http://openmagazine.co.uk/ Open is a beautiful new glossy arts magazine bringing you the best in art, photography, film, music, theatre, dance, television, books, poetry and fashion. Copyright Open Magazine, 2008 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 08:16:37 +0100 en http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/forever-27.htm Proud Camden is just about as hip as it gets in North London right now. An unassuming venue opposite the Barfly and the iconic wreckage of the Hawley Arms, Proud Camden lies nestled in the former Horse Hospital in the Stables Market. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:32:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/words/letter-from-shanghai-museum-of-contemporary-art.htm Each week our man in Shanghai,Tim Gifford reports back on the arts and culture that is shaping the new world. Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:17:25 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/words/review/true-grace.htm Grace Kelly remains one of the true icons of the 20th century, famed for both her beauty and her creativity. Wendy Leigh’s ( the writer is the co-author on Christopher Ciccone’s recent book Life with my Sister Madonna) biography, True Grace, takes an in-depth look into the psyche of the star: actress, princess and wife. Concentrating on the intricacies of her private life, we learn of her troubled relationship with her father, her miscarriages, repression, affairs ( the book reveals for the first time of her affair with actor David Niven ) and the infidelities that she endured throughout her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco. Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:05:50 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/review/faction.htm Sandwiched between fashionable Shoreditch and so- organic Stoke Newington, the once rough and desolate Dalston has, in the past few years, become an interesting little area with new clubs, bars and cafés springing up and welcoming those bored of the usual Old Street haunts. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:49:18 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/london-through-a-lens.htm Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:25:22 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/jones-beach.htm Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:25:15 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/roger-hilton-swinging-out-into-the-void.htm Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:25:10 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/bridget-riley-two-paintings.htm Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:25:04 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/review/the-cocknbullkid-live-at-cargo.htm It’s a beautiful summer evening and Cargo is suitably busy with punters and industry types who have come to check out the Wonky Pop’s night. Because tonight we are promised a feast of pop extravaganza with East London’s newest young gun, thecocknbullkid, AKA Anita Blay, taking the stage armed with a laptop, a backing band and as we are soon to discover, tons of talent. Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:04:07 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/tricky-and-the-return-of-the-bristol-sound.htm Throughout the 90s, Bristolians Tricky, Portishead, and Massive Attack wrote what could be described as a soundtrack for our lives: the fusion of house music, hip hop and dub, slowed down beats, sultry vocals, raw production and scratchy sampling, cinematic beauty and dark paranoia. Trip Hop arrived, and disappeared almost as quickly, excessive hype contributing to its premature demise. But with new albums and tours this year from the pioneers of this unique genre, perhaps trip hop never really went away, it simply evolved… Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:38:17 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/cy-twombly.htm Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:33:57 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/transcriptions.htm Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:33:52 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/new-blood-art.htm Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:33:47 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/scribing-the-soul-susan-aldworth.htm Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:33:43 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/review/the-sixties-by-robert-altman.htm ‘My calling in life was to record the wonder of the Sixties.’ These are the words of celebrated Rolling Stone magazine photographer, Robert Altman, whose 1960s snapshots form the current exhibition of black and white prints at the fabulous Idea Generation Gallery. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:29:14 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/viktor-and-rolf.htm Since the time they met in Arnhem Academy of Fashion and Arts, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren have been inseparable. From their matching glasses, suits and moustaches to their pet dogs, you can’t help but wonder if Viktor and Rolf’s motivation for success is in their love of dressing up and playing pranks on the industry. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:26:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/review/johnny-cash-a-definitive-portrait.htm I should begin by saying that I knew precious little about Johnny Cash, other than he was a country singer with a gravelly voice and that there’s been a recent film about him – Walk the Line - starring Joaquin Phoenix, which I haven’t seen. But after seeing Johnny Cash : A Definitive Portrait I’ve discovered why he’s become such an icon, and have been seduced into finding out more about him. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:24:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/review/kylie-live-at-the-o2-arena.htm With a career spanning over 20 years, Kylie still likes a challenge, proved by her performing a whole week of concerts at the O2 Arena in London. The pint sized Aussie showgirl has come a long way since the days of Neighbours and the beginning of her pop career, when many doubted that there was any longevity in this pop artist. But Kylie has proved everyone wrong and, at the age of 40 and after the agony of breast cancer, she’s back to show us all that she’s made of steel. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:15:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/get-the-blessing.htm Last month Bristol band Get The Blessing were named winners of Best Album of the Year for All is Yes at the BBC Jazz Awards, fighting off strong contenders including Simon Spiller, Guy Barker and Empirical. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:01:39 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/social/secret-garden-party.htm The Secret Garden Party is a secret no more. The sell-out success in 2008 along indicates word has spread about what used to be known as the best kept festival secret; a fan pleaded with me to not write an article lest it grows further and “gets spoilt.” Yet there seems something intrinsically wrong in keeping something so wonderful to myself. Read on, if anyone asks – it wasn’t me. Deal? Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:34:42 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/the-bfi-75-years-of-cinema.htm The crowd lazily strolling along the Southbank will soon have another reason to show off their summer tans: in September the British Film Institute will be 75 – and will celebrate with their ground-breaking history and great plans for the future. Throughout the month the BFI will surprise and delight audiences and guests of all ages with a bumper programme. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:23:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/review/cargos-yard-summer-party.htm It takes a brave group of people to organise a yard party for hundreds during the British 'summertime', but God love the good men and women at Cargo for taking a gamble on the elements. Tuesday night saw the second of their now legendary (well, in certain small circles) Yard Parties, which fuse the vibe of a street party with Cargo's tried and tested musical nous. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:30:39 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/the-press-photographers-year-exhibition.htm Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:51:17 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/exhibitionism-alex-young.htm Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:50:28 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/images-32-the-best-of-british-contemporary-illustration-2008.htm Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:50:24 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/building-and-contents-keith-coventry.htm Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:50:17 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/the-royal-opera-house-goes-to-the-movies-and-the-red-tops-.htm Opera is often seen as stuffy and only for the wealthy few who can afford the eye-wateringly high prices. But now in a bid to reach a wider audience and generate more revenue, The Royal Opera House has just announced that it will broadcast live - at 800 Picturehouse, Odeon and Vue cinemas- its forthcoming opera and ballet season. Not only that, but the opening night of Don Giovanni has been set aside for readers of the UK's most popular daily paper, The Sun. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:46:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/performance/this-wide-night.htm Theatre isn't just about dazzling footlights and the smell of greasepaint. It can be used to educate, inform, even change lives. And no better example of this is Clean Break, a theatre, education and new writing company that uses theatre for personal and political change, working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system. Their latest play, This Wide Night by Chloe Moss (The Way Home, How Love is Spelt, A Day in Dull Armour ) has just opened at the Soho Theatre and after a regional tour will visit women's prisons around the country. Here Moss writes an exclusive piece for Open on her experience of working on such a unique, challenging and important project. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:44:43 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/review/sakuran.htm Kiyoha is a young rebellious girl in the Edo period, sold by her mother to the Yoshiwara red light district. There she is trained to become a a charming courtesan. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:33:49 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/review/devotchka-live-at-the-ica-17th-july-2008.htm Hailing from Denver, Colorado, DeVotchKa are a 4 piece band whose beautiful, eclectic sound is influenced by Romani, folk, punk, mariachi, Slavic and Sicilian music. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:19:06 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/on-the-festival-trail-in-the-city.htm Festivals are not just filthy toilets, mud, wellies and trekking out to the sticks. There are many delights and experiences to be had at London’s festivals. And the wonderful world of live music is about much more than emulating Kate Moss’s style at Glastonbury. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:31:14 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/words/review/the-way-of-nowhere.htm The Way of Nowhere is a beautiful piece of change management inspiration. Comprising of eight key questions to release your creative potential, this ingenious amalgamation of Eastern philosophies, life coaching techniques and creative thinking is designed (in a gorgeous format I might add), to walk you through a journey of re-awakening and self-discovery. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:26:46 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/review/the-american-scene.htm The American Scene features images of American society and culture from the early 1900s to 1960 during a period of great social and political change. This exhibition aims to introduce a new audience to some of the most memorable images of American art and open the dialogue that America – in that era - had much to offer artistically, particularly during the period of the Second World War. Many of the striking images produced during the period have become iconic within the US but have, until now, remained relatively unknown to the rest of the world. And with the ‘time of war’ again with us and the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan having a devastating impact on so many lives, the images by Vogel and Spruance are relevant once more, and illustrate the message of pain and distress being suffered on both sides. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:43:51 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/the-portrait-obscura.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:42:49 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/the-sixties-photographs-by-robert-altman.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:41:23 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/fashion-in-the-mirrorself-reflection-in-fashion-photography.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:41:18 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/alessandra-bonomo-gallery-roma-london.htm Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:41:13 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/social/victory.htm There’s never been a better time to be an artist, or work in the creative industries. But, sadly, one cannot live on ideas and intellect alone, and if you want to go out in Central London without having to queue, negotiate beery gentlemen or spend the whole night trying to bag a banquette you’ll have to pay through the nose. Until now. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:05:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/cast.htm Sculpture is sometimes in the shadow of painting : can’t express as much, maybe, or not quite as conceptual in these idea-driven times. But scratch the surface and a new wave of young, dynamic sculptors are –literally – blazing a trail with their love of furnaces, fire and molten metal and creating new and exciting work in iron, bronze and aluminium. One charismatic collective is the aptly named Cast – Tim O’Carroll, Stephen Coles, Kate Hobby and Bobby Zokaites - recent graduates who work together at Steve’s iron furnace in Dorset to burn ores then make their own sculptures and installations. They have their first exhibition in London next week. Loma-Ann Marks met Tim, Stephen and Kate and learnt why the very physical, unpredictable and organic process makes metal the new must-have. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:53:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/laila-rouass.htm Laila Rouass may have shot to fame as bitchy, bisexual Amber Gates in sex and soccer show Footballers’ Wives - the actress will be back on our TV screens in January starring in the new series of ITV show Primeval - but her latest film couldn’t be further removed from the glitzy world of WAGS. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:25:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/review/psycho-buildings-hayward-gallery.htm Hayward Gallery celebrates its 40th anniversary with Psycho Buildings. As a gallery designed with bréton brut ( literally meaning raw concrete ) in mind, the exposed space becomes a blank, grey canvas. The ten featured artists have the tenet of buildings, whose odd states of abandonment or demolition put them in an irrational world. This provocative environment is the artists’ playground, and as they transform the buildings the audience are invited to interact and perceive architecture and space in extraordinary ways. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:28:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/gurpran-rau-melt-fuse-melt.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:41:33 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/whaleless.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:41:28 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/ernesto-caivano-echo-gambit.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:41:23 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/exhibitions/toby-paterson-powder-blue-orthogonal-pavilion.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:41:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/pictures/a-fashion-for-photography.htm After years as the poor relation to painting, photography is getting the recognition it deserves as an art form. And one of the best things about this fashion for photography is that, by its very nature, it’s truly accessible to everyone: digital technology and the internet mean that anyone can pick up a decent camera and share their snaps. But it doesn’t stop there: the medium of photography is being used to create projects, communities, events, even corporate training, enabling us to take snapshots of our experience and truly be a part of the contemporary creative movement. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:57:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/small-screen/review/last-choir-standing.htm We all know the formula for many Saturday night talent shows, even if you, like me, have managed to carry on with your life without ever watching the X Factor or American Idol. Last Choir Standing is exactly like these, but instead of searching for a screaming poppet who wants to become famous, they are looking for a choir who presumably want to become famous too. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:35:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/editors-letter/editors-letter-creative-collision.htm There’s a mash-up going on. Open has always been about ( in fact, that’s one of the reasons it began ) the fluidity of the arts genres and a bridge between the high arts and popular culture. How poetry is portrayed on telly; the fusion of art and fashion; film and music, and so on. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:59:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/review/glastonbury-diary.htm Glastonbury , the mother of music festivals, is over for another year. And despite cries of "it’s lost its spirit!"( Jay-Z ) "it’s over! " ( tickets didn’t sell out ) and "it’s too big!” the show went on and many ‘angels of the mud’ have discovered a new band and re-bonded with an old favourite. Open’s reporter Stef Bottinelli was there and reports back on tents, tears and terrifying toddlers. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:39:00 +0100 http://openmagazine.co.uk/sound/events/swish-on-water.htm Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:41:35 +0100