You don’t often hear Mexico and Sheffield mentioned in the same sentence – but Mexican cover band, The Limits, are the exception. Named after the cult Sheffield club which closed in 1992, The Limits play nothing but covers of songs by the likes of Pulp, Def Leppard, Human League, ABC, Joe Cocker and the Arctic Monkeys.

The truth is, The Limits are the invention of Mexico City artist Laureana Toledo. Her brilliant project – ‘The Name of the Band is The Limit’ is a 30-minute documentary, and a magazine that borrows from the iconic format of The Face – all in their honour. Page after page of primary coloured layouts leave you wishing that the band – and The Face – really existed.

Laureana Toledo’s debut book, ‘The Limit’, is available at Trolley Books, £24.
www.trolleybooks.com

Tags: Laureana Toledo, The Limits, The Name of the Band is The Limi, Trolley Books

Twin brothers Gert and Uwe Tobias create fantastic, vivid and abstract works of art. Together, through ceramic sculpture, large-scale woodcuts, gouache paintings and typewriter sketches, they draw on the folklore of their native Transylvania.

Now, the Tobias twins’ work goes on show at Nottingham Contemporary. The pair blend ghoulishness – skeletons and monsters abound – with a bright, bold colour palette that recalls modern graphic design. In their hands, Transylvania’s haunting legend won’t be fading anytime soon.

‘Gert & Uwe Tobias’ runs until the end of October at Nottingham Contemporary.

www.nottinghamcontemporary.org

Above image L-R: Gert & Uwe Tobias, all photography Alistair Overbruck.

Untitled, 2010, coloured woodcut mounted on canvas, 200 x 600 cm.

Untitled, 2010, woodcut on paper , 216 x 194 cm.

Tags: gert & uwe tobias, nottingham contemporary

Twin may just have found a new favourite gallery – Atlas on Dorset Street. One of the few London art spaces to deal exclusively in fine art photography, it’s the official agent of Magnum photographers – displaying (and selling) the works of masters like Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

The current exhibit is from French photographer Dominique Tarlé. ‘Exile: The Making of Exile on Main Street’ is an intimate snapshot of the lives of The Rolling Stones over a six month period in the early Seventies. Taken while they were putting together their stellar tenth album, expect brooding black and white shots of the guitar-slinging Mick, Keith and the boys surrounded by gangs of gorgeous, good time women.

‘EXILE: The Making of Exile on Main Street’ is at the Atlas Gallery, 49 Dorset Street, London until the 31st August.

Keith, Anita, Parsons, Telecaster, 1971.

Mick and Keith, 1971.

Knocking (Keith at the Door), 1971.

La Joconde (Keith and Anita), 1971.

Words by Catherine Hudson.

Tags: atlas, Catherine Hudson, dominique tarle, dorset street, exile: the making of exile on main street, the rolling stones

Raymond Cauchetier is to photography what Raymond Carver is to literature – a hidden talent that”s been somehow kept under wraps. Now, fifty years after he photographed on-set on Jean Luc Godard”s, “Breathless”, this barely known French photographer”s up-close, and collectible, images go on show at the James Hyman online casino Gallery on Saville Row. From Jean Seaberg, to Jean Moreau and Anouk Aimee – this is an exuberant chronicle of the French New Wave which, much like the pages of Vogue Paris, is awash with cigarettes, bare flesh and beauty.

La Nouvelle Vague. Iconic New Wave Photographs by Raymond Cauchetier runs until the 28th August.

www.jameshymangallery.com

Tags: james hyman gallery, la nouvelle vague, raymond cauchetier

Everyday, artist Katie Horwich finds a discarded copy of tabloid newspaper, The Sun and paints the clothes that she is wearing onto the bare, naked Page Three girls. What started as a diary project while working in Boots chemist, where the compulsory uniform is an ankle length white pleated polyester skirt, and a navy tabard designed by Jeff Banks, has become an eight year magnum opus.

