a few ramblings about things i love, people i admire, places i've been and things i've seen...but most important of all the many mattresses i find abandoned in and around London NW10 aka MATTRESSLAND
popped down to the Hayward Gallery to see the new David Shrigley exhibition - which was brilliant of course, though i am a long time fan. this is the first major show of his work and its full of great pieces that are funny, poignant, insightful and playful - you can't help but titter as you walk around (though there were a few rather serious types discussing high brow ideas comparing his work to the economic breakdown, blah blah blah...somehow i think they were missing the point). as it's half term there were also a few children wandering round and, in my opinion, this is the perfect introduction to art shows because its dotted with little hidden spy holes, crawl spaces and bits and pieces at floor level - as well as some cool animation and a light smattering of naughty words - perfect for the pint-sized (and young at heart).
David Shrigley poses with his I'm Dead piece...
Lost by David Shrigley, one of my faves
DS has been known to do tattoo parlour events & a collection of fan tatts are on his site - would love one
i have wanted these for so long and at last they are mine (Salt & Pepper - £75)
on the way there i spotted this sorry looking mattress and later on Lukey Likey sent me one over from where he was in Hackney.
the snow's now just about all melted here in London - only a few sad looking blobs (leftover snowmen) dotted about the gardens - still cold, bring on Spring!
cat on a cold snowy roof - view from my bedroom window earlier in the week
Misha the Penguin - enjoying a snowball in the kitchen
baking heart shaped biccies in honour of Valentines Day!
yes, its been a long time coming - but its finally snowed in London. i was out on the bike on Monday and spotted this beauty - nice and christmassy - think i've got my 2013 calender pic for December.
amorous mattresses - Nice, France
and this French Fancy came from Nice-based spotter Jeff round the back of his offices on the Cote d'Azure - as he points out the blue one standing appears to be cuddling the white behind (at a stretch of the imagination admittedly, but i like his style) - how very appropriate - coming from France and it being nearly Valentines!
so i had this crazy dream the other night - you know, when you wake up wishing you could go right back into it because it was so good / freaky / hilarious. i dreamt i was being chased into a Belgian dive bar, down some dark stairs, to the ladies loo...where i hid behind shuttered doors while dwarf (or should that be little people - sorry, not sure what is PC anymore) male bearded twins stood outside wielding whizzing silver hand whisks...it was so incredibly loopy that i just wanted to go back and find out what happened! of course the first thing that came to mind was how much it felt like a scene from Twin Peaks.
made for television in the early 90s by David Lynch Twin Peaks became a cult hit and we all watched avidly as Agent Dale Cooper (played by Kyle MacLachlan) tried to get to the bottom of "Who killed Laura Palmer?" and where to get some 'damn fine cherry pie'. it was like Dallas and the "Who shot JR?" obsession all over again! anyway - the brilliantly mad storyline, freaky characters and haunting music score had us all hooked to our telly screens.
"Every day, once a day, give yourself a present" - Agent Cooper
homecoming queen...Laura Palmer
"the owls are not what they seem" - The Giant
The Man from Another Place - in the Red Room at The Black Lodge....
the reason its come to mind again is because the brilliant Design Sponge has just featured Twin Peaks in the latest Living In series. thanks to all the comments below the post i am thinking it would be a great idea to re-watch the show whilst staying at the cabin in the woods during my upcoming trip to the Smokey Mountains - i think a TP themed party could be on the cards.
"my log has something to tell you..." - Log Lady
i definitely HAVE to go as the Log Lady - with all the props available in the surrounding woods, its a must. she was always a favourite character...but i actually physically shudder at the sight of even a photograph of the evil Bob. the most terrifying character ever Bob gave me nightmares...and the guy who played him in the show was actually one of the set dressers that David Lynch decided to put into the show on the spur of the moment when he accidentally featured in a shot of Laura's bedroom mirror - one of many improvised parts of the show - it wouldn't be the same without him.
DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME BOB!
speaking of Bob- i remember being in HMV record shop on Tottenham Court Road with Kate around the time Twin Peaks was being aired and her excitement at spotting a guy who was the absolute spitting image of him - despite high embarassment factor he was approached and a photograph was taken of the pair...i must find out if she still has it, it was classic. as she is from Brussels...the connection is made back round to my whisk wielding dwarf dream...ha ha...how funny!
Bob and Agent Cooper share a moment......[shudder]
meanwhile...i've come across some great Twin Peaks related merchandise...the ever brilliant Etsy never fails to deliver...
coincidentally, also, there is a David Lynch season at the BFI from the 10th February with the movie prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which depicts the 7 days prior to Laura Palmer's murder, showing on the 11th and 22nd....i think i might have to go (with log, natch).
a big thank you to swissmiss for posting this gem of a film about coffee shops in Soho in the 1950s. having moved to London in 1984 - my first job was as a general dogsbody for a small film company in Soho and its changed quite a lot over the years - but the great thing is that a couple of places featuring in this film are still there - namely the cheap n'cheerful Stockpot (a favourite of mine struggling on a low wage) and the french house - now a pub (and haven as it doesn't allow music, television or mobile phones). sadly Le Macabre on Wardour Street no longer exists - but i think it's ripe for reinstatement as i'm sorry to say that Soho has pretty much lost its soul these days.
p.335 Vogue (UK) March - featuring Gareth Pugh's inflatable 'pillow dress' - the only suitable attire for the discerning girl-about-Mattressland dontcha think...and a snip at £1,782 (probably doesn't include pump though!).
