The Allmighty Missy Elliott 17 May 2012

Before MIA, before Minaj -hell, even before Rhianna & Gaga there was Missy Elliott.

Missy Elliott; a 360 degree Artist – Rapper, Musician, Producer, Performer & All round Force of Nature who, together with best friend Timbaland pioneered a futuristic of sound-scape of beeps, bleeps & raw attitude.

This was a pair who clearly loved music. You can hear echo’s of musique concrete, electronica, industrial noise & Afro Beat, pepper their sound. Arguably, they were the first duo to start experimenting with Arabic & Indian music in the Hip Hop genre.

Now, you can read Missy’s rags to riches tale all on Wikipedia. The impact, she had on my life as an artist & a woman of colour acting against traditional expectation is what makes me most passionate.

Missy’s sexually fluid lyrics were both assertive, yet playful & sensual. Whether she was cussing, ‘One Minute Men,’ needing to shave her ‘cha cha,’ or using an elephant’s noise to describe a man’s ‘package’, this brand of Ghetto Burlesque was both irreverent & smoking hot.

The songs were full of references to experiences with both men & women without the forced bubblegum commercial bisexualism of pop tarts like Katy Perry. She was not playing up to men’s fantasies but asserting her own experiences with wit & flair.

Her videos, in particular the early work with Film maker Hype Williams, were visionary. Williams’ transformed Missy into a Science Fiction Super Hero. In contrast to other MTV females, rather than being embarrassed by her size, Williams blew this up & framed it centre stage.
In an era of global body dysmorphia & Size 0, Missy took a totally unapologetic attitude to her size.

Now, I like all the modern day rap girls. But there was something so uncompromisingly empowering about Missy.
She never comes across as someone trying too hard. Her output seems less concerned with trying to shock, seduce & get people ‘talking.’ {Or in this era ‘tweeting.’} A woman NOT acting like a stripper, which seems to be the primary concern of most women in entertainment, is SO refreshing.

I read that Missy’ health wasn’t doing so good, allegedly down to Graves Disease. But, according to Wikipedia, in recent times she seems to be back producing & touring. She has even appeared in the new J. Cole song, ‘Nobody’s Perfect.’ Wherever you are Missy – you changed my life & I love you so much for it.

Lucian Freud at The National Portrait Gallery 10 May 2012

I have always felt a very special connection to The art of Lucian Freud. I discovered it by accident on the same holiday, as an 11 yr old, as I sat reading the Biography of Leigh Bowery.

It was the 1st time I’d really learnt about most things – Cottaging, Night Clubs, Michael Clarke, Performance Art, Taboo, Minty & Smashing. Little did I know I was about to embark on my own artistic journey with some of Bowery’s greatest collaborators; Matthew Glamorre, Richard Torry & Les Child.

I’ve been lucky, living in London to have witnessed quite a few presentations of Lucian Freud’s work. However, this recent retrospective at The National Portrait Gallery contains some rare & late works by Freud.

It also contains two incredible rooms; 1 dedicated to Performance Artist, Leigh Bowery & the other to his nightclub cohort Sue Tilley.

The gargantuan paintings of Leigh Bowery are a reminder of his omnipotent presence & influence on Art Culture. The size of the paintings also serve as a powerful reminder that these were life changing events for both painter & sitter.

‘He was still in a sense performing because of his physical awareness which was extraordinary.’

Freud commented on Bowery’s ‘remarkable intelligence,’ while Bowery returned the compliment by describing his sittings being, ‘like receiving a university education.’

The room curated with the ‘Big Sue,’ series aka Sue Tilley was a chance to realise Freud’s occupation with Human Flesh in all it’s glory. I wasn’t thinking about the infamous prices one received at auction but how the mass of flesh looked almost like abstract sculpture.

Did someone mention teasets? 28 April 2012

Over in Bishi Towers, we are busy developing a merchandising range of plates, mugs, designer tees & prints for the Album Release.

The inspiration had mainly been based in classic commemorative plates, but harnessing the punk energy of Jamie Reid’s artwork with The Sex Pistols & Gilbert & George’s ‘Jack Freak,’ range.

In fact, Louise Gray has just written a piece about the new record drawing comparisons between myself & The Sex Pistols in the New Internationalist Magazine May 2012 Issue:
Read more on her blog:

http://louisegray.net/2012/04/23/putting-the-black-in-the-union-jack