Street Photography

Thursday 29 May 2014

RCA Fashion 2014

Snowy was over the moon that morning, when Pandemonia flashed him their invite to the Royal College of Art fashion show.
Pandemonia & Snowy scanned the wardrobe and they opted for metallic blue ensemble, agreeing this would be appropriate for todays event.

In the taxi, their excitement grew to a fever pitch, aided and abetted by a traffic jam, one that caused Pandemonia and Snowy to arrive just in the nick of time.
At the entrance, they were informed the show was about to start, so speedily took their pew, and found themselves sat next to Claudia Croft The Sunday Times Newspaper Fashion Editor and Style Magazine's Head of Fashion.



Claudia gave Snowy a lady like squeeze, exchanged a quick how do you do with Pandemonia, did a snap, and then show commenced.


Designers: Nam Jung Choi, Chloe Orange, Ida Gro Christiansen, Jung Sun.

The runway collections were awash with garments that were tailored, sculptural, knitted and in digital prints, some that were bright vibrant colour palette, to others that had a transparent plastic overlays, that gave updated 60s spin to outfit.



After the show, Pandemonia and Snowy were asked to pose for pictures by some of the guests.
Which they duly did, as well as say hello to fellow artist Duggie Fields and the co-author of 1982 "Sloane Ranger Handbook" Peter York- real name Peter Wallis.



As they were easing their way out, Snowy spied two former heads of fashion of St Martins College of Art, Sheila Brown and Bobby Hilson.
Sheila and Bobby, Snowy whispered in Pandemonia ear, are acknowledged by fashion industry veterans, as the two most influential people in fashion colleges for the past 30 years.
When the late (Lee) Alexander Mcqueen showed Bobby his portfolio, applying to do a pattern cutting course, it was Bobby, who put Lee straight and told him, NO, you have to do a degree course, and the rest is history.



Pandemonia moved from two dynamic women, to another, Wendy Dagworthy RCA Head of Programmes and Dean of School.
Wendy has been the driving force of fashion at RCA since1998, and after last years Pandemonia RCA Lecture had invited P&S to come to the fashion show.

So it was only fitting for Pandemonia and Snowy to thank Wendy and after giving the obligatory farewell air kiss, they soldiered on to the exit.



They were halted yet again, this time by the undisputed icon catwalk fashion photographer Christopher Moore.
Snowy recognised Christopher, who'd been the doyen of Fashion Suzy Menkes photographer for more years than Snowy could count, and in Christopher's youth, he'd worked alongside Cecil Beaton.
Christopher has documented the Haute Couture collections, ready to wear and college shows around the globe since the1960's.
Chris got pally with Pandemonia & Snowy and confessed "I still get a kick out of shooting shows".

On that note Pandemonia and Snowy left feeling fully fashioned out, and got a cab straight home, where they curled up on the sofa & had a catch up on their NBF Ferne McCann latest escapades.


photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney

Wednesday 21 May 2014

A day in Berlin

Saturday, after a hearty German breakfast Pandemonia and Snowy were fully fortified.
Looking out their window seeing the sun shining down,they decided it was ideal weather conditions for a city hike.
Pandemonia and Snowy got decked out in appropriate garb; Snowy in a chocolate brown collar; P a baby pink, light caramel and chocolate brown day dress, accessorised by a chocolate brown bag, Balenciaga sunglasses and a pair of Vivienne Westwood/ Melissa shoes. This was followed by obligatory Mirror check.

Pandemonia and Snowy then jumped a cab rendezvousing at the Galerie Kornfeld, Kunsthandel Fasanenstraße 26, 10719 Berlin.



Snowy and Pandemonia waited patiently at the entrance to the gallery for Freddy to take them in and show them around.



Inside the gallery, Pandemonia and Snowy joined the visiting art enthusiasts and viewed the works of Hurbert Scheibl, Babylon, Thomas Paul all exhibiting.



During a silent moment when Pandemonia and Snowy paused to reflect on what they'd seen, Snowy realised late comers had mistaken them both as sculptures. How bizarre!



Outside the gallery while Pandemonia and Snowy scanned the street looking for their guide the actor Stephan Luca.

A cyclist stopped and said "you're beautiful, perfect in every way, so beautiful" Flattered Snowy stuck his nose out and was promptly met with tickle under his chin.



