dining with frogs

the ever talented hella jongerius‘ table “grenouille“ for galerie kreo in paris depicts a life size human or mythical size frog dipped in blue enamel.  i dont think i would appreciate dining with the frog everyday but i appreciate her whimsy.  the combination of the frog and the simple table form reminded me of droog’s “godogan” table– a minimal walnut plank table that has a been hand carved to illustrate an indonesian fairy tale about a frog that turns into a prince. the amazingly intricate design which is hand crafted in indonesia is continued across the table top as a laser etching.  pretty amazing, right?

grenouille table, 2009. limited edition of 8 pieces + 2 A.P. + 2 prototypes. photos from galerie kreo, paris

godogan table, 2006 by niels van eijk & miriam van der lubbe, edited by droog. photos from hedge gallery, san francisco

richard wright : turner prize 2009

the 2009 winner of the prestigous turner prize is glaslow based artist, richard wright.  having seen his work, i am drawn to the intensity and subtle nature of his installations.  wall painting is the core of his practice and while some might dismiss his works as purely decorative, his interest in the ephemeral and site specificity is what makes his art so amazing.  for the turner prize, wright created a gold fresco at the tate modern which will be painted over at the end of the month.  inspired by his childhood memories of trips to the tate– from a distance, one sees abstract designs but upon closer inspection, there are shapes that suggest angels, sunbursts and clouds recalling the turner landscapes and blake watercolors that can be seen elsewhere in the gallery, it will soon be a memory.  “I am interested in the fragility of the moment of engagement in heightening that moment,” wright said. to see a work knowing that it will not last, “emphasises that moment of its existence”.

untitled, 2009. gold fresco, tate modern london

untitled [detail], 2008. photo: gagosian gallery, london/new york, the modern institute/toby webster ltd, glasgow, and BQ, berlin

untitled, 2007. black gouache on ceiling and walls at 26 london street, edinburgh. photo: ruth clark

untitled 2007. photo: gagosian gallery, london/new york, the modern institute/toby webster ltd, glasgow, and BQ, berlin

untitled, 2005. red gouache and enamel painting at the gagosian gallery, new york. photograph: katie collins/PA

2010 : goodbye two thousand and nine, hello twenty ten

why, for the last decade, have we referred to the calendar years such as 2009 as “two thousand and nine”?   it is such a mouthful.  when we refer to 1909, we say “nineteen o nine”.  we could have been saying “twenty o nine”- modern, simple and graphically correct. i promised myself and cw that i would get back into this blogging and so, after a few months of lack luckster inspiration, i am going to give it a whirl– FYI, this is not one of my resolutions.

on that note, i am so ready for 2010,  “twenty ten”, bring it on.