Sabina Lucia

If you love contemporary art, you must get down to,  the recently launched,  GG Gallery in Notting Hill. Run by one of the partners,   Fraser Kee Scott, who has nearly 13 years experience in running galleries and partnered by the Gs of the name: Geza Toth-Feher, (who owns the very successful CB Equity Partners finance firm) and his friend and business partner Gregor Kunz, GG Gallery shows works by rising stars in contemporary art. At their launch show they have a selection of paintings, sculptures and photographs from ten artists. Interviewed in The Wharf, (Canary Wharf’s weekly financial paper), Geza Toth-Feher said of their gallery, “We give oppertunities to artists, who may not have those oppertunities otherwise.  It’s satisfying to see that you’re helping talent in this way.”

When you arrive at the gallery, you are greeted by a brilliant painting in the window, ‘Young Romance’ by Paul Normansell. Gloss paint on aluminium, it’s done in the same, dotty style Paul used for the album cover of The Killers’, ‘Day and Age’ which was named best album art of the decade by MTV and shot him to fame.  In this painting (above) we are invited to look into her eyes to read the answer to her question: Can any man be trusted? The answer is of course, YES.

On entering the gallery, staying on the romance theme, the first piece I noticed was Max Wiedemann’s ‘Love Sucks’;  pink neon lettering in a perspex heart. Ever the optomist, I miss-read it, thinking it said’ Love lucky’.  Maximillion, or Maxibillion as he’s now known, has become an international art star in the last year, having been commissioned by VH1 to paint the divas: Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis and Adele amongst others for their ‘Divas’ concert last year. Currently working from a studio in Paris, Max, an ad exec turned artist, uses spray can paint and has become known for his grafitti style in his fun,  irreverant take on glossy magazine covers like Vogue and Vanity (Un)Fair a few of which are included in this show . Popular with the fashion set, he was commissioned to paint Louise Roe for London Fashion Week. I’m a big fan, having acquired a signed, limited edition print of his pink,  ‘Angel of New York’ painting earlier this year.

In the above photo, you can see a painting, ‘Psychobuilding’ by Italian-based duo, Dormice who were picked as one of the 100 Greatest Things In The world by GQ Magazine and sell to the likes of Leonardo Di Caprio. Their work nearly always features scantily clad models and has got the attention of Roberto Cavalli, who sends them clothes for their models to wear and Versace who calls them up to do art directing for them. The small bronze sculpture, ‘Flight Of Dreams’  is by the brilliant American artist, Thomas Ostenberg, once a successful banker, at the age of 40 gave it up to become an artist. His motivation, he says, stems from a search for perfection.

Spirituality, I believe, is key to the further evolution of mankind. It took millions of years to evolve from amoeba to the ascension from the apes. Subsequent evolution will require the repudiation of basic animalistic instincts (formerly necessary for self-preservation in a hostile environment). In exchange, the human spirit must express more elevated qualities emphasizing harmonious interrelationships among individuals, cultures and philosophies. This development, like that of technology, will occur at an accelerated pace as it is demonstrated that aggression, in all its forms, is too dangerous for our long-term survival. – Thomas Ostenberg

The cute, blue dog with skull head and ice-cream-cone ‘ears’ sculpture  is ‘Diamond’ -  resin and spray paint,  by Mikael Alacoque. “Part of a series of sculptures that are concerned with a playfully sinister bastardization of familiar objects. The pieces have an initial feeling of innocence and irreverence but on closer inspection seem bizarre and unsettling.”

There are also some amazing, must-see works by Mercedes Helnwein, Diarmuid Byron O’Connor, Marco Sanges, Mila Furstova, Beth Carter and Sergei Aparin.

The show is on for another week or so. GG Gallery is at 15B Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill. W11 2EE and is open Wednesday to Sunday 11am – 6pm.  Phone: +44 (0) 207 792 2332

© Sabina Lucia 2010

Natasha Franklin is a Surrey-based personal stylist, offering her service to those in London and Surrey. With over 10 years experience in the fashion industry, including styling fashion shows and sucessfully dressing hundreds of women and men, she can definitely help you look good. I believe everyone can benefit from a little, friendly advice when it comes to what to wear, even us stylists ask others’ opinions. If you find you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes you don’t want to wear or that don’t fit you, why not invest in getting an expert’s help on what to buy and what to avoid. It could save you lots of time and money in the long run.

