Gallery Visit: Lee Bul

After Bruno Taut (Devotion to Drift) (2013)    

So a month ago myself and some of my friends on my college course went to visit the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham, after hearing about an exhibition lead by Lee Bul. Although I live in Birmingham, I've never actually visited the Ikon Gallery myself, so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity build up my portfolio and get inspired! Often when I hear about installations, I always feel mixed reactions as I'm never sure what to expect, however I'm also very intrigued as to understand the story being told behind the visual magnificence. 

This first piece has been named 'After Bruno Taut', aptly named due to the inspiration from this piece stemming from Bul's admiration for Taut's architectural glass fantasies. According to Bul, the ever so delicately placed glass beads and chains, are 'meant to interject an element of social reality into the work', alluding to the days where South Korean women were made to work in factories, creating intricate glass beaded jewellery up until the 1980s. To me the concept is fascinating, in a time where social equality was thought to be on a steady rise, with the UK enforcing equal pay rights for women in the 1970s, opposed with the East's impoverished cities whereby equality was unheard of, almost as if time had stood still there, meanwhile everywhere else in the world was moving forward. So to illustrate that through intricate sculptures and installations whilst still leaving enough room for self interpretation and guess work is to me, a work of ingenius. 

                                        

                                        

A few of these next photos are maquettes (small scale models) and drawings that I found very inspiring, mainly material-wise. I enjoyed Bul's mixed media sketches, I feel as though for every audience member they evoke different feelings, another thing I really like about the way that Lee Bul works. 

   

The story behind these precious sculptures of dogs, is that Lee Bul's dog actually passed away, and she had had him since she was very young, provoking Bul to want to recreate her dog using the only way she knew how - art. She had gone through many materials to try and achieve what she felt, the most realistic way of recreation for her. Such a thought provoking, beautiful piece of art. 

And that's pretty much it. There was a lot more that I could have shown you about Bul's work, but I can't seem to find my memory card to re upload them at this present moment in time.. Always the case! Hope you guys are inspired, and have a different view of sculpture work.. As I now do! Thanks for listening :)

Jazz x x

Barcelona: Market Stall Indulgence // Sagrada Familia Photo Diary

Top - Miss Selfridge
Skort - Zara
Cardigan - Zara
Shoes - Doc Martens
Bag - Zara

Hello Hello! So. Barcelona. This is going to be a very long post, so apologies in advance! I have no idea where on earth to start.. (the beginning, maybe?) Well, I went two thursdays ago with a group of fellow art/photography/graphics students as part of our courses, and it was mainly a very architectural based trip, as the world renowned artist Gaudi had lived and created there. 

On the first day, we arrived early-ish during the day, and were allowed to have a good roam around the main area of our stay, which was in the boulevard of La Rambla. Of course myself and my friends Tasha, Sophia and Maddie headed straight into the food market, which was truly incredible! There were fruits of every kind stacked high, litres of freshly made smoothies and juices, ice cream in every flavour imaginable, and a nachos stand!! It was so crammed, but such a lovely, colourful, buzzing atmosphere, I felt so welcome. 

I also visited the Zara store because… when in spain, right? Is that a thing now? Yeah. It is. I managed to bag the most beautiful cardigan, pictured above! I know what you're all thinking, 'You were in Spain, WHY did you buy a cardigan???' .. yeah I'm not sure either to be honest. It was pretty. And I'd lost my favourite one on the flight to Barcelona, soooo it had to be done, naturally!

^^ YES THAT IS AVOCADO ICE CREAM IN THE ABOVE PHOTO ^^

Also, to those that have visited the Oasis market in Birmingham City Centre, me and Tash found it's doppelgänger in a really cute alley which we literally just happened to stumble upon! They sell pretty much everything that Oasis sells, but the jewellery was ridiculously over priced so we walked out a tad disappointed, but nevertheless.. its pretty!

We finished the day off at the Hard Rock Cafe which was lovely… reminded me of my trip to New York a few years back!

Sagrada Familia // Park Guell

On Friday we visited Sagrada Familia, a cathedral designed by Antonio Gaudi, which from the outside narrates The Nativity, The Passion, and The Glory facades. I don't think any other word apart from 'in awe' can describe my reaction to the sheer magnificence placed before me. Admittedly when I had researched Gaudi beforehand, I wasn't mad about his work and to be honest I was ready for this to not be a highlight for me.. however I was completely wrong! I couldn't understand how intricately detailed and thought out a piece of architecture could be and I still don't! One of the highlights for me was when I walked inside and the stained glass windows reflected onto the pillars.. the whole interior just glowed with a splash of colour, such a beautiful sight to be greeted with as soon as you walked in!

Who doesn't enjoy a good picture of olives? Taken by Tasha dearest!

After the lovely visit to the cathedral, we all grabbed a bite to eat before visiting Park Guell, another Gaudi exhibition! Overlooking the city, the park was perhaps one of my favourite spots in Barcelona. Although it's visited by hundreds of people every day, I can't quite get over the peace and serenity that lingers within it. It was quite a beautiful sight!

Myself and Tash even managed to bag ourselves a few rings that were being sold on make shift market stalls as we walked through the park, so we considered that a very successful day ha!

Tasha looking beautiful as ever!

After our little adventure through the park we managed to have a lovely night out on the harbour, where we enjoyed the most lovely paella I've ever eaten..unfortunately I didn't manage to get a photo of it because myself and Tash were so hungry neither of us thought of the idea haha! 

Aaaaaand that pretty much concludes the first part of my two part photo diary of Barcelona!
Hope you guys enjoyed this overly long post.. let me know what you think!

Jazz x