Norman Parkinson’s photographic career has spanned almost sixty years, namely working for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue and The Bystander. Parks, as he liked to be known, pioneered an approach called ‘action realism’ – taking his subjects away from the rigid studio environment, and into the real world, to vibrant effect.

Parkinson’s portraits from the Thirties to the Eighties goes on show at Galleria Carla Sozzani in Milan this week. Just a cursory glance at the show proves that Parks had a lifelong fascination not just with photography, but with women: “Being photographed,” he said, “is a whole section of a woman’s identity. She has to be admired…” We have to agree.

Norman Parkinson: A very British Glamour, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Corso Como 10 – 20154 Milano, Italia
www.galleriacarlasozzani.org

Tags: corso como, exhibit, Norman Parkinson, photography

The super style of the ‘Gentlemen of Bacongo’ is celebrated this month with a brief but brilliant exhibition. Photographer Daniele Tamagni’s images provide a fascinating insight into the vibrant street style of ‘The Sapeurs’ – the immaculately dressed dandies from the heart of the Congo. As King Kester Emenya, the Congolese musician says, “The white man may have invented clothes but we turned it into an art”. Apparently, Sir Paul Smith, who prefaced the original book based his spring collection on the images. Nuff said.

From 27th – 29th November, London Newcastle Project Space, 28 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DP.
www.trolleybooks.com

Tags: book, congo, gentlemen of bacongo, paul smith, photography, the sapeurs

Heidi, the owner of Animazing Gallery where the ‘Sendak in Soho’ exhibition is now on, kindly sent me this snap of Max’s wolf-suit from the ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ film. It was a gift from director Spike Jonze to Maurice Sendak that’s on loan especially for the show. Gggrrrlll.

Tags: Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild things are

Who: Somang Lee, 27, Stuttgart
What: Illustrator
Where: Royal College of Art

Somang says: “There is a certain magic about illustration. It allows you to tap into things that go under the surface; inner worlds that you can take from a piece of paper. One of the pieces of my work pictured is taken from a series I did called ‘An Arctic Tale’ (picture above), which were displayed at the Bargehouse earlier this year.  The other is part of a series of etchings inspired by Jonathan Safran Foe’s novel ‘Extremely loud and incredibly close’ (below). This was an exploration of two people who are physically close but have vast inner distances to cross to be truly close to each other.”

Inspiration: Stories – writing combined with illustration make the perfect pair.
Not many people know: Somang takes ‘Free the inner voice’ classes to explore the subconscious in her voice and to help connect with her inner self, which she can then express through her illustrations.

www.somanglee.com

Tags: Somang Lee, Talent Watch

Jarvis Cocker is increasing his already exponential creative credentials with an amazing sounding three day pop-up exhibition-cum- event at Village Underground in East London. He’s already tried it – with great success – in Paris. This time around interactive jams with the public who bring instruments, live graffiti from Pure Evil, pole dancing and hula hoop classes, spoken word and special guests are all part of the live line-up.
Get involved.

12-6pm November 9th – 11th
www.jarviscocker.net

Tags: exhibition, Jarvis Cocker, london

Staffed by five friends who met in the silk-screening studio at HAW Hamburg art college, Kingdrips opened their gallery-cum-skateshop-cum-graphic design offices in their small one room basement space back in December last year. The guys are the height of skater-boy cool but the highlights of the shop are Maren Szeymies’s masterfully hand-stitched hooded sweatsuit dresses, and super-soft organic cotton T-shirts which provide the canvas for slinky line drawings of irate chihuahuas, taggers, kittens, kissing couples and seagulls.

www.kingdrips.de

Tags: ana, Design, gallery, Hamburg, shop

While we wait for the release of the film Where The Wild Things Are, which is based on Maurice Sendak’s book of the same name, check out the ‘Sendak in Soho’ exhibition in New York. This is the largest ever show and sale of original etchings, illustrations and even sculpture from the author’s collection. “They hold a place in my heart almost too dear for me to part with it,” says Sendak. “But now feels like the perfect time.” As we speak, the gallery’s co-owner Heidi Leigh is off to Maurice’s house to collect the original wolf-suit costume from the film, and to go in search of a mannequin to display it on. Any volunteers?

‘Sendak in Soho’ runs until January 2010 at the Animazing Gallery, 54 Greene St., NYC 10013
www.animazing.com

Tags: illustration, Maurice Sendak

Artist, designer, illustrator and all round creative eccentric Julie Verhoeven is getting her first well-deserved museum show as an artist at MU in Eindhoven. Entitled ‘Man Enough To Be A Woman’, the exhibition includes installation, film works, sculptures, canvas pieces and past collaborations with people like Peter Saville and Fischerspooner.

From Nov 13 to Dec 30 at Mu, Eindhoven.

www.mu.nl

Tags: exhibition, Julie Verhoeven

The King of visceral pop art, Paul McCarthy heads to NYC for an enticing new exhibition. He’s put aside pigs, pirates and sploosh style mess to create an entire body of work about Snow White – often with her hands between her legs – and her many dwarves. To mirror the words of Mae West: “I used to be Snow White but I drifted.”

‘White Snow’ opens on November 4 at Hauser and Wirth in New York.

www.hauserwirth.com

Tags: NY, Paul McCarthy, Pop Art

Who: Alice Moloney, 22, London
What: Illustrator
Where: Royal College of Art

Alice says: “This watercolour portrait (pictured) is from a series entitled ’10 til 3′. It’s based on a week spent at Newent House Day Centre for the elderly. My final degree show piece is based on criminals. I like the fact that you can never tell who really is evil, and who isn’t, just by looking at mug shots. Some of the characters look completely innocent, but they’re not.”

Influences: Marlene Dumas and Uwe Wittwer.

Obsession: Collecting unicorns, vintage glasses and old photographs from car-boot sales.

Projects: Illustrating a set of commissioned books; one of which is based on the county of Middlesex.

www.alicemoloney.co.uk

Tags: Alice Monoley, illustration, Talent Watch