“It was a hot summer and I didn’t want to suffer alone so when I chanced upon a copy of The Sun on the pavement in front of me, I took it home and painted my unfortunate outfit onto Nikkala,” says Katie. Finding a copy the next day, she did the same. It soon became a compulsive ritual where she would scour the streets for discarded copies of The Sun, and then paint her days outfit onto the sartorially impoverished glamour models.

“Now, eight years later, I’m still extracting Becky from beneath a commuter’s heel on the tube,” she explains. “Peta’s more often than not in the Chinese take away at closing – until one day we open the paper and they’re not there anymore.”

‘Page Three Girls’ is on at Deptford’s Utrophia Project Space until 26 June, 2010.
www.utrophia.net

Tags: katie horwich, page three girls, the sun, utrophia project space

Skipping naked through a deserted library sounds like one of those dreams where you inexplicably can’t find your clothes – or in this case, an image from the deliciously subversive world of Hasisi Park. The 27-year-old Korean photographer and film-maker’s images are beautiful daydreams flecked with raw reality.

Even her website bio is a glorious faction; from 2001 when she ‘put black-eyed Susan wallpaper on the windows’, to 2009 when she ‘renounced love’. And outside of her own make-believe world she has shot for big brands like Urban Outfitters and Converse, as well as making surrealist fashion films for Seoul Fashion Week.

“My clients haven’t asked me to shoot a totally different style from what I do mostly – which is really great.” says Park. “I carry my cameras with me all the time to capture intimate scenes and moments,”she continues. “They could be described as spontaneous moments – but I prefer to call them dramatic.”

See Hasisi Park’s work on show in ‘Untouched Secrets’ at the Curzon Soho from June 3rd.
www.hasisipark.com

Tags: Hasisi Park

The heart of London’s design community beats faster than ever this week, as Clerkenwell hosts its own dedicated design festival. The first ever Clerkenwell Design Week, although actually only three days, packs in big names like Paul Smith, Tom Dixon and Tord Boontje as well as big ideas – like how to make clouds, snow ice-cream and the Chairless seat.

Look out for product designer Bethan Laura-Wood, and jewellery artist Wendy Ramshaw’s metre high brass and aluminium towers. Plus shoe designer Tracey Neuls has made two pairs of heels using Patricia Urquiloa and Tord Boontje fabrics that will be auctioned off. With new talents, ideas, exhibitions, food and pop-up shops – design junkies will be tripping out across the streets of EC1 in all directions.

Clerkenwell Design Week runs from 25th – 27th May 2010.
www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

Tracey Neuls Shoes

Bethan Wood (photo credit: Luke Hayes)
Top image: Morgan furniture

Tags: bethan laura-wood, clerkenwell design week, patricia urquiloa, paul smith, tom dixon, tord bootje, tracy neuls, wendy ramshaw

Is it us or do these rather magnificent mannequins spotted in the Prada window look uncannily like Twin’s favourite model, Freja Beha Erichsen? Clever Miuccia. Ok so it’s not Freja’s typical tomboyish look – but we covet the hell out these summery, graphic print day dresses. Next stop Portofino.

Tags: freja beha erichsen, prada

Coachella kicks off in California this week, and we are starting to gear up for another summer of Hunter clad lost weekends in the British countryside. The granddaddy of festivals, Glastonbury, turns 40 this year and photographer Liam Bailey is celebrating with an exhibition of photographs taken over years of faithful attendance. Since the early Nineties he has been capturing the acts of abandon and free spiritedness that happen when so many people pile into a field for a weekend under the stars. Steering away from the main stages, his images concentrate on the mud, tents and mayhem that make the festival so unique.

