WESTWORLD 002 / FEB 2014
FREE
Exploring Arts / Design / Fashion within Bristol
WestWorld
INCLUDING
Poetry by James Ledsham JoĂŤlle Tuerlinckx review Campus Style Clothes Show Live Winter Essentials FEATURED ARTIST
Beth Evans
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Editorial – Poetry
editor’s letter
WESTWORLD 002 / FEB 2014
Would you like to contribute to WestWorld? We are looking for artists, writers, photographers, critics, editors, fashionistas, linguists, designers and general culture vultures
dulcie horn
Happy New Year! We hope you all had an amazing time welcoming in 2014 wherever you were. The start of a new year gives us a great opportunity to make some resolutions and set new creative goals. There are loads of things we want to achieve for WestWorld this year, including producing more online content and getting even more of you talented students involved. One of my personal resolutions is to experience more of the culture Bristol has to offer... starting by visiting more exhibitions. This month we’ve reviewed Belgian artist Joëlle Tuerlinckx’s retrospective at the Arnolfini. Where do you think we should we go next? As always we’re not just talking about professional artists, we’ve also given your work a platform. In this issue we’ve featured a multidisciplinary artist and headdress creator extraordinaire, Beth Evans, as well as poetry from James Ledsham. We’re also celebrating the achievements of some UWE fashion students who exhibited at Clothes Show Live! Additionally we’ve thrown some winter style inspiration and tips into the mix. Have you been to an eye-opening exhibition lately or heard of a Bristol based artist doing exciting things? Or are you a Bristol based artist doing exciting things? Alternatively have you just got something you want to get off your chest? We want to hear from you! We’re looking for inspiring content for online as well as the print magazine so get in touch anytime. Email us at westworld@westerneye.net or or tweet: @WestWorld_UWE.
to apply as the next Westworld featured artist / to direct all feedback and comments, email: westworld@westerneye.net editor dulcie horn westworld@westerneye.net Contributers dulcie horn James ledsham Beth evans paul mcQuay Beth randall Chaneen salako raphaella Carmen Creative direction & Guest Graphic designer emma l Brown hello@emmalbrown.com
paul McQuaY
typeset Brandon text hvd Fonts Calluna Exljbris
A Few Travels A poem by James ledsham
Time is fleeting, ghostly, caught alive could turn any disease into an eternity. Racked up the burnese, stirred me like a date would at the pearly gates and early, the peak so surly, I surely feared the gurney, gurning the dirty eddying slowly, surely out of my mind. How I find the time to enliven the climb to the temples of deities enshrined, in such time, I shall know and find meanings to life. Night shaved a nerve, the next day’s curse, body burst, germing on a strain of yellow turf surfing dexies in the burnie, this sturdy impulse firstly indulges, engrossing, worse is this luminary, this light pervading, levies whisperers to me, a guise to see my higher guide breathe, cite its wavey string security, sensing plans standing ten feet. New to this like a commis, omit the chef Moses, mostly poses, gets his sent from St Asaphs on coaches the best grade closest, chose this for small doses its essence throws fits, a phosphorescent show, lit green, my existence forms the instant life zipped. Your extant eye has risen, its in
the incident that snaps the frozen poppies living, listing open fields for picking, seconds melt in dividends, a given perception rearing the lids, the inner eye giving, once hidden, smothered addiction, walled in like Berlin immaculate composition, its called higher dippin’ Spiritual bidding, momentary living. My test for the inner mantis, scrap the vomit contest, the pollutants won this without sacrifice. purple speckled riffs on sticky piff wraps it fondest, the longest seen gone since, a cornerstone conquest, pondered it by the ponds on park bench, sparkled in the evening dark when the mutants on wit and whippets inflate this weightless, crate of cannisters, doing handstands icy exhalation, ignite life’s correlation, grasping for the lost space station. Patient. Singing my elation. Hailing for congac, holistic Sipped it, standing on thinnest air, hits it memories in definition. Tip it, the seconds pick the ticket to the next life I’ll live in. If you would like to submit any short pieces of creative writing or poetry for the next issue please email: westworld@westerneye.net
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Featured Artist – Beth Evans
Interview by dulcie horn Who are you?
Featured Artist Beth evans, a level 2 drawing and Applied Arts student, is our featured artist this month
My name is Bethany Evans and I am originally from a small place called Salisbury in the South. When and why did you start being creative?
I’ve been creative in my own sense since I can remember but whilst studying art and textiles at secondary school I found I became a lot more passionate about it and subsequently went on to study a Diploma in Art and Design at college. I’ve experimented a lot through my creative education with different mediums and techniques, however over the past few years I have discovered in an illustrative sense I tend to work in pen and ink. I have come to find that my style of working on drawings is very tedious and producing a drawing will take me hours as I am far too particular but it becomes strangely pleasing when finished. I love using the print facilities at Bower Aston especially the lithography and screen-printing areas. Recently, however, I have began to incorporate my hobby of mask and headdress making into my university work, which has been so much fun. I enjoy using feathers a lot but I thought I’d challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone by using materials such as silicone and jesmonite. The outcome of it was more than I could have hoped for and I was surprised that learning these materials and how they work came naturally to me. I will definitely be using them in the future. Why did you choose UWE?
I was unsure of what art subject I wanted to study at university as I didn’t categorize my work into fine art, illustration or textiles. But when I found the course ‘Drawing and Applied Arts’ it seemed to fit what I was looking for brilliantly. There is so much freedom in what you can do within the course and there are no boundaries, only more opportunities to experiment. I went for an interview and found myself feeling immediately comfortable with Bower Aston; the campus itself is in a beautiful location and perfect size. What inspires you?
Animals are a big inspiration to my work, I enjoy studying deer and bulls. Creatures with horns are really what catches my attention but also exotic birds and unusual looking animals; the stranger the better. Meyoko, an illustrator based in Berlin has been an inspiration of mine since college. Using free hand pen and ink, her work enters a world of magical creatures and captures beautifully imaginative scenes. Photographer Kirsty Mitchell is another artist that has inspired me greatly. In her latest project ‘Wonderland’ she has done a series of photography that submerges you in a peculiar world with extravagant props that she makes herself. One of her scenes ‘Gaia, Birth of an End’, is about Gaia’s (Mother Nature) transition from a mortal into her true goddess form. The headdress in it is so astoundingly beautiful it completely captivates me and has inspired my work heavily. you can see more of Beth’s work on her website: bethevansart.tumblr.com If you would like to be our featured artist next month please email: westworld@westerneye.net
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WESTWORLD 002 / FEB 2014
Fashion – Campus Style
Campus style
This month's Campus Style features another stylish selection of thrifty students from Bower Ashton campