The Eclectic Selection

Pop Art

The 1950s were a period of optimism in Britain following the end of war-time rationing, and a consumer boom took place. Influenced by the art seen in Eduardo Paolozzi's 1953 exhibition Parallel between Art and Life at the Institute for Contemporary Arts, and by American artists such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, British artists such as Richard Hamilton and the Independent Group aimed at broadening taste into more popular, less academic art. Hamilton helped organize the 'Man, Machine, and Motion' exhibition in 1955, and 'This is Tomorrow' with its landmark image Just What is it that makes today's home so different, so appealing? (1956). Pop Art therefore coincided with the youth and pop music phenomenon of the 1950s and '60s, and became very much a part of the image of fashionable, 'swinging' London. Peter Blake, for example, designed album covers for Elvis Presley and the Beatles and placed film stars such as Brigitte Bardot in his pictures in the same way that Warhol was immortalizing Marilyn Monroe in the USA. Pop art came in a number of waves, but all its adherents - Joe Trilson, Richard Smith, Peter Phillips, David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj - shared some interest in the urban, consumer, modern experience."

I have to confess an ignorance I had many years ago as well (and those that know me can laugh it up here – only one she says!!) and I know you are all going to love this one… Elizabeth if you are out there, remember the day in the car when you were all talking about Andy Warhol, I really did not know who he was, but was too embarrassed to admit it at the time and tried my best to cover it all up by looking like I knew just to confuse you – I have a feeling it did not work at all. My excuses start with being an isolated Aussie – not exposed to the greater things in life and only in my early 20’s….. really are there any excuses. The reason I mention this is Andy Warhol is like synonymous with POP ART and it all came back to me!! If you can’t laugh at yourself every now and then, well what is up with you!? This is one of his – I had to go with this – Desperate Housewives addict!!

OK – to the t-shirts – you have to love the pink and black t-shirt – ‘I may be FAT – but you are UGLY and I can DIET’. This I had to put up and will dedicate it to Kim, who by the way is not fat! She was telling me in Laos this was one of the first things she learned to say – except she inserted the word STUPID instead of UGLY – which works just as well…..Oh My God – there is even a blog for this – plus multiple apparel purchasing options! This picture from Rover’s Revenge is kinda cute! When my partner is design (Caitlin) read this sheet for me, she proceeded to tell me how she was approached in her gym and told that there was now liposuction available in Hanoi which might help her – with her thighs. The woman tout had what can only be referred to as thunder-thighs – so go figure, wonder if she is seeking help!

One thing you will experience multiple times in this region is being called FAT. My friends and colleagues in Vietnam who love to tell me how fat I look when I go there – are actually telling me how HEALTHY I look!? You see it is polite to tell you how fat you are – it is not rude! I also learned after a while that in Vietnam, if a friend says ‘bring me back a present’ – they don’t mean bring me back a present, they mean come back safely!! Hey – now don’t ask me what it also means when you say you are working too much!

Picture from: http://www.cafepress.com/roversrevenge.25803096

For the record I am Aussie size 8-10, US 4-6 - 170cms…. I am not fat! But I have so been told so many times that I am and in fact my boyfriend is the number one offender here in Thailand! The other t-shirts – My personal tribute to New York – where I am 7 for 10 on ‘lost’ luggage when passing via JFK! Although this is largely due to cursed bags – Thanks Steve – and in credit to the baggage handlers in NYNY – my bags have always been reunited with me, often only overnight, but usually missing random things like a single stocking – it is not just the washing machines in the local launderette which consumes the random sock / stocking.

And finally our message to you “enjoy holiday of fun and sun”.

And yes, I apologise - I am responsible for the women’s undies on the walls. I have visited a lot of markets here in Thailand – this inspiration came from the Rincome market area…. I just loved the way the undies looked for sale, each on their own little undie ring / panty ring? Not sure what you could call them – hangers for knickers?? And in this selection I have captured some of our other themes – Bling for instance and Hello Kitty – those rooms are also up here on the third floor. Caitlin and Glenn totally supported this idea, but we also hope that you all are not offended by our selections!