by kate on March 23, 2011
When reading Anh-Minh’s “London Times” article in the most recent issue, my eyes kept scanning back to the intriguing image in the lower lefthand corner of the first page. Are those legs coming out of the balloons?! I decided to investigate further, and I discovered that this installation, entitled Sentient Orbs, is a recent artwork by Glasgow artists Craig Little and Blake Whitehead. Collectively known as littlewhitehead, the duo creates sculptures that often have a heavy dose of dark humor and a strong sense of the uncanny about them, and Sentient Orbs is no exception.
The mixed media piece is part of the exhibition Newspeak: British Art Now. Part II of this exhibition is currently on view at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, an institution known for showcasing amazing and provocative work by some of the best emerging artists. For more information on visiting and viewing the collections (admission is free!), check out the gallery’s website.
Sentient Orbs installed at the Talbot Rice Gallery for its 2009 exhibition Grey Matter.
Selections from the Newspeak: British Art Now exhibition: Barbaro by Jaime Gili and Pixelweave by Rupert Norfolk.
One of the many rooms at the Saatchi Gallery housing the exhibit, which on view until April 30th.
Object found! Here is the peculiar and eerily beautiful Sentient Orbs on view at the Saatchi Gallery, where it caught the eye of photographer Kelly Ishikawa and made its way into Issue 2 of Anthology.
by kate on February 22, 2011
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be rolling out some new columns which will appear from time to time here on the Anthology site. Our first new column is called Object Found; it is a chance for us to provide a little extra information on some of the objects that appear among the pages of the magazine.
The first Object Found is this charming enamel bowl from the home of Randi Brookman Harris. The bowl was designed in the 1960s by Kaj Franck for the Finnish ceramic company Arabia. Franck was a very well-known Finnish designer, and after becoming the director of Arabia’s nascent design department in 1945, Franck quickly expanded the company’s design team and modernized production techniques, helping Arabia to flourish throughout the era.
The heart mixing bowl is one of several enamelware designs that Franck produced during this period. His whimsical, graphic patterns are truly timeless, and these enamel bowls are highly coveted items to this day. Luckily, at any given time you are likely to find a few of these enamel bowls and many other mid-century Arabia products available on sites like eBay and Etsy. With a little patience and luck, you can be like Randi and celebrate the acquisition of your very own genuine Kaj Franck bowl.
Arabia’s ceramic production in the 1900s.
Another Kaj Franck enamel mixing bowl from the 1960s.
I grew up eating salads served from an Arabia mushroom bowl identical to this one, and I can attest to the durability and beauty of these bowls. Anyone want to share their story about a Kaj Franck piece? We’re all ears!
{Images, from top: Anthology, Dot Dot Dot Shop ,The Best Thing, Arabia, Lucky Little Dot, and H is for Home}