Liam Bailey’s Lost & Found – Celebrating 40 years of Glastonbury is at The Print Space in Shoreditch from Thursday April 15 to May 4.
liambaileyprojects.com

Tags: Liam Bailey, The Print Space

At first glance these precious minerals appear to be beautiful, close-up photographs. On closer inspection though they are in fact meticulous oil paintings. These incredible renderings are the works of Ontario born Carly Waito, who has a lifelong fascination with the natural world, “especially the little parts we feel compelled to pick up and keep.” In an increasingly urban world, Waito’s work with nature becomes even more covetable.

Tags: carly waito, oil paintings

Design blog It’s Nice That is a daily fix for discovering new talent and inspiring ideas from across the creative industry. In their biannual printed magazine the team bring together the best online posts from the past six months for us to physically thumb our way through, as well as treating us to some specially written interviews and features from top creative figures.

Check out April’s issue for interviews featuring the likes of graphic design legend Milton Glaser, fashion designer Sir Paul Smith and artist Maisie Broadhead amongst others. Designer Ken Garland rifts on his love of rust, while artist Johan Lofgren’s expounds on his impressive collection of vintage board games.

It’s Nice That Issue #3 with Parra print is available to pre-order only from the It’s Nice That for £10.
www.itsnicethat.com/shop

Tags: it's nice that, it's nice that issue 3, milton glaser, paul smith

We’re excited about the latest creative foray from Pringle. To celebrate its 195 birthday, Pringle of Scotland have teamed up with The Serpentine Gallery (a comparatively youthful 40 years-old), and invited their favourite creative minds to re-interpret iconic Pringle products – from the twinset, to the argyle pattern.

And after his Pringle film with Tilda Swinton, featured in issue one of Twin, the lovely Ryan McGinley is back on board. The photographer has designed the “John”(McGinley) – a jumper with a seagull on the right shoulder to represent freedom and named after his boyfriend, whilst Tilda creates “The Twinset of my Dreams”, with her designer friend Waris.

The only downside is that we’ll have to wait until September for these innovative goodies from artists Douglas Gordon, David Shrigley, and Luke Fowler hit stores.

Tags: luke fowler, pringle, pringle 195, ryan mcginley, the serpentine gallery, tilda swinton

At 21 years old Keaton Henson has already had his own line at Topshop, produced artwork for band Dananananaykroyd and exhibited his illustrations from LA to London. Yet it’s music that’s his real passion. For a while he’s been making money from his illustration work with the aim of putting together an album.

Now – he’s only gone and done it. Last week Keaton released four music videos to a satisfying smattering of success. Shot on Super 8 and co-directed by his close friends, the videos beautifully mirror his soft-spoken, melodic voice as he tells stories of unrequited love. Some tracks are more sinister – in ‘Party Song’ the young Keaton confesses to wanting to kill the boyfriend of the girl he adores. Yet his naïve charm means you’ll be smitten nonetheless.

www.keatonhenson.com

Tags: Keaton Henson

Who: Sophie Harris-Taylor, 21, Londo
What: Photographer

On her work: “I use a documentary process to capture the lives of the people closest to me. I like looking at the mundane – moments of intimacy, vulnerability, boredom.”

Influences: “My friends – I love the intimacy I share with the people I photograph, every one of them inspires me to take more and more images.”

Inspiration: “Nan Goldin and the painter Gerhard Richter have definitely inspired me the most over the years. More recently I’ve been looking at the incredible work of Maarit Hotheri and Nigel Shaffran.”

Sophie’s favourite photographs: “I change my mind on a daily basis. At the moment I’m working on my first book – these are the first images I’ve chosen to start the book – I haven’t got bored of these yet!” (See above and below)

Not many people know: “I don’t actually know how to use cameras!”

www.sophieharristaylor.com

Tags: Sophie Harris-Taylor, Talent Watch

Who: Grant Thomas, 17, London
What: Fashion photographer

On his work: “Some of my best ideas for shoots have come from the most mundane situations. The other day I was smoking on the ledge of a second storey window with Debbie [his stylist] and I decided to base a shoot on that.”

Influences: “The insanely talented Sebastian Kim, and the few close friends I surround myself with.”

Grant’s favourite photograph: “I’m a sucker for liking my most recent work – so at the moments it’s an image of the strong-faced model, Georgia Davies (below). She’s standing tough, but elegantly, wearing a vintage floral dress, a white leather corset and the tallest shoes known to man. Truly good photos have the ability to make me cry – so I like people to feel something from my photography too.”

Not many people know: Grant’s originally from Wales and moved to London by himself when he was 16 years old.

Tags: grant thomas, Talent Watch

Tokyo based photographer Beezer”s images of the Eighties music, art and club scene in the West Country capital – “Bristol Wild Dayz” – go on show at the city”s museum and art gallery this week. Beezer who counted the Wild Bunch (Massive Attack to you and me) as mates captured some brilliant moments of a long lost and under-celebrated English early hip hop era. If nothing else, it”s a reminder that this city has been responsible for some of the biggest and best names in culture for the last few decades – Portishead, Tricky, Roni Size, Banksy, Bananarama……

“Bristol Wild Dayz” is at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery until 31st January 2010.

Tags: Beezer, Bristol, exhibition

‘Colour’ at Michael Hoppen Contemporary is enough to brighten anyone’s winter day. On show are a dynamic group of art photographers from Nobuyoshi Araki, Alex Prager, Tim Walker, Valerie Belin and Guy Bourdin – all of whose work is defined by their use of colour, pantone and hue. We love Daniele Tamagni’s energetic ‘Gentlemen of Bacongo’ which get another worthy outing having been moved straight from East London’s Trolley Books. It’s a vivacious display that livens up London.

‘Colour’ is at the Michael Hoppen Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place,
 London
www.michaelhoppengallery.com

James Dean’s Last Stop, Lost Hills, CA, 2008 © Ofer Wolberger

Untitled, 2007 © Valerie Belin
Top picture: Pastel Cats © Tim Walker

Tags: colour, exhibition, london, michael hoppen gallery

Maggs Bros – one of the most beautiful purveyors of rare books and prints in the whole of London – have an exhibition and sale of flyers, photographs and prints all of a countercultural variety. The historical riches on offer in ‘Please do not bend’ are placed under some fascinating titles: Agitation, The Occult, Magic, Revolutionaries and Urban Guerrillas. Sounds like our kind of sale. One notable piece of left-field ephemera comes courtesy of the invitation pictured, sent out by Richard Neville during the infamous 1971 OZ obscenity trial. According to Carl Williams, curator of the counterculture section at Maggs, “On his way to the trial, over The Schoolkids issue of their wild underground magazine OZ, Neville added his own note to this invite.” We’re intrigued. My oh my, the publishing world certainly isn’t what it used to be.

‘Please do not bend’ is at Maggs Gallery, 50 Hays Mews, London W1J 5QJ from 15th December – 3rd January 2010.

maggs.com

Tags: maggs bros, maggs gallery, richard neville

We love these feline and fido themed lamps created by British designer and artist Stuart Haygarth. Part of his first show for Haunch of Venison, entitled ‘Found’, the lamps are one element of Haygarth’s enchanting exploration of discarded kitsch and taxonomy.

‘Found’ by Stuart Haygarth is at Haunch of Venison until 30th January 2010.

www.haunchofvenison.com

Tags: exhibition, haunch of venison, lamps, stuart haygarth

Twin’s art editor Francesca Gavin has been busy working alongside artist Jonathan Yeo co-curating a permanent collection of artworks for the Dean Street Townhouse, the latest addition to the Soho House Group, which opens tomorrow.

In the style of Colmbe D’Or artists Tracey Emin, Sam Griffin, Fiona Banner, Tim Noble and Gavin Turk – to name just a few – were all given credit at the hotel, which was once the notorious Gargoyle Club, in exchange for their artworks. So visitors know they will certainly be in good cultural company.

www.deanstreettownhouse.com

Tags: Art, book, francesca gavin, jonathan yeo, soho house