Constantin Bjerke

Art Goes Underground

2012-03-08T00:45:42-05:00

Most Londoners have a complex relationship with the tube. Connecting around 12 million people, the urban rail network is one of the city's most valuable assets. Yet at the same time, due to recurring delays, disruptions, strikes and a fairly hostile commuting culture, London Underground is a common and constant source of stress and aggravation in Britain's capital. But in sickness or in health, the tube has become synonymous with London. And in this, our Olympic Year, there seems to be no better place to showcase the artistic capabilities of the nation than its well-worn walls.

In the vast ticket hall of Canary Wharf station a large screen has been set up which will, over four seasons of programming, project films by artists and filmmakers, turning the spotlight onto the UK arts community. The program is initiated and presented by Art on The Underground, and hopes to inspire and provoke the estimated 40 million people who use the station each year.

London Underground has always had a close relationship with art and design. In the early 20th century, Managing Director Frank Pick's vision for the transport system ended up becoming a pioneering example of the concept of 'total design'. The logo, distinctive typography, designs of the stations themselves and of course the iconic map -- each element has been vital in creating a palpable entity that has character as well as serving a function. Critic Sir Lawrence Weaver wrote in 1928 that the underground, "has provided the people of London with a picture gallery as fine in some ways...as the Tate or the National."

Almost a century later, Art on the Underground was established; a formal body that aims to support the arts whilst also filling public spaces with elements that enrich and engage those who travel through its tunnels, imbuing a 'strong sense of shared ownership'.

Past projects have included the work of American neo-Bauhaus artist, Jim Isermann, who wrapped an entire Picadilly line train in a geometric pattern in 2007. Michael Landy's, 'Random Acts of Kindness' (2011), asked people to share moments of helpfulness they have experienced on the tube, and in 2010, Dryden Goodwin created 60 portraits of Jubilee Line staff to 'evoke both a physical and emotional mapping' of the line.

But regardless of innovation or aesthetic, one could question the point of all this. Can art really make a difference to our daily lives? At 8:45 am on a Monday morning, stuffed like sardines with complete strangers, does it help to know that our tube carriage is painted bright colors? It's a worthy debate. From the established work of Gaudi in Barcelona to the innovative and often controversial ways that street artists adorn our communal spaces, it is clear that there is a natural desire to democratize and share art. By creating a formal space for this to occur, initiatives like Art on The Underground are tapping into this. A city filled with art has the potential to inspire and ultimately by inciting any response, even if it's one of exasperation, the work serves its purpose.

Additional reporting by Angelica Pursley for Crane.tv

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The Art of Dining: Turner Prize Winner Martin Creed (VIDEO)

2012-03-05T08:56:45-05:00

Turner Prize winner Martin Creed gives Crane.tv lessons on the art of dining. In a quest to revamp a room in iconic London restaurant Sketch, Creed managed to give birth to an unusual dining experience.

In what looks like a large-scale version of the artist's very own dining room, the space is adorned with colorful murals and frames and an impressive floorboard made up of 96 different types of marble (work no. 1347). In order to provide diners with a unique experience each time, curator Victoria Brooks commissioned a team to source singular pieces of furniture, cutlery, crockery and glassware (also known as work no. 1343). From Ikea to Konstantin Grcic, Barnaba Fornasetti and granny's favourites, every table has a distinct set-up.

Apart from bringing in Creed's playful approach to interior design, co-founder and three Michelin-starred chef, Pierre Gagnaire, developed a superb menu with special Martin Creed dishes to reflect the artist's creativity. Brushstrokes of coulis and turnips for pencils make up one of the signature dishes available on the a la carte menu. To finish off a great evening, try the Malabar, a dessert made with bubble gum ice cream, strawberry mousse and marshmallow.

Additional reporting by Seyna Van Der Linden for Crane.tv

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Oscars 2012 Stage Brings Back Old Hollywood Glamour (VIDEO)

2012-02-27T07:08:19-05:00

Last night The 84th Academy Awards once again brought sparkle to Los Angeles as the 2012 Oscars celebrated talent across the film industry.

The Kodak Theatre, now referred to as the "Hollywood and Highland Center" after a legal battle over sponsorship, hosted the usual star spangled spectacle against an impressive backdrop created by production designer John Myhre.

