Sex. Such an essential part of life, literally, and yet still a taboo subject of sorts, only shared with one’s closest circle of friends over a bottle of wine. That is until now. The Anonymous Sex Journal, the brainchild of Alex Tieghi-Walker featuring illustrations by Margot Bowman, is an unflinchingly honest account of sexual experiences, submitted by 21 contributors, including anecdotes such as:
“Yesterday I accidentally set a picture of my willy as my instagram profile pic.”
“For some weird reason we didn’t stop or hide… just sort of froze in position: me on all fours with my bum facing his dad.. at least he couldn’t see my face.. or my mouth to be specific.”
“He used to call the dried cum on his belly ‘Cornflakes’ and his penis ‘Pendejo,’ which means dumbass in Spanish.”
“Remember when your friends strapped that camera to a broom handle and secretly filmed us fucking on the balcony of the chalet?”
Not just material for an amusing read, the print publication shows a wide range of the act’s emotional impact across the spectrum, and offers a chance to break down any last standing reservations we may have about those three infamous letters.
Twin spoke to Alex Tieghi-Walker about the appeal of awkward sex, whimsical illustrations and what to expect after Foreplay…
What inspired you to start The Anonymous Sex Journal and how would you sum up its ethos?
A friend and I were talking about our more unusual sexual exploits, and once we’d shared a few we just kept going. When others joined in the conversation too, I thought it would be really interesting to open this conversation to a wider audience and create a database of sorts where interesting stories could be shared. So few people actually have a normal sex life and this journal is somewhere to celebrate those more peculiar incidents. This journal really shows just how colourful our sex lives are — and not in a boastful way as is often the case when people do talk about sex — these stories are a combination of virginity loss, post-coital clumsiness, graphic, vivid fantasies and weird, awkward and embarrassing incidents; they capture those small moments that stick in your mind and influence the rest of your sex life.
What is your publication’s stance on sex and sexuality, and the private versus public spheres of it?
When reading the stories you really have no idea whether the stories are experiences between a man and a woman, or two men, or two women. I think it’s nice that the stories have that ambiguity, or just that sexuality isn’t really the main priority when recalling sexual history. Instead the stories are about real emotions — whether it’s embarrassment, longing, warmth, fantasy or guilt. I think it’s really important to recognise that sex brings about so many feelings and thoughts, and that those need to be embraced and shared, not kept away and never shared or expressed in other areas of life.
Why did you decide to use illustrations as opposed to photography in the journal?
I asked Margot to illustrate the journal as her drawings have a charming, whimsical quality. I also really liked the idea of the illustrations being rather literal or fantastic, something that would be difficult to create with photography — it would either look too considered, or sombre, or simply gross.
What surprised you most during the process of putting the journal together?
I wasn’t surprised by it but I really enjoyed the honesty of peoples’ stories. I like that in nearly every story the writer concluded the experience — writing anonymously creates a stream of thought, rather than something that is written, rewritten, rehashed and edited. These stories are as experienced, you almost live the action without being there, so to speak.
Seeing as you are launching the debut issue on Valentine’s Day, what are your thoughts on the holiday: consumerist nonsense, a sweet anecdote or something else?
Oh dear, it’s a tough one. I think people can go very overboard with Valentine’s Day and there is certainly a lot of hype and exploitation. But fundamentally I think it is actually a very charming day when you can make small gestures to those you love, letting them know you appreciate their company and their involvement in your life. It’s also good to celebrate love — how can a celebration of love ever be a bad thing?
What can we expect for issue two?
The Pilot Issue, or Foreplay, is just the start of a much larger project. I want to see how everyone reacts to a journal like this and whether it amuses them, makes them laugh or wince, and how they connect to it. For subsequent issues I’d like to categorise the stories to focus individually on topics relating to sex — so an issue dedicated to jealousy, one to fantasy, love, technology, fetish, passion etc. Perhaps the next one should be those sexual experiences that didn’t happen but nearly did and still contribute to your sexual DNA.
The Anonymous Sex Journal launch party starts tonight at 6.30pm at 18 Hewett Street Gallery, EC2A 3NN. The Pilot Issue / Foreplay is available to buy at the launch, the Protein Store’s online shop and selected retailers including Artwords.
Get your Tesco/Sainsbury’s/Asda trolley ready for tonight’s opening of Toby Evans’ debut solo exhibition, B-Mart.
Originally a graphic designer for companies such as Red Bull, Whistles and Sony Music, he has turned the Shoreditch art collective base DreamBagsJaguarShoes into his very own supermarket. Based on the packaging designs of bargain brands, Evans not only has the place stocked with his own re-designs of cola, baked beans & co., but also included the likes of uniformed staff and a pharmacy counter to complete the shopping experience. Thankfully, minus the self checkout queues and clean up on aisle 7 announcements.
B-Mart is on display from February 15th to April 7th at DreamBagsJaguarShoes, 32-36 Kingsland Road, E2 8DA.
Yesterday marked the premiere of the Collabor8te competition’s winning short films.
A funding project founded by Rankin and Nokia which enables upcoming talents to have their cinematic visions produced, the event was a showcase for everything from melancholic animation stories to suspenseful thrillers, all screened at the birthplace of British cinema in Regent Street.
We’re looking forward to seeing what new cinema innovators this platform will launch next.
Nothing lightens up a gloomy Monday like a good nineties revival, and the latest collaboration between DKNY and Opening Ceremony fits the bill perfectly.
A re-issue of fifteen archive pieces from the iconic label, the range is comprised of street-ready sportswear in the form of hoodies, puffer jackets and jumpsuits.
Watch Twin contributor KT Auleta and Jay Massacret take the new collection for a spin in the video below.
What do you get when you combine one of the most influential designers from the East with one of the most prestigious luxury brands of the West? A limited edition line of silk scarves entitled Comme des Carrés to be exact.
Fusing together Rei Kawakubo’s eye for the all things off-kilter with Hermès’ reputation for craftsmanship and quality, the capsule collection is comprised of five Black and White styles in everyone’s favourite non-colours, plus six Colour scarves printed with geometric patterns such as gingham and stripes. The former will be exclusive to Comme des Garçons stores in Paris, New-York and Aoyama-Tokyo, whilst the latter will be launched at the Dover Street Market retail venues in London and Tokyo.
“In our project together, rather than wanting to wear the scarves, I was looking forward to the change that would happen when I added something to the beautiful ‘paintings’ of Hermès scarf designs. I think through the addition of abstract images, we have transformed the scarf and created something new,” explains Kawakubo.
Tonight, the ICA is hosting a panel discussion on the one and only Guy Bourdin. With his hyper real use of colour and surrealist techniques, the French photographer’s work for the likes of French Vogue and Charles Jourdan managed to strike the delicate balance between provocative, trailblazing and timeless.
Guy Bourdin: A Legacy will not only delve into his long-lasting influence on fashion imagery, but also show rare footage of Bourdin’s cine films. Leading the discussion will be curator and lecturer Judith Clark, Christie’s Director Philippe Garner and Samuel Bourdin, the artist’s only son and Exhibit A: Guy Bourdin co-author. Expect an insightful and interesting look at one of the 20th century’s most prolific image makers.
MAC Cosmetics is chiming in 2013 – known in the Chinese New Year as year of the snake – with an intriguing new make up collection.
Not only are the swirly scales of the animal embossed into every lipstick, eye shadow and powder, but thanks to a shimmering colour palette of rich golds, plums and reds, each product creates a lushly dramatic effect.
Whether it’s a simple swipe of pearl blush to brighten up your complexion or a full-on crimson lip, consider yourself cosmetically prepared for the new year.
Aside from the horribly misogynistic term ‘tramp stamp’, little has been said about the relationship between women and tattoos.
Bodies of Subversion studies the involvement of women in the ink industry from the nineteenth century until today, not only as customers but also as artists, such as the legendary Maud Wagner or Kat Von D. Covering topics including body art as custom couture in Victorian society, author Margot Mifflin delves into tattoos not only for decoration purposes but also as a helpful healing process for breast cancer or domestic abuse survivors.
Extensive as it is visual, Bodies of Subversion is an insightful look at what happens when the body becomes a canvas.
Opening today, the Design Museum’s Extraordinary Stories About Ordinary Things is a love letter to the often overlooked design details of everyday life.
Thanks to its exploration of contemporary design and architecture, the exhibition not only examines furniture objects, but also fashion designs from the 1970s to the 1990s — in specific the Issey Miyake 132 5. collection, constructed out of a single piece of recycled plastic, which acts as both a folded two-dimensional object and a three-dimensional garment.
“Issey Miyake’s work tries to find a balance between the practical and the beautiful, a concept that is as relevant today as it was when he started the fashion house. His constant experimentation with both forms and also production has kept him at the peak of international fashion and design,” comments the presentation’s curator Gemma Curtain.
Getting a new perspective on the seemingly ordinary is always a visual delight, and this exhibition does its task more than justice.
Extraordinary Stories About Ordinary Things is on display at the Design Museum, 28 Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YD.
The home of the cool kids, BLK DNM is best known for its coveted leather and denim wear, mixing that easy downtown New York vibe with chic Swedish minimalism.
Leather is a special thing, and Johan Lindeberg knows all about it, having launched his limited edition collection of women’s leather jackets in eight enticing styles.
The project, BLK DNM Leather Jacket 8, has seen the reworking and redesigning of his signature jacket in textured luxury Italian leather and fur combos, all handmade in NYC.
Speaking about the capsule collection, Lindeberg says: “I’ve built BLK DNM as a creative project, rather than just another fashion brand, to explore initiatives like this one. I like that we can take one of our core products, the leather jacket, and create an exclusive edition for a high-end capsule collection that still fits with the brand identity. I’m always inspired by independent, intelligent women with strong self identities, and wanted to reflect those different personalities with this project. Each leather jacket combines a unique pairing of leather textures and colors, as well as shearling fur variations, to present a strong character, each to speak to a different woman.”
Johan channels this ultra sexy independent biker chick (think a leather clad contemporary Suzi Quatro/Joan Jett type) through the collection’s campaign featuring Dorothea Barth Jorgensen, photographed by the designer himself.
The BLK DNM leather jacket 8 leather capsule collection is available exclusively at the BLK DNM stores in New York, on Lafayette Street and Stockholm, as well as Colette, Paris.
Iconic is an often overused word, but when someone manages to not only profoundly shape their art form, but also stay relevant 20 something years into their career, the term is more than justified. Opening today at the ICA, Juergen Teller: W00 is an expansive study of the Erlangen-born photographer’s work.
From his black and white images of Kurt Cobain during Nirvana’s tour in 1991 to the provocative nudes of Vivienne Westwood, every honest and intimate portrait by the German photographer, alongside his longstanding collaborations with brands such as Helmut Lang and Marc Jacobs, not only commemorates his longevity as both a commercial and art photographer but also shows that aside from his trademark overexposed photography technique, what really makes a Juergen Teller image is his connection to the individual.
During a preview of the exhibition yesterday, Teller spoke openly about his work process and decades’ worth of pressing the shutter button:
“With every picture you have to be really open and honest about it and tell people what you want to do. I have no idea what I am looking for in an image, it really varies. I have to have complete concentration on the subject, I never have music playing or people standing behind me talking, it drives me crazy. I need the full attention, of their attention to me as I have attention to them, and that’s why it’s powerful and direct in every picture. My way of working hasn’t really changed that much since the beginning, but I have become a lot more careful, project-based and tend to work in series. I am more confident and secure within myself. I want to explore and see things, I’m curious about life. You only live once, you can’t just be miserable and complain all the time, you have to take risks to do something exciting and that’s what I try to do. You have to fucking go out there and do it.”
Juergen Teller: Woo exhibits at ICA until March 17.
The title of tonight’s event at LSE says it all: Women, Protest and the Nature of Female Rebellion. Hosted by journalist Laurie Penny, who currently writes for publications such as The Independent, the talk will look at courageous women throughout history, from the time of the Paris Commune through to the defiant ladies of Pussy Riot. There may have been years when it was unthinkable of a woman to raise her voice, but 2013 definitely isn’t one of them.
Women, Protest and the Nature of Female Rebellion runs from 6.30-8pm at the London School of Economic’s Sheikh Zayed Theatre, New Academic Building.
The brainchild of Consuelo Castiglioni, Marni is that quirky Italian label which always manages to put a new spin on its eclectic aesthetic. It’s only natural that the house’s first ever fragrance carry on that tradition.
The subtly masculine scent steers far away from stereotypical smells of femininity such as florals and saccharine sweetness. Instead, the crisp yet spicy top notes of bergamot, ginger and pink peppercorn make way for a rose, cardamom and cinnamon bark concoction, grounded by a woody accord of patchouli, incense, vetiver and cedarwood. So while there is a ‘feminine’ heart of rose notes, it is enveloped in multiple layers of spices and woody notes, making for an elusive, multi-faceted and original scent.
As a house renowned for its use of prints, the polka dot-covered and clean-lined bottle makes the fragrance come full circle to a pure olfactory reincarnation of the Marni brand.
MARNI launches exclusively at Harrods and Harrods.com in February.
For most people, the Louis Vuitton brand name immediately conjures up images of those infamous, and often copied, interlocking L and V letters. But in fact, its little logo sister, the Damier canvas, celebrates a proud 125 years of iconography this year.
The first ever patented invention by the house of Vuitton, this discretely brown and beige checkered design has literally proven to stand
Since then, it has undergone several colour palette changes, but nonetheless is a universally recognisable trademark of the French design house. For this anniversary, the Damier has been given a neon-hued and athletically shaped makeover. Further proof that a luxurious classic never goes out of style.
Commemorating its tenth anniversary this year, the London Short Film Festival provides its genre with the same compelling spotlight as its lengthy, blockbuster counterparts. Showcasing the best of the UK’s independent film scene in venues all across town, from the ICA to Curzon Soho, the festival has divided the work of the nation’s rising talents into according themes such as Fucked Up Love, Femmes Fantastique and Youth Of Today.
Screening this Saturday, I am Dora by Jemma Desai is a special highlight. A collaboration with designer Claire Huss, the project is an ongoing personal study of fellow female identification, and the flaws and misunderstandings that come with it. This edition will focus on the legacy of Sylvia Plath. “Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it is because we are dangerously near to wanting nothing,” Plath wrote in 1955, and the weight of her words are studied in two versions of Lady Lazarus — Sandra Lahire’s 1991 film and the Mad Men episode — plus an ‘In Conversation’ discussion between Desai and psychotherapist Sandra Hebron.
Alongside this intriguing project, the short film compilations, documentary screenings and special events like Club des Femmes presents… The Art of Conscience: A Pussy Riot Fundraiser are all the more reason to get your cinematic fix this week.
The London Short Film Festival runs until January 13.
There’s a love hate thing when it comes to logos. While there’s undeniably something intoxicating about the prestige of owning a little bit of a label, from the Prada triangle to the LV monogram – or more recently we’ve been lusting after Kenzo’s bold tiger T-shirts – it’s an uneasy relationship that threatens to encroach on our feelings of individuality. How do you settle a love of luxe with a sense of rebellion within a mass media, mass market world? It’s something Phoebe Philo acknowledged so well when she took over the helm of Celine – delivering iconic items without the overt iconography. Stealth wealth became ubiquitous.
So, step in Selfridges who are reintroducing their Silence Room – an idea first dreamed up in 1909 by Harry Gordon Selfridge. as well as creating in-store oases for customers, a number of recognisable brands will be removing their logos in an exclusive collection of de-branded products. The unmistakeable Selfridges’ shopping bag, will even be going naked – albeit without losing their canary yellow hue. Enjoy the silence.
No Noise will roll-out to Selfridges’ stores starting January 11th.
With a little help from Cara Delevingne, the humble scrunchie is the season’s come-back kid. Modelling the Nineties must-have for Laura Best’s fabulous label My Crazy Scrunchie, she’s in good company with fellow sharp shooters Clara Paget and Suki Waterhouse.
If you aren’t big into the Frontierswoman look, we recommend some good old London street attire – team with high waisted jeans and boots with a mussed up top-knot, for that perfect Salt ‘n Pepper moment. Expected in a stocking near you…
Danielle Levitt is prolifically brilliant. Not content with shooting the fabulously famous and talented every day, she’s also our go-to-lady for small town teens who wear their youth with a fresh attitude, whereever, whenever. For Twin VI she illuminated the larger than life world of Queen’s ghetto goth scene, a subculture that bludgeons it’s viewer with the spice and vitality of life.
But what of the lady behind the lens? Levitt’s friend Michael Sharkey has made a short doc that reveals the sassy force of personality that makes the photos what they are. Take a look…
She’s brought her inimitable collage style to brands from Kenzo to Chanel and created original stills for Twin, now the luminous Ms Quentin Jones has collaborated with Waris Ahluwalia, the statuesque star of Wes Anderson films and the society scene. Her films for the jeweller, actor and all round exotic’s collection House of Waris light up the screen and cast him as the jeweller conjuror extraordinaire he truly appears to be. Watch the second installement below, with a third to complete the series due to appear soon…
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