Bacon, Burroughs and old lace

Peter Minihan, 1989.

Recently we came across this footage of a discussion between Francis Bacon and writer William Burroughs - recommended if you're a fan of either eccentric. Highlights include Bacon comparing Jackson Pollock's painting to old lace.

Mid-18th Century lace, in the V&A collection

Norman Rockwell

Though Norman Rockwell relied heavily on photographs to create his artworks he was loath to take them himself, instead employing a photographer and taking on the role of cinematographer. See more of the photographs behind the artist's famous works here.

Marriage Counselor, 1963

Spot the difference

Spot the difference...

Sequinned Disco bag, Manish Arora SS 2014
Market acetate bag, Jil Sander SS 2011
Artist Lauren DiCioccio's Tromphe L'Oeil embroidered organza shopping bags
Tesco Bag

This isn't the first time we've been intrigued by high fashion shopping bags. Read more here.

Michael Craig-Martin at Chatsworth

Silk scarf. High Heel (pink), 2013.

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire have commissioned Michael Craig-Martin for a major installation at their home Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. In the grounds the artist has installed twelve sculptures, giant versions of common objects in his distinctive style, including high heels, garden gates, light bulbs and umbrellas. Inside the house, he has selected highlights from the Devonshire's magnificent collection of art. The family have a long tradition of displaying contemporary artists and this exhibition runs from 16 March until 29 June.

We worked with Michael Craig-Martin to adapt the high heels and gate sculptures to create designs for bone china mugs. The high heels were also used on two pure silk scarves. All items are available from the shop at Chatsworth.

Michael Craig-Martin, High Heel (pink), 2013. Copyright Michael Craig-Martin. Photo: Matthew Pullen

Monday Portrait: Jay Z and Andy Warhol

Top image Andy Warhol Museum
Bottom image courtesy Jay Z's instagram

Jay Z at the Andy Warhol museum recreating the artist's pose.

Dalí Antics

We began working for Tate in 2000 with a wide brief to respond to the collection of the new Tate Modern. After delivering the first products, we were asked us to work on their exhibition merchandise. The first was Zero to infinity: Arte Povera 1962-1972, the second was  Surrealism: Desire Unbound, also in 2001, from when our story begins.

Still from 'Un Chien andalou', 1924. Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel

Though made in reference to Dalí, the idea to spell out the name Tate in ants was to imagine that their blurry brand had been spelled out in sugar, and that the ants swarmed to feed on the origin of Tate's wealth. A later Dalí exhibition travelled to MoMA in 2008 and they asked for their name to be spelled in the same way. Though MoMA has nothing to do with the sugar trade, and did not have a blurry logo, it still looked brilliant made out of ants. It remains on sale at MoMA after six years:

MoMA Ants Tote bag for the 'Dalí: Painting and Film' exhibition, 2008. Available to buy here.

TWINS: The Cholmondeley Ladies, Loretta Lux and Commes des Garçons

Twins twins twins!

Sasha and Ruby, 2008, Loretta Lux
The Cholmondeley Ladies, c.1600, artist unknown
Commes des Garçons A/W campaign 1988, Inoue Tsuguya and Jim Britt