Pandemonia spotted Stephan and sped off in a 4x4 vehicle to the first of the Berlin landmarks - the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

Saturday shoppers did a double take,as Snowy and Pandemonia sashayed by, arm in arm with their handsome city guide Stephan. Back in the car, on the way to the Brandenburg Gate, Stephan let it slip "I'm in a mini TV series The Crimson Field playing Anton Ehrlich"
Snowy decided when he gets home, he's going to iplayer and watch Stephan in action.


photo: Camilla Douraghy

At the Brandenburg Gate, Snowy was blow away not as you'd expect by the gate but at the sight of his new best friend Freddy Kornfeld. Freddy gave S a gentle squeeze while inviting Pandemonia and Snowy to accompany him to Gallery Weekend Berlin cocktail that night at the old Berlin Airport Tempelhof. P&S replied "we'd be delighted"

photo: Camilla Douraghy



Pandemonia and Snowy excused themselves when brother and sister act sidled up next to them, neither spoke English. However they mimed they wanted their picture taken with them and P&S obliged.



As they turned to leave, they were held up by Fatima and her charming girlfriends, all of whom wanted their picture taken together too. P&S felt compelled to do so.


photo: Camilla Douraghy

Moving away from the gate, Pandemonia and Snowy spotted Freddy's gallery car but were perplex as to where Freddy was!

No matter, the ever dependable Stephan was on hand and knowing P&S both have a natural attraction to towering beauties he whisked Pandemonia & Snowy to Fernsehturm the fourth tallest freestanding structure in Europe.



After Pandemonia and Snowy had seen the Fernsehturm, the rays of midday sun made them uncomfortable. In the square outside P&S, scanned the horizons for Stephan to escape the heat.



Unbeknownst to them Stephan was close by and intuitively sensed their plight & swept Snowy and Pandemonia off their feet and back to the airconditioned car.


photo: Camilla Douraghy

They traveled next to East Side Gallery - Berlin Wall and it was here Pandemonia and Snowy had a heart to heart with Stephan, and P&S discovered Stephan to be a real gentleman, open minded and with a love of life.


photo: Camilla Douraghy

Their confab was disrupted by an eager couple wanting to immortalise their visit to Berlin with a picture of Pandemonia, Snowy and the Wall.



This sparked off a crowd of onlookers and Pandemonia and Snowy's pals entered into the spirit of the moment, out came the mobile phones and cameras.

Snapping over, Pandemonia and Snowy did a final lap of the wall and then toddled off back to the hotel to freshen up for evening.

In their suite, Pandemonia and Snowy prepared for the evening's outing. P selected a cobalt blue dress, a pair of Estrelicia Melissa shoes, and Swarovski sunglasses & Snowy a matching collar for the night ahead.



In the hotel lobby their chaperon Freddy Kornfeld ushered Pandemonia and Snowy outside to the waiting cab, one that ferried them to Gallery Weekend Berlin cocktail at Tempelhof.


photo: Maxime Ballesteros for Purple Magazine

The cocktail party was heaving with 1.500 guests, including Gallery owners, artists, collectors, Journalists, and over a glass of bubbly Freddy extended the invite to come back to his apartment.
Snowy gave Pandemonia the nod, having been tipped off earlier by Mamuka Bliadze, Freddy's business partner, that he was expecting at least 30 other guests for light finger food super and drinks. They arrived back in the centre of Berlin, and found themselves in a swank art dealers apartment, and it was just as Mamuka said buzzing with warm friendly art lovers.



Towards the end of the night Snowy led the party pack for one last photo opportunity, then Pandemonia scooped up S, waved a fond farewell and thanking their hosts and guests for a wicked weekend in Berlin, they raced back to the hotel to pack in preparation for their am flight back to London.


photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney

Friday 2 May 2014

Claudia Chaseling - Gallery Kornfeld

Friday; Pandemonia and Snowy woke at the crack of dawn to finish packing their essential wardrobe before their flight to Berlin for Art Gallery Weekend.

Arriving in Berlin, the inclement weather didn't damp Pandemonia and Snowy's high spirits.
They dumped their belongings at the hotel suite and did a quick tour of some of the fifty galleries showing this weekend (incognito of course) and returned to the hotel to unpack and take a leisurely rest.

Later feeling refreshed, Pandemonia and Snowy went through their various outfits and selected a Chinese Persimmon orange ensemble, a pair of Melissa Estrelicia white coloured shoes and matchin gloves, and a pair of Diesel ochre framed sunglasses, after a satisfactory mirror check, they were ready to face the world.

The rain had stopped when Pandemonia and Snowy bundled into the taxi, heading for artist Claudia Chaseling's private view at the Gallery Kornfeld - grand opening of their new Projectspace at Fasanenstraße 68.



Once inside the space, Pandemonia & Snowy got to meet Berlin's paparazzi first hand, followed by the Galerie Kornfeld co-owners Freddy Kornfeld and Mamuka Bliadze who stepped up to greet P&S.



Freddy and Mamuka were genial hosts and introduced Pandemonia and Snowy to one of their long standing friends -Peter Boragno and a newbie pal Savros Efremidis.

Peter confessed to Pandemonia "my profession is to organise cultural bashes, he went on to explain "I was called in to put this event together" whilst handing a glass of bubbly into Pandemonia.



That done, Mamuka introduced P&S to the artist of the night the talented Claudia Chaseling.

Claudia said she spent the previous night putting the final touches of the painted piece of work behind them, (a wall and floor space that measured 5.1816 meters long x 2.7 metes wide) and then introduced P&S to her partner, fellow artist Milovan Markovic. Snowy recognised Milovan, who's been described as the father of Transfiguration Painting and the Text Portrait by the art world.



The next person Snowy & Pandemonia encountered was Sophie Moos. Before Sophie clung to P, Snowys eye's popped at the sight of Sophie's fabulous diamond band ring on her right hand, one that wove its merry way up her finger.



From one eye-catching object to another, actor Stephan Luca. Stephan told Pandemonia "you're a spectacular vision of beauty and I'd love to drive you around the city tomorrow to show you the sights" P&S couldn't refuse such a kind offer. And agreed to meet the following day.



All dialogue ended with Stephan when Pandemona and Snowy were mobbed by 3 blonds, Julia Luca, Susanne Steinkraus, Christine Heinz. These girls were here to party and they wanted P&S to join them. "Later" was Pandemonia's reply, "I must see the show first". That said, the trio ran off to the bar, leaving P&S to their own devices.



Pandemonia & Snowy didn't get to take one step forward before being stopped by London ex model Belinda Wilson. Belinda was so taken by Pandemonia and Snowy and Claudia's artwork that she burst out saying "I've got go back to my hotel and get my camera" Off she went, scurrying back to get her lens.



Pandemonia & Snowy turned around and walked over to shifty another of Claundia's wall paintings, this one was as wide as a door and ran down the wall and half way across the floor.



It was Snowy who now interrupted Pandemonia's train of thought having sniffed out another canine in the vicinity. Pandemonia obliged Snowy by vacating the spot and turning his attention to dog in question and was pleasantly surprised to find the pedigree hound accompanied by Karsten Kiss, a Berlin photographer who tipped up with his soul-sister Antje Forgo from Licht & Linie. A doggy moment and a pix followed..



Pandemonia and Snowy were drawn to the gallery's right hand gal Hannah Linder, and Camilla Douraghy, Ingrid Manthe & Mamuka Bliadze obliged the gang with a quick snap, before P&S resumed their gallery tour.



Pandemonia and Snowy had another quiet interlude where they were able to get up close and inspect the details of one of Claudia's paintings on canvas.



Pandemonia and Snowy then turned to scan the intricacies of a larger triptych canvas landscape painting only to be asked to pose by a pap photographer.

This larger than life triptych canvas piece met with Snowy's approval. As they weaved their through the Projectspace labyrinth, passing the three separate lounge rooms with white cube tables and Philip Stark Clear Ghost chairs they eventually entered the designated dance area space.



There Pandemonia and Snowy caught up as promised with the blonds and their male party animal pals.
The DJ was pumping out Snowy's favourites vibes including "Happy" by Pharrell Williams and David Guetta's modern anthem "Lose Control".

Pandemonia hadn't realised the time, it had flown by so fast, it was almost Midnight and way passed Snowy's bedtime
P clasped Snowy closer and they ran the gauntlet of the exuberant guests heading for the exit before Snowy lost control too.



Pandemonia hopped a taxi, safely back at the Hotel and in their suite P tucked Snowy into bed and crawled away to leaf through the guide book on Berlin and ear mark locations for tomorrows excursion with Stephan and the crew.


photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney

Thursday 1 May 2014

April adventures

A 7pm shout at Hotel Cafe Royal for a guided tour by Dilou Haddou, The Hotel Cafe Royal, Club Operations Manager.

Yes folks the 5 star luxury hotel is going have a private members bar, one for the more creative discerning customer, and who better to fill those shoes than Pandemonia & Snowy a real pair of arts lovers.



During the tour, Pandemonia and Snowy only just managed to poke their heads around the door of the magnificent Grill rooms to be greeted by Linda Hugo & her boss John Calleija, of Calleija pink Diamonds.

John confessed "I'm paying a flying visit to London for a week and it's a real pleasure to meet you both" Snowy left yearning for a pink diamond collar, as they hit the stairway to the first floor.



Pandemonia and Snowy were then shown story boards and then the spaces on the first floor that will be transformed into this new watering hole. After all this thirsty work, they decamped to the Hotel's bar, where over a glass of bubbly and a still water for Snowy they met Anthony Lee. Anthony is the Hotel's GM who asked "how do you like the hotel" Pandemonia and Snowy nodded and replied "very much"

The follow night was taken up with a visiting Ryan Stanier, Director of Other Art Fair at the launch, Ambika P3, 35 Marylebone Rd, underground space.

Here Pandemonia and Snowy paused on the industrial staircase and scanned the show, and marvelled at over 90 artists exhibiting their wares.



Then Pandemonia and Snowy descended to the main floor and were besieged by fellow artist Toni Gallagher and Martin Vintner-Jackson.

Toni said to P&S "you look amazing, can I have my pix with you" They obliged, then Pandemoina retrieved Snowy from Martin to see the exhibition.



As, Pandemonia and Snowy wandered into the show, they were held up again this time by exhibiting artist Claire Robinson. Claire Robinson Claire too, asked may I have my picture taken with P&S and they both consented and left wishing her well flogging her prints.



Pandemonia and Snowy eventually arrived at Nina Fowler stand. Nina took an immediate shine to Snowy and exploded with laughter. While Pandemonia cast an eagle eye over Nina's dark signature technique of Hollywood greatest stars imagery, frowned upon by some and loved by others in the art world.



Nina's exuberance brought executive Director Hi Sushi Events Geoffrey Leong's attention to the stand. Here, Geoffrey hooked up with his long lost pals Pandemonia & Snowy. And after a quick catch up about what P&S had been up to since the photographer Ellen Von Unwerth's Ellen von Unwerth
calendar launch bash. Geoffrey, then cajoled Pandemonia and Snowy into joining him and his team mate Gwen for some delicious sushi, at their make shift kitchen in the VIP area.



Pandemonia and Snowy had only just finished eating when Snowy turned & spotted designer David Courts.
For those Rock and Roll fans, David and Bill Hackett were the design duo who made the 1978 Keith Richard's iconic scull ring. Now-a-days Snowy discovered that David's rock days have been replaced by a wife and a teenage son.



Snowy's conversation came to an end when artist Bob Aldous fans pleaded with Pandemonia and Snowy to pose for pic with Bob on his stand. After being papped.



Pandemonia decided two late nights out in a row was a bit too much for Snowy, so P swooped up S and headed to the exit. They choose to stop, this time out of a concern for passionate art fan, blindfolded and with headphones and holding onto a length string. Snowy and Pandemonia felt it was their moral duty to wait and if necessary guide him passed the bollard. However, the guy managed on his own initiative and continued safely on his journey.



Pandemonia and Snowy took a deep breath and returned to task in hand - getting out only to be blocked by visiting Mixed Media Artist Michelle Deyna-Hayward and her blond hair chum Steph Harham. Steph & Michelle said to Pandemonia and Snowy "you two are fabulous, we have to start coming to London more often, we don't see the likes of you two in Colham, Cambridgeshire"

On that note, Pandemonia and Snowy thanked them, posed for their snap and eventually piled into a cab for home off for a spot of light bedtime reading.


photo/copy: Stephen Mahoney