I caught up with Natasha to find out more about what inspired her to start in fashion and ask for some shopping tips for you all too.

Sabina Lucia:  So Natasha, where did your interest in fashion come from? Was your mum very fashionable when you were a child?

Natasha Franklin:  I have been interested in fashion since I was a little girl.  I was born in the early ’80s and can remember dressing up in my mum’s stiletto heels and huge glasses or ‘Diedre Barlow’ glasses as I like to call them. My mum always looked stylish in her leather pencil skirts and oversized jumpers with shoulder pads, I still love the Dynasty-style glamour and glitz of the ’80s!

S L:  How long has your business been going and what are some highlights so far?

N F:   Setting up as a freelance stylist was a natural progression for me having spent 10 years in the fashion industry in various roles I wanted the freedom to do what I do in my own way. My business is still less than a year old and going well, the highlight so far would have to be an event Im doing next week, it’s a 2 day event scouting for ‘Surreys Next Top Model’, I will be styling and presenting it and am also part of the judging panel alongside Chris Fountain from Hollyoaks so am very excited about that.
S L:  What, for you, is the definition of style?

N F:  Style, I believe, is not about following fashion trends, it’s much deeper. It’s about knowing your body shape and dressing to suit it, and knowing which colours look best on you. I love fashion trends and know them well as I have to for my job, but I know that not everything on trend will suit me, I tend to mix fashion with vintage pieces and take inspiration from things I love,  like film and music and preformance artists.
S L: Which celebrities’ dress sense do you admire?

N F:  I am most inspired by people who are unique in their dress style like Alice Delall, or Kate Moss but my favourite is Margherita Missoni, she wears the best dresses.
S L:  What do you enjoy about styling people?

N F:   I enjoy the whole styling process from shopping with the client to seeing the finished outfits on. I love how the right clothes can lift our mood, give us confidence and obviously make us look great.
S L:  The sales are still on at the moment, is there any advice you can give the readers about the most successful way to shop in the sales?

N F:   Yes, ask yourself these questions and you won’t go wrong when shopping in the sales:

1. What will it go with?

Do you have any items you can wear it with immedietly, chances are if you don’t you probably never will and no matter how cheap it is it’s money wasted.
2. When or where will I wear it?

Again if you don’t have an occasion now you probably won’t next year either. Put your money away and save it for something you really need.
3. Does it fit me?

Sale time can be crazy with all the hustle and bustle, but try it on!! Some shops won’t offer refunds and if you make the mistake of not trying it on first you may get caught out.

S L: Brilliant advice! Thanks Natasha and good luck with the Surrey model judging, I’m sure it will be lots of fun!

If you want to book a styling session with Natasha or would like more information,  call her on 07769 588637 or 01932 847029 or visit her website here.

© Sabina Lucia 2010
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At the Wimbledon School Of Art or Wimbledon College Of Art as it’s now known, (having joined The University Of The Arts in 2006) I enjoyed a perfect summer’s evening celebrating the opening of their end of year show a few weeks ago. It was almost as much fun to look at the very elegantly dressed people as the student’s work; a tartan suit stood out and lots of fascinators on the ladies’ heads; everyone made an effort. Gold star stickers were given out freely, stating “THE STAGE IS YOURS!”,”YOU ARE THE BIGGER PICTURE”, “FIND YOUR OWN WAY TO GREATNESS!” and my personal favourite and the one I chose to wear: “NOW IS THE MOMENT”. My friend placed one on each of her nipples, (over her top I hasten to add), causing many a snigger.

There was a lot of very impressive work including sculpture, painting, costume design and lastly, set design which had my favourite piece.

Kayleigh Yay Livermore’s set design inspired by the novel The Shack by William Paul Young as seen above was just so perfect in every detail as you can see above.  Measuring a square foot, it depicts the main character of the book, Mack, approaching the ruined shack of the title, in a beautiful snow-scape.  I was so inspired I read the book which I finished today and thoroughly enjoyed. The story is set in the wilderness of Oregon and wrestles with that age old question: ‘where is God in a world filled with unspeakable pain?’. Mack’s journey made me laugh out loud and cry but mostly helped me have faith.

Kayleigh Jay Livermore can be contacted at kay_jay.dude@yahoo.co.uk or 07517199182

© Sabina Lucia 2010