Rain Room

During the Christmas break Virginie and I went to Barbican Centre's Curve Hall to experience Random International's Rain Room. It has been very popular, and even we got there an hour before opening, we ended up queuing for two hours. 

Basically, you enter the space, and it rains. As soon as you are under the rain, it stops around you, how amazing is that!?! Rain is something so natural, yet, in this case, controlled and unnatural. You can hear and see the rain, even feel the humidity in the room, but the rain drops just won't get you! What made the experience more dramatic, was one huge spot light on the corner of the space, making everything very black, grey and white. People's silhouette's got projected on  walls, and all this created quite a peculiar ambiance. 

 

Trip to Windsor

Needed to get out of town, so we girls paid a visit to Windsor, where the Queen lives in her magnificent castle and where about three million aeroplanes every minute fly over to land in Heathrow!

The Long Walk 

Graduation Ceremony 2012

Here we are girls all dressed up and confidently looking ready for the future!

The ceremony took a place in Royal Festival Hall. I must say it was quite a memorable experience. Obviously after the ceremony we all gathered together outside and took some group pictures! 

FUN FUN!

  

Zoe, me, Virginie and Rosie

On background Dan and Henry

Regent Park, Queen Elisabeth's Garden, London

I visited in Queen Elisabeth's Garden in early spring with my auntie Anu. She was in London with her friends to see musicals and theatre. Unfortunately it was so early (March it was I think), that there were not that many plant and flowers yet blossoming. It was little disappointing.

So, I went back in there one rainy/sunny/rainy Sunday in June, to take some inspirational photographs that I could give to her. She is a garden lover, spending most of her free time digging in her big garden in Vaasa, in North Finland. Hope she will like the images and find them useful for new ideas! Here's few.

Festival of Silver at Goldsmiths' Centre

The new Goldsmiths' Centre is Beautiful! As you can see from the pictures the exhibition space is very light and airy, complimenting gracefully the silver pieces on display. Gordon Hamme is the Chairman of Festival of Silver with special guest Thalen & Thalen, Dutch father and son duo who work from Belgium. Renowned silversmith for over 20 years, Brett Payne, is the director of Festival of Silver. Here is few of my favourites.

The Exhibition space at the new Goldsmiths' Centre

Richard Fox table shared with Martin Keane.

Riviera Jug family by Richard Fox. The initial inspiration for the pitchers came from folded paper sheet. On the right, Aqua Beaker that has been made by utilising electroforming technique. All sterling silver and gild. 

Martin Keane's jug.
He has amazing raising skills. I have been observing his work from very close for the last three days, and for some reason most of his pieces reminds me of birds. Some kind of exotic one, as puffin. His wine carafe most definitely reminds me of a skull of an antelope that has died in the desert. Just the horns are missing!  

Thalen & Thalen 
As one can only imagine, Dutch design is always playful, even when it is made of silver! Loving their work, with its quirkiness and use of different materials such as chunky frosted perspex. When looking at their work, it really makes you want to have their silver tea ceremony set.

Thalen & Thalen

Coffee set with interlocking perspex components. Thalen & Thalen

Brett Payne's silver sauce pans! Behind his well-known hand-forged silver spoons and ladles in various sizes.

Kate Earlam
Talented young lady! I recommend to keep an eye on her crafting...

Kate Earlam

  

Goldsmiths' Centre - British Silver week

I am helping Richard Fox on showcasing small collection of his work on the British Silver week, on the first trade exhibition held in the new Goldsmiths' Centre in Farrington. The exhibition is taking place from the 10th of July till the 14th of July 2012.

Fox Silver Ltd

During the final year of my studies I did a three months work placement with Richard Fox, as a part of my dissertation. He is a very skilled silversmith, and he has been in the industry for over 30 years. Today he runs an eight  manned silversmithing workshop Fox Silver Ltd. in Croydon, that specialises in design led manufacturing of silverware and jewellery. 

I bumped into Richard in New Designers and now I have been working for him for the last couple of days! Happy days! So far I have been working on various commissioned projects. Here's few images of his work.

FIA Formula One World Drivers Championship Trophy

Formula One Airtel Indian Grand Prix 2011 Trophies

Spirit of Ecstasy - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars