Street Photography

Monday 11 November 2013

An afternoon in Sao Paulo

Earlier that day... Shoe Shopping in São Paulo


En route to the hotel, after a very satisfactory retail therapy session at Melissa Gallery, Pandemonia and Snowy felt a sugar craving.
So they made a pitstop at Soroko, the Artisan vegan ice cream parlour, Rua Augusta 305, Consolacao.



Graziela & Rafagla, the knowledgeable staff, recommended



Pandemonia sample the local delicious Pitanga, Cream do Ceu with a glazed cherry on top.



Rejuvenated and with vigour renewed, Pandemonia & Snowy skipped off to visit the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo, seeing the queue to enter the Museu, Pandemonia & Snowy, decided to skip it too, and instead browsed the extensive Art magazine and book kiosk adjacent.



With a spring in their step Pandemonia & Snowy, decided to try their luck getting across Avenue Paulista and take a sneaky peak at the park. P&S followed the Brazilian highway code, used the zebra crossing as it was rush hour & made it to the island in middle of the road.



Eventually having crossed road, Pandemonia & Snowy found a perfect vantage point to take in the full exterior vista of Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo.



Pandemonia & Snowy strolled towards Trianon park gate only to be stopped in their tracks by a group of Brazilian fans.
The fans insisted Pandemonia and Snowy see the nearby city landmark, a statue of Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva.



Snowy recognised this icon as the Anhanguera, the pioneer of colonial Brazil.

  After Snowy and Pandemonia had their peak at the Park, they were still in explorer mood and wondered where to go next?



They settled on visiting the Estacao da Luz railway station. Pandemonia & Snowy paused at the parking lot, they had the distinct feeling they were being watched.



   As if to confirm their suspicion, a passer by stepped out and asked "can I have my picture taken with you"
Pandemonia & Snowy agreed.



At the railway station Pandemonia and Snowy gave a wave to the otherwise languid railway commuters who woke up on seeing them,
and waved back.



Turning away from the commuters, Pandemonia and Snowy were pleasantly surprised by three adorable, polite street urchins who just wanted to stand next to them.
P&S gladly obliged them too.



When Pandemonia & Snowy crossed the railway bridge, they were astounded by the genial crowd who made way for P&S to cross.



Later, back at the hotel the bellboys were on hand to help with Pandemonia’s shopping.



Before retiring Snowy stood guard at the cocktail bar as Pandemonia downed a caipirinha, and gazed in astonishment at the bars spooky contribution to halloween.



At last, Pandemonia and Snowy returned to their suite where bellboy Vinicius Rodrigues unloaded the trolley.
Alone at last, P&S put their feet up to rest in preparation for the action packed schedule that awaited them the following day.



photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney

Pandemonia Royal College of Art Talk.

Pandemonia Artists talk.
14th November 2013. 11 to 12am
Lecture theater 1.




Photo: Amy Davidson

Pandemonia Artists Talk.

Friday 8 November 2013

Shoe Shopping in São Paulo

Snowy woke up all excited at the prospect of soaking up the sun in Brazil with Pandemonia.

Pandemonia and Snowy flew to Sao Paulo, for Melissa's first ever fashion show during Sao Paulo Fashion Week.

At Sao Paulo airport they were met by the soul of discretion and capital's most informed SP person, Liuciano Machado de Jesus. Luciano drove Pandemonia and Snowy to Intercontinental Hotel.



The next day they were picked up at the hotel by Liuciano and whisked off to the Gallery Melissa store.



At the entrance Pandemonia and Snowy received a warm welcome by Abraao Ferreira, a Brazilian Creative Consultant.
Abraao said "I've never seen anything like you two, you’re beautiful" 



Followed on by local gal Mauren Motta who pointed out to Pandemonia and Snowy they were in right place.
Snowy was delighted to see Mauren was bang on trend with Pandemonia, decked out in matching colour co-ordinated get up.



Inside the Melissa store the staff gathered around to give Pandmonia and Snowy a hearty Brazilian welcome too.

Pandemonia and Snowy then got down to the business in hand, that of trying on shoes to match P's dresses.
As fate would have it the staff fished out a perfect pair of Blue Estrelicia sandals to go with today’s day dress.



Keeping an eye on Pandemonia and Snowy was Jacimar Silva, Melissa’s company all round man Friday,.
Jacimar encouraged Pandemonia to slip into a pair of Vivienne Westwood heart shoes.
Pretty they were, sadly they weren’t the right size for P.



As P stood to admire Viv's creation, the fashion designer J.Pig and his assistant Grasielle Tomelin muscled in on the action.

J. Pig whispered "I've just signed a deal to design for a big Brazilian brand and I'm taking Grasielle with me.



Pandemonia saw that Grasielle had taken a shine to Snowy, so P cautiously retrieved S and took a pew with Luiza Castro & Adenora Targind.

While trying on the ivory court shoes "Incense" by Karl Lagerfeld the girls chorused "we love you two"



Pandemonia hid a blush, and stepped up to join Nilza Scdaello & her daughter Amdieza Scdaelllo at mirror.
While gazing into the mirror to see how the green Melissa Floret sandals fare,
Amdieza confessed "I've been buying Melissa shoes for 10 years, the shoes are democratic because the price point enables the rich & poor to be able to afford to buy them".
As Amdieza was leaving she slipped her professional card, Hadara Nur, the country's leading Belly Dancer, into P's hand.
So now, you’re all in on Amdieza aka Hadara Nur, little secret.



From two wicked Brazilian customers to two French demoiselles from Lille,  Adeline Barnil & Helo Marquilly. 
Adeline told Pandemonia "I live in Sao Paulo and Helo lives in Budapest . We came here today to shop, and what a fabulous surprise it was to see you both here"



Pandemonia thanked them and continued to slip on the pair of bronze Vivienne Westwood Slave sandals.
Standing up to give them a test run, P encountered the Fox family Edward, Birghit and Amanda.
Edward informed P, "we're on vacation from Gothenburg-Sweden and the girls came into the store to purchase shoes, and we were all blown away by you".



Pandemonia gave them a wry smile and returned to keep Snowy company.


P&S then engaged in conversation with accessories designer Drika Satkunas.
Drika let it slip "I'm a bag designer, and my latest concept bag resembles a fried egg".
The sound of Drika's egg bag got Snowy's tummy rumbling.



Turning back to the job in hand that of trying on shoes. Pandemonia was intercepted from by Nativo Weslley assistant photographer for Vogue Japan.
Nativo, soft genial manner in asking to have his picture taken with P, diverted P, and P stepped up to the mark, graciously.



Shot done, seated, and with the first pair of blue heels on,
Pandemonia and Snowy had a pleasant chat with native Brazilian Rita Kohl.
Rita divulged "since I left The University of Tokyo where I studied Arts and Sciences, I've been earning money as a interpreter for visiting Japanese"
P deduced Rita is canny ex student who spends wisely, hence shopping at Melissa.



Pandemonia was up and running again this time with Shizue Hamano Vogue Japan Fashion Features Writer, they got into a deep conversation.
Shizue is a real charmer, if there ever was one, and let it been known "I've been flown over by Chanel for the inauguration of Karl Largfeld's photographic exhibition, The Little Black Jacket, and today I'm doing a shopping guide, with my team"



Then as if to prove this Shizue swung her team into action with Nativo shooting, JP Vogue’s main photographer Filippo Bamberghi, as he clicked Pandemonia & Snowy.



Shoot done, Filippo asked Pandemonia if could be photographed with P & S, along with P's selection of new shoes.
P agreed and before Snowy knew it Filippo plucked him off his perch and Nativo captured the moment.

Pandemonia’s shopping spree over, P was thrown into a panic, with only two hands, several bags crammed with 16 pairs of shoes, P's handbag & Snowy.
What to do?.



Seizing the moment, the Melissa crew were on it, and scooped up all the bags & sailed out through the doors with P&S, to their car.



While the girls neatly packed the boot to capacity, Pandemonia had a blond moment, and wondered, did I miss any must-haves.
Then Pandemonia looked at the car boot and realised, that the girls couldn't even squeeze Snowy's collar in the boot never mind another pair of shoes.?

Pandemonia and Snowy waved everyone goodbye, piled in the car & headed back off to the hotel for a pick-me-up cocktail.

Later that day

photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney

Thursday 7 November 2013

Arts for India 2013

Snowy was in excited mood as Pandemonia selected the appropriate attire for tonights outing.

  Dressed, P& S, headed to Arts for India Diwali Celebration Exhibition and Auction, at The House of Diwali, at Kent House, Knightsbridge.

Exiting the cab Pandemonia checked Snowy's red collar and straightened out the bronze dress & the red accessories.

Meter high pillars, with real flames gushing out of metal earns, flanked them on the way in.

P&S felt a tad nervous having to navigate this flaming entrance, in high heels.



However mission accomplished and safely inside the magnificent kent House building, Snowy felt completely relaxed.

Even more so, when P&S were given an open armed welcome from the Chairman of AFI and well respected philanthropist Satish Kumar Modi.



  This greeting was followed by another cordial reception by Royce Angelo. Royce confessed to Snowy & Pandemonia. "I first carved out a name as events organiser for Weddings, no-a-days I'm focusing more high profile related events, such as this evenings gig.
Before Pandemonia could utter a word of praise, Royce thrust a glass of bubbly in to P's hand and was off, leaving P&S with a elegant blond bombshell with equally quietly spoken voice, so that neither P nor S got her name.





Moving further inside the venue, P&S met the unreserved and exuberant ladies, Sabina Sarikhani and Kalpana Shali.

Kalpana rocked up in a sari from Pakistan, one Snowy thought looked the business.



In the reception room, Pandemonia and Snowy met the Chairman's adorable wife Abha Modi, decked out the family jewels.

Snowy flipped out at Abha diamond and emerald bracelet, and dreamed of the day when he'd have a collar to match it.



Pandemonia clicked glasses at the bar with kind hearted Caroline Curtis.  Caroline whispered into Snowy's ear "I'm off to Delhi to see the 200 bears I have saved from Dancing with Bears".

Snowy shuddered at the thought of those poor creatures and counted his blessings, he's got good home.



Pandemonia next bar companions, were Kishore & Kiran Shah.
This couple embraced P&S and said "we've not got anything like you in India, your amazing".

Moving on, P&S headed to the stairs for the auction space.



On the stairway they met Svetlana, in a floor length fitted black dress with wide open lace panel running down the contours of her body.
A vision that sent Snowy's testosterone to outer-limits.



The auction room Snowy & Pandemonia entered, had a Alice in Wonderland red & white squared tiled dance floor.



Taking in the sights to, was Lalit Kumar Modi.
Lalit is listed in top 20 most influential person's in India and accompanying him was his son Ruchir.
Ruchir, told Pandemonia I'm studying business at University and enjoying it".
Snowy's estimation of Ruchir, was he's going to be a chip off the old block.
So watch this space.



As Pandemonia waiter eased his way over with to freshen up P bubbly.
Ciara Hurley-Stewart from Asprey London, bumped P by accident, with her Chanel bag.
Ciara explained to Pandemonia her reason for being her.
"I'm here because if any of the guests buy a piece from our displays tonight, a percentage will go to the charity".



From one fine jeweller seller, to a couple of customers, Fleur Platow & Mrs Abha Modi.
Fleur's exquisite small drop diamond earrings, were the subject of conversation with P.
"When I bought them my husband thought they looked like crystal" said Fleur.
Luckily for him Fleur knows her onions.



From two mates to three chums out on the town Atul Seth, Luissa Burton & George Jatania.
These three Snowy had seen arriving earlier and they joined Pandemonia & Snowy, for a drink a snap and then returned to eyeballing the Art.



Next up, Pandemonia and Snowy got to chatting with artist Christina Pierce and her son Oska Kolk.

Oska, told P&S "I'm a cricket obsessive and cajoled my mum into painting oil on canvas, the Indian cricketers, from Sachin Tendulkar, to Rahul Dravid to the Champions Trophy Winning Team 2013 on sale tonight".

Snowy spotted Oska later, flogging his mum The Art of Cricket Year book and Desk Diary for £24.95, with 10 percent of the sales going to AFI.



Having stood for an age Pandemonia and Snowy retreated to the sofa, and sat next to Marianne Advani.

Pandemonia and Snowy were humbled by Marianne after discovering all the incredible fundraising she does for children.



A lively spirit was introduced into the evening by Philippe Deneux & Kimberlery Robonson Ortiz.

Kimberlery let slip to Pandemonia "my life now is spent jetting between New York and London".

A sentence that had Snowy turning green with envy.



KR chat about her jet set lifestyle sent Pandemonia Snowy catapulting back to the sofa where they plonked down next to artist Aisha Caan.
Aisha informed P&S " I've given 2 of my oil and mixed media on canvas paintings for tonights charity cause"



Pandemonia and Snowy were again shaken out of their calm to join JP Morgan bank girls about town, Karislma Narsana Alia Nawaz. To listen to the formidable tones of Lord Jeffery Archer.

Jeffery was here to entice the guests into spend their wonger on the various items donated. So that for others less fortunate than themselves, can have a better life.

No Indian event would be complete without some dance.



Show over Pandemonia thought its getting way passed Snowy's bed time.
So they made a b-line for the stairs, where blocking their way was Axel Ienna accompanied by two arm candy female companions.

Axel divulged to P "London City Airport Jet Centre, has now become a walk through art gallery, it kicked off in July, with an exhibition of the work by Italian artist Carlo Gavazzeni Ricordi and you must come & see".



Pandemonia & Snowy, promised they would and side stepped Axel, to bid farewell to Karan Modi with his elegant wife Surbhi.
In the cab, Snowy communicated P it would be great to have Surbhi curate Pandemonia show, knowing Surbhi is a fellow artist and one with taste, if her exquisite sari from Delhi is a bench mark to go by……


photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney