Ernesto Neto at the Hayward Gallery

We went on a quiet weekday to Ernesto Neto's show in the upper gallery of the Hayward (also on downstairs - The New Decor - more on that later) but could easily imagine it gets rammed at the weekend. A really fun space with lots to do, looks fun for kids, and topped off with a free swimming pool! You have to book in advance and its not included in your exhibition ticket but we were there on a hot and sunny Friday afternoon about 4 and it was dead - maybe everyone was watching the Brazil match. Walking through all the stretchy fabric installations you just wanted to get into your swimming costume and get in the water. Summery! PS apologies for the last photo, I like a nice detail and this little barrier that was up in front on on of the wall installations was really cute, obviously made to tie in with the rest of the exhibition.

Margiela ella ella hey hey

Well I for one wasn't expecting to like the Margiela show at Somerset House nearly as much as I did. As it turns out my reservations, as usual, were completely unfounded. But, leaving it after a nice little Friday afternoon jaunt, we were slightly confounded by the fact that we actually felt really good for having seen it. Maybe it has something to do with what seems to be the Margiela philosophy - heavy on wit and uncompromising conceptually, and yet completely practical. Taking itself seriously and yet not. Even now I'm feeling impressed. See it.

KILL IT

We like a bit of heavy metal of an evening; so on Saturday night we donned head to toe black to take in few of Soho's finest filthy rock bars (Intrepid Fox and Crobar).Imbibing fine whiskey and red stripe straight from the can while cocking our ears to the exquisite sounds of hard rock. One of our number had just spent to the weekend at the mighty Download festival and regaled us with tales of the filth and fury that goes with spending three days in the company of ACDC, Rage Against the Machine, Them Crooked Vultures, Megadeath and the like. The night of metal reached it's head banging crescendo at The Macbeth (according to our cab driver the site of Amy Winehouse's ex's skuffle which resulted in his incarceration) on Hoxton St where Motorkill, the joyously excellent Motorhead tribute band played a blinding set. With pints of warm beer raised in homage we moshed with the cool kids of Shoreditch. We chatted with the band afterwards and being friendly Brummie's they had plenty of craic. We'd advise you check them out next time they're in town.

CSM Graphic Design 2010 part 2

More things we liked from the CSM 2010 Graphics show.

CSM Graphic Design 2010

Seen at the CSM 2010 Graphic Design Degree Show at Nicholls and Clarke on Shoreditch High St this weekend. Lots of lovely lovely work.

Magdalena Sobczynska

Shin Park

Dias Murzabekov

Liana Kesenci

We like colour, and unsurprisingly so does Dulux.

Stephen Gill

From old junk for sale at a market in Hackney Wick to deserted half-cleared spaces destined to become London 2012 Olympic sites, Stephen Gill is there with his camera to record it all. One of our favourites, A Series of Disappointments, is a collection of photos of discarded betting slips, each one twisted, folded or screwed up in different ways by frustrated punters at the William Hill. In his photos the essence of life is to be found in what we have left behind. Stephen Gill self-publishes collections of his own work, the latest of which, Coming Up for Air, of photos taken in 2008 and 2009 while in Japan, will be launching at Photographers Gallery with a signing on 1 July from 6pm. We are officially excited.

From Hackney Flowers


From Hackney Wick


From A Series of Disappointments


All photos Stephen Gill