This year's stage took days to install and involved over 6,000 meticulously hand-hung Swarovski crystals.

John Myhre, who in 2002 won his own Oscar for his production design for Chicago, tells Crane.tv his goal was to turn the theatre into a "fantasy movie palace." No stranger to the Oscar stage, Myhre who also won an Oscar in 2005 for his work on Memoirs of a Geisha, has been nominated for three times for Elizabeth, Dreamgirls and Nine.

Telecast producer Brian Grazer referenced Myhre's cinematic perspective when speculating on the success of this year's stage design in November last year. The stage impressed with a clear nod to old Hollywood glamour.

Additional reporting by Fiona Sinclair Scott for Crane.tv

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Richard Nicoll at LFW 2012 (VIDEO)

2012-02-23T10:52:31-05:00

A lot has happened since Dolce & Gabbana bought fashion designer Richard Nicoll's entire 2002 graduate collection whilst he was still a student at Central Saint Martins. After collaborating with Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton, he started his eponymous womenswear label in 2005 and since won the most prestigious awards. Crane.tv visits one of London's most brilliant and respected designers at his studio in East London.

London-based Australian fashion designer Richard Nicoll explains to us that he likes awkwardness. "I like the idea of minimalism, but mixed with something that is not too sleek. So I like Woody Allen's films in the sense that they're about real characters. There's something sort of slightly awkward about them, slightly off about them." This is also how he sees himself.

He also tells us that he is never satisfied with what he has done. Though there is one piece that has stayed in demand for the past six years -- a Richard Nicoll classic: an oversized T-shirt that they reinterpret every season.

Finally, Nicoll highlights how crucial it is nowadays in the fashion industry to be both creative and commercial, to be able to please both himself, the customers, the buyers and the press. And adds, "I think fashion is definitely a commercial art form. I don't think there's time for her to be a fine art form because of the the kind of relentlessness in the schedules."

Additional reporting by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv

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Gavin Turk and the Art of Identity (VIDEO)

2012-02-09T16:19:08-05:00

Gavin Turk's controversial career began when he failed his degree. His MA presentation at The Royal College of Art consisted of a white room with a blue English heritage plaque mounted on the wall that read, 'Borough of Kensington/Gavin Turk/Sculptor/Worked here 1989 -1991'. This proclamation of his own death foretold the demise of his degree, but ironically incited the birth of his career. The college denied him his certificate, but the contemporary art world was ready to welcome him into the fold.

In the late 1980s a group of Young British Artists (or YBAs) like Damien Hurst, Tracey Emin, and Gavin Turk himself, began consistently challenging accepted artistic ideals. The term YBA became synonymous with controversy, drawing media and art together and insisting on an open attitude to process. Turk and his contemporaries had a flair for self-promotion that had been previously unseen in the art world.

Around 25 years later, Gavin Turk is about to open a new exhibition at London's Ben Brown Fine Arts Gallery. The title itself, 'Gavin & Turk,' schizophrenically transforms his own moniker into a family brand. The exhibition coincides with a retrospective of the work of Alighiero Boetti, an Italian conceptual artist, at Tate Modern. Turk pays homage to Boetti, attempting to 'inherit or foster his techniques' by creating tapestry pieces and exploring symbolism. His work constantly reassesses the role of the artist and to what extent the finished piece really belongs to its creator. Gavin Turk's work is simultaneously thought-provoking, unnerving and enjoyable and extremely relevant in our self-referential society.

Additional reporting by Angelica Pursley Crane.tv

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One to Watch: Photographer Elena Rendina (VIDEO)

2012-02-07T09:09:00-05:00

Crane.tv visits 26-year-old creative Elena Rendina at her studio in Shoreditch. She tells us about her photographer, set and costume designer status, her project with model Lily Cole and how she sees the future.

Elena Rendina graduated from the University of Art and Design Lausanne in 2008 with a BA in photography. Since then she has been working as an assistant to photographer Paolo Roversi. In July 2009 she met British model Lily Cole at Paolo Roversi's studio in Paris while they are shooting for The New York Times' T Magazine. She confesses that she is a fan of Cole's to Roversi, who suggests she should write and ask if the model would like to pose for her. After discovering Rendina's work and a positive reply, the designer toiled for almost a year on the project: creating all the clothes, shoes and set designs for the images, the big day finally happens. "The day of the shoot was for me like a dream becoming true, because she was wearing my clothes... It was very moving for me."

Rendina, whose work includes covers and editorials for POP Magazine, Wonderland and Vogue Italia Gioiello, was recently signed to talent agency Streeters Agency.

Text by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv

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Behind the Scenes of Ballet With Nancy Osbaldeston (VIDEO)

2012-02-06T07:09:47-05:00

Behind the beauty of ballet's facade lies a life of rigour and repetition. A dancer's task is to convey grace and effortlessness while behind the scenes muscles are aching, toes are breaking and budgets are constantly getting cut. Every dancer nurses some sort of injury - their feet are often known to bleed during a performance. But though the secrets backstage are sometimes shocking, it is through strict training, endless rehearsals and seamless choreography that the unparalleled splendour of ballet is created.

The prime age bracket for a dancer is their late teens/early twenties. Nancy Osbaldeston is one of the most promising young ballerinas currently at The English National Ballet. This March she will compete in the Emerging Dancer Competition against five other up and coming young members of the company. The competition is in its third year, and is a platform to nurture and encourage young talent.

Nancy Osbaldeston, pictured here in blue, promoting the Dance GB project

Warming up before rehearsals

Her day begins at eight-thirty in the morning. Breakfast is followed closely by warm-ups and then a succession of classes which gradually increase in difficulty and skill. Competition is fierce amongst the dancers but they are ultimately united and support is generously given. It is clear that ballet is a job; the whole day is dominated by it. After classes finish, rehearsals begin and it's all rounded off by shows. Despite the gruelling nature of this daily routine, it is the life they have chosen. Osbaldeston smiles throughout the day obviously relishing an opportunity that few are fortunate enough to ever experience.

Osbaldeston 'en pointe'

Additonal Reporting by Angelica Pursley for Crane.tv

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Meet the Bad Boy of the Art World: Brian Ermanski (VIDEO)

2012-02-01T10:59:55-05:00

Starting his career painting on the corner of a New York City street, Brian Ermanski wanted to bring his work to the people. To get by, the destitute struggling artist would sell off clothes that he had collected over decades of vintage shopping with his dad, but never his art. Yet through this hard time his ambition was to bring his work worldwide.

A few years down the line and an MTV reality show under his belt, Ermanski is now known as the bad boy of the New York art scene. His paintings are raw with emotion, revisiting the joy and the pain of past failures, triumphs and loves. He paints about what he knows. If it happened to him yesterday, it is likely to be strewn across a 6-foot canvas the next day.

Some people find Ermanski's work shocking. But his provocative, loud, urban pieces have gained him huge success and notoriety as an artist. New York City just can't get enough of him. And that's not to mention some major collectors on either side of the pond whose interest is piqued by the artist in eyeliner and a top hat, toting a hand painted boombox wherever he goes.

Ermanski's work has appeared in the New York Times and Vogue. He has been involved in more than a few interesting projects, including painting a room at the Hotel Des Arts in San Francisco and showing at New York's Le Jungle Gallery. Some of his pieces now command price tags upwards of $10,000, but as Crane.tv found out, it was not always an easy ride. We showcase the personal, inner workings of the man, who oozes undeniable charm and infectious charisma. There is something so wrong about him, it's right.

Text by Hannah Watson for Crane.tv

The Significance of David Chipperfield (VIDEO)

2012-01-31T21:25:10-05:00

The art critic David Sylvester once said that, "art has no greater enemy than architecture." It's one of Sir David Chipperfield's favorite quotes. The British architect is more well-known for his consistent philosophical approach to design rather than a definitive visual aesthetic. His continued exploration of traditional architectural philosophy has garnered him a considerable amount of recognition, including a CBE and knighthood. With a repertoire that ranges from fashion stores to coveted historical rebuilds and his company, David Chipperfield Architects, having various international offices, there's no doubt of his significance in the architectural world. In a recent interview with Crane.tv he discussed the redevelopment of Berlin's Neues Museum.

In a departure from his various international projects, last year saw the unveiling of two British art galleries. The design of The Hepworth Wakefield is unconventional, reviving Brutalism in an already fairly bleak Northern landscape. The resulting structure, consisting of smooth purplish concrete blocks set on the River Calder, resembles a modern castle. The unusual beauty of the building is mimetic of its purpose, primarily housing sculptures.

So what's next for this architectural legend? David Chipperfield was recently appointed Director of the Architecture Sector at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice. His chosen theme is 'Common Ground,' a title that has wide connotations allowing the exploration of shared practices and experiences of architects themselves but also the physical sense of the space that buildings share. It is clear that Chipperfield is an innovator of our time and we should continue to watch his spaces.

Text by Angelica Pursley for Crane.tv

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Crane.tv Curates: One Room, Three Global Names at The Front Room (VIDEO)

2012-01-26T18:13:52-05:00

Behind a clouded glass facade on St Martins Lane lies The Front Room. This small, clean space has been the site of Crane.tv's recent project, Crane.tv Curates: One Room, Three Global Names - an exhibition that aimed to bridge the gap between the video-magazine's online world and the offline existence of its subjects. Over three weeks the space has housed a series of immersive installations by celebrated, well-known creatives, whilst also acting as a live studio space for emerging talent.

The three incarnations of the space were varied and impressive. Design legend Sir Terence Conran, fittingly debuted with a mini-retrospective of his extensive contribution to style and design for the masses. The display of his historical influence on aesthetics was accompanied by an example of modernity in the form of Hye Yeon-Park's morphing electric clock. The second week saw artist, Kate McGuire, compile a cabinet of curiosities alongside her piece, FINE (Fucked-up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional), taking the room to a darker place and provoking visitors to question their perception of beauty. Finally, digital artist Matt Pyke took the space firmly into the future with his triptych of computer-generated imagery accompanied by a cabinet of 3D mathematical structures.

As well as providing a unique experience for visitors and artists alike, the exhibition has served to demonstrate the DNA of the Crane.tv brand and its cultural perspective. Traditional understandings of art, design, fashion and lifestyle must be rethought as the rules that have defined these categories from each other, no longer exist. Different creative disciplines influence and bleed into each other and ultimately permeate every aspect of our lives. The uncanny presence of Crane.tv's concept space, incongruously located right next to a gym on bustling St. Martin's lane, seemed to demonstrate this perfectly.

Text by Angelica Pursley for Crane.tv

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Plans Unveiled for London's New Design Museum (VIDEO)

2012-01-26T11:21:30-05:00

London's Design Museum recently announced plans for an £80 million move to The Commonwealth Institute in Kensington's cultural quarter. The new Design Museum will open to visitors in 2014, joining the ranks of the V&A, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Serpentine Gallery.

The interior has been designed by John Pawson, whose past work ranges from Calvin Klein's flagship store in Manhatten to a Cistercian monastery in Bohemia. He aims to create a subtle but powerful enhancement of the original Commonwealth Institute, a 1960s Grade 2 listed building that has lain dormant for over a decade. By breathing new life into an existing landmark whilst simultaneously creating a space that will house world-class contemporary design, the plans themselves demonstrate the ethos of modern design solutions.

Currently located at Shad Thames, the Design Museum is already a leading institution showcasing contemporary product, graphic and fashion design. The move aims to transform the museum's somewhat niche status into 'the world's leading museum of contemporary design and architecture'. The plans should double their current visitor numbers and triple the space available for showcasing permanent collections and unique exhibitions. At the press conference announcing the move Sir Terence Conran called for design to be part of the DNA of Britain. The prominent message is that design matters and is essential for our future.

Text by Angelica Pursley for Crane.tv

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Rupert Murray's Recently Awarded Documentary: The End of the Line

2011-12-02T18:27:23-05:00

PUMA Creative recently named The End of The Line as winner of the inaugural PUMA Creative Impact Award, prize that honours the documentary film that has made the most significant positive impact on society. Rupert Murray's film tells the grim story of the catastrophic decline of global fish stock due to mass overfishing of our oceans and seas over the last 50 years. Crane.tv travelled to Littlehampton, UK to meet with the filmmaker at his mother's sustainable fish restaurant.

Filmed across the globe over two years, The End of the Line is the world's first major feature documentary about devastating damages caused so far by mass overfishing. Highlighting the case of bluefin tuna, which is seriously threatened with extinction due to massive western demand for sushi. Scientists predict that we might not be able to find any seafood on our plates anymore in 40-50 years time, unless decisive action is taken quickly. The film not only provides a status report of the present situation, but it proposes solutions.

