s long since given up hope, when Natalie appears - and she seems too good to be true: attractive, young, intelligent, and engaged with what Marshall has to say.
There has to be a catch. And, of course, there is.

A beautifully paced visual novel, the imagery draws you into the character's tussle with uncertainty and the search for closeness. I particularly liked the visualisation of Marshall's inner dialogue, in addition to the character's dialogue. - Kim