Baku Magazine Issue 4

Baku.
Art Culture.
Azerbaijan.
A Conde Nast Publication
Summer 2012 Issue Four

Pandemonia Strikes.
Mystery & Glamour on the streets.

Photos: AJ Newman
Copy: Mary Fellows

Pandemonia gets the front page of one of the worlds most luxurious magazines. 10 page exclusive spread with photos by AJ Numan.

Buy online from Newsstand

Melissa Plastic Dreams

Pandemonia and Snowy ignored the Friday 13th superstitious nonsense. They selected matching teal ensemble's and jumped in a cab. To the opening party of Melissa Plastic Dreams, pop-up store, 15 King Street Covent Garden.

On the pavement outside the boutique, they were warmly welcomed by Eduardo Jordao de Magalhaes. Eduardo, the international Marketing whiz of Melissa  gave them both a hug.   A hug they won't forget in a hurry and then he tried to usher them into the bash.

This task was delightfully delayed by Richard Moritmer, Editor of Ponystep magazine.
Richard clasped Snowy exchanged a few pleasantries with P before releasing his grip on Snowy and freeing P&S to join in the festivities.

Inside the store Pandemonia and Snowy  started chatting with Storm Model, Vanessa Lee.
Vanessa confessed, "I've had a busy work schedule". "I've done Diesel, Lacoste and earlier in the year, the Melissa campaign" Before P & S  could get another word in, Kenneth Campbell stepped up.

Kenneth is a world renowned make-up artist.
Snowy recalled to P, how Kenny first tried and tested applying maquillage, on himself. During his hedonistic days as a Beatroute Club regular. Subsequently upping sticks and moving to Gay Paree, where he perfected his art.
His artwork was captured by photographers Jugen Teller, Ellen Von Unwerth and Paolo Roversi.
Kenny is up there in the heavens with the stars and they are all there for you to see on KCTV.

A quick kiss and cuddle with P&S, he reverted to usual down to earth mode, retiring back to the bar, to his gottle o' geer.

  From one club regular to another, now for Princess Julia. Tonight Julia was wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier 90s dress.
A dress that P&S felt was more suited to the Ritz Hotel, rather than a Hoxton Square dive. Mind you, standards at all times!

P&S went on to encounter the fashion designers, Todd Lynn and Sidney Bryan
Sid let it slip "I've teamed up with Tod to create Sibing Man range of knitwear".
For all you girlies out there, don't despair, Sid"s not shelved Sibling knitwear for gals. No, no, no, he and Joe Bates & Cozette Mccreery are still knocking it out.
Though the sight of Sidney wearing a John Galliano jacket, was questionable!, considering Todd, does a fine line in menswear.

Pandomania whispered in Snowy ear, that tonight’s footwear was giving her gyp.
This was over heard by Alana Mann, the UK distributor of Melissa shoes.
as quick as a flash Alana fished out a fabulous pair of yellow wedge heels.

P&S and Alana shimmied off to shake their hips to the Julia Verhoeven DJ’s beat.

Heading off again for some fresh air this time, Pandemonia and Snowy bumped into Tolula Adeyemi. Tolula looked ravishing in a stunning cocktail dress. The sight of which made P&S wonder where this gorgeous creature was gallivanting off to later. Before they had a chance to ask.

David Kappo appeared at their side, sporting a new haircut. This charming, creative, ace course leader from Central St Martins. David informed them  "I'm taking a year’s sabbatical to look after my partner and two infants ". Tonight his partner was doing the night shift. Not that David was planning a late one. He was just popping in and out demonstrating what exemplary parents they both are. 

A tipple next, along side jewellery designer Kyle Hopkins.
Kyle’s wrists and fingers were festooned with his products.
Much as Pandemoina and Snowy liked what they saw Guy's project at Nick Knight's Show studio intrigued P&S even more so; The idea being to create a death mask intended to be leased to whomsoever. And should Kyle ever expire, the custodian of the mask would be obliged to return it and ensure it be buried with him! Lets hope Snowy, never discovers where Kyle is laid to rest though! Otherwise Kyle may be subject to a rude awakening, Snowy’s prowess for digging for treasure is second to none.

Pandemonia sensed Snowy was agitated.
So they returned to the dance floor and cut up the rug with Julia Verhoeven. After a while, they all trouped off together for a natter outside. During their little banter Snowy was desperate to get a word in and ask JV if she would consider becoming his colourful foster mum that is only should P ever travel o’er hill o’er dale where doggy passports aren’t accepted

However, before Snowy could pop the question, Pandemonia scooped him up
In an attempt to avoid  a ‘Cinderella moment’ losing her new yellow shoes.

Photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney

Why Does Pandemonia Get Front Row?

Third Floor Issue 5

Conceptual artist Pandemonia has sparked debate at fashion events and catwalks across the country, causing us to question who really deserves to be in the front-row at a fashion show?

For designers, distributing front-row seats for their catwalk shows has always been a crucial point of consideration and plays a hugely important role in getting media coverage of their brand and collections. Each year at fashion weeks across the globe front-row invitations are delivered to the biggest and most influential names in the fashion industry and to some of the worlds most photographed celebrities. Recently, Nicole Farhi sparked debate when she slated that celebrities are often spotted at fashion shows because they have been paid to attend and not purely for their love of fashion and next seasons trends.

The media are always quick to mention who attended which fashion shows, and this can often receive more press attention than the actual clothes themselves. However, not all designers agree with the celebrity culture surrounding the catwalk: in 1999 Alexander McQueen famously refused to let Victoria Beckham attend his show because he believed it would prove an unwelcome distraction from the clothes. Designer Marc Jacobs also denounces the celebrity culture surrounding fashion shows and has banned starts from attending his catwalks. Whether celebrities receive money incentive to attend the shows or not, there is certainly no denying that front-row seats are the most sought after at a catwalk show, which leads us to question who is entitled to be there and who isn't?

Self-styled and seven feet tall, conceptual artist and personality Pandemonia is certainly making a stir in the fashion industry. Once a gate-crasher of fashion week parties and exhibitions, Pandemonia is now very much an established front-row figure and is frequently snapped with other front-row icons such as Hilary Alexander, Jameela Jamil, Pam Hogg and Zoe Griffin. When asked why she secures so many front-row seats, Pandemonia answers: “ U get offered front-row tickets because people are intrigued by my work and it attracts media attention; it creates those extra column inches.” Despite Pandemonia becoming a well-known fashion Personality through the amount of fashion events she attends, there still seems to be a feeling of mystery surrounding her and what she represents. When asked what she is ultimately trying to achieve through the way she dresses and portrays herself, she states; “ I am a visual artist exploring ideas and observations of daily life”

Pandemonia Panacea isn't the first conceptual artist to dress in such a manner and in some ways she can be related to the exhibitionism through appearance and clothing in the work of the late Leigh Bowery. He was a conceptual performance artiest, clothing designer and club creature in London in the 1980's and 1990's, and if you compare the two it is possible to draw distinct similarities in some of their full length latex outfits. Pandemonia is the creation of an anonymous art graduate who was born in 2008, after graduating from an MA Fine Art cour5se at Chelsea College of Art. In the four years since then, not only has Pandemonia made herself known as an established fine artist, but has also created a lifestyle which she lives daily through her art and image as Pandemonia Panacea. Dressed head-to-toe in latex, the cartoon-style conceptual figure aims to challenge the perception of the ideal woman in the twenty-first century. Each creation and art piece takes months to create, but the impact and reaction which each outfit attracts is phenomenal. The self-made PR machine first became noticed by the fashion industry when she featured in an interview in the Flesh and Blood issue of i-D magazine with Holly Shackleton, and since then , Pandemonia's image has grown from strength to strength; with over 4,000 followers in Twitter, frequent mentions on blogs and features in magazines such as Vogue and The independent, it seems Pandemonia's message is being heard loud ans clear.

The unconventional and impractical way that Pandemonia chooses to dress makes you question why she has chosen to live this way. When asked if she dresses as Pandemonia each time she leaves the house , she answers; “ Of course, its a full time hob!” Pandemonia takes inspiration from the superficial world of fame and the celebrity culture that fills our magazines, and when asked what else inspires her style of dress, Pandemonia states; “ For me it's about exclusivity. It's about expressing your self. What you wear is what you are and what you buy into. I'm buying into the modern dream, into fashion and the idea of beauty. I get my ideas from people I see, adverts and things I like in magazines.” It is evident that Pandemonia remains a larger-than life unique portrayal of beauty, and will continue to cause mayhem at fashion events and grace front rows alongside fashion insiders at many catwalks in the future.

Words by Katie Handy-Beith

Third Floor Magazine

Harper's BAZAAR

Pandemonia and Sonwy appear in Augusts UK Bazarr Magazine 2012.

Pandemonia spotted, Natalia Vodianova, Stella McCartney, Harry Blain , Jake Chapman, Livia Firth and more at the Pop art Ball

Snowy spotted a howling typo. “Miss Pandemonium” should be spelt “Miss Pandemonia”. 5XBZGZ7KNUPD