42-year-old British filmmaker Murray tells us that he wondered if his film would make any impact. In any case he would have never imagined its trajectory. "We wanted to make a good film, but our primary goal was to change the way people thought about the ocean, about fish." With a recent study showing that the film achieved lasting change in consumer attitudes to buying fish and also resulted in major consumer brands changing their fish sourcing policy, Murray and his team can safely say that they have steered us in the right direction.

Text by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv

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Terence Conran: The Way We Live Now (VIDEO)

2011-12-01T14:15:28-05:00

"People don't know what they want until it is presented to them. It's about cultivating taste."

True visionary Terence Conran's genius comes from here: his capacity to anticipate people's whims and needs to change the way people live, shop, eat and even educate themselves.

Crane.tv visits London's Design Museum as it celebrates Terence Conran 80th birthday with a major exhibition - The Way We Live Now. This retrospective shows us how Conran, one of the world's leading designers, furniture-makers, restaurateurs and retailers, has helped transform the British way of life through his various activities.

Here, in conversation with his friend and co-curator Deyan Sudjic, Conran goes back to his fundamental aim throughout his design life, which has been to create intelligently designed products at a price that most people can afford. "I hope what people will see from the exhibition generally is an attitude, but easy living, a lack of formality, a lack of pretentiousness. It's what I've tried to achieve in my design life."

Text by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv

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Inside 2012 Olympic Park's Velodrome (VIDEO)

2011-11-23T10:47:27-05:00

Opened on time and on budget in February 2011, 17 months prior to the Opening Ceremony, Hopkins Architects' 2012 Olympics' Velodrome is the first venue to be completed at the Olympic Park. Alongside technical and aesthetic considerations, the Velodrome has been constructed with utmost care for eco-sustainability. Crane.tv chats to engineers Andrew Weir at Expedition Engineering and Klaus Bode at BDSP to hear about how they created one of park's largest structures.

The 6,000 seat Velodrome is a hyperbolic structure with an impressive double-curved, ultra-light roof covered in red cedar wood and inspired by the race tracks. The 250m long track, made of Siberian Larch, has been designed with the world's fastest cyclists in mind.

Selected to design the venue from 70 competing teams, Expedition Engineering was required to create a building that would last not only for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games duration, but also for the next 50-60 years, when it'll be used by elite athletes as well as the local community.

For his part, Bode pointed to another requirement: eco-sustainability. Thanks to various technical means, they achieved their objectives, such as embodied energy and water reduction, as well as steel reduction. He highlights also that even though the Velodrome cannot boast about having the biggest roof or structure of the Olympic Park, it is the site's most sustainable building. "It's integrated realistic design, clever team work and that's what we have achieved."

Text by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv

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Ahmed Alsoudani at the New Haunch of Venison Gallery

2011-11-10T05:15:44-05:00

Haunch of Venison gallery was founded in London in 2002. After the success of the original, a further branch was opened in 2008 in New York. Representing leading contemporary artists such as Turner Prize nominees Richard Long, Simon Patterson and Nathan Coley, both galleries recently inaugurated brand new locations: Haunch of Venison London moved back to its original location at Haunch of Venison Yard after being housed during 2 years at Burlington Gardens, while Haunch of Venison New York just opened a new space in Chelsea, leaving Rockefeller Centre. Both spaces were redesigned by leading architect Annabelle Selldorf, to whom we owe the creations of many major art galleries.

We catch up in the 11,500 square feet London gallery with the International Director Matt Carey-Williams and Iraqi-born painter Ahmed Alsoudani who is currently showing his ultra-colourful and committed paintings in the gallery. Carey-Williams shows Crane.tv the heavily renovated location, pointing out the 30 feet high atrium space, while Ahmed Alsoudani let's us in on his life. Born and raised in Baghdad, the 36 years old artist left Iraq a year after finishing high school. He graduated from the Yale School of Art in 2008, and he currently lives and works in New York. "I think it's important for artists to experience different places, to adapt... Right now I m in New York and I adapt a country. And where I come from is absolutely different. That gives the artist an instability, and instability is an important situation to artists to approach."

Text by Paul Rappaport for Crane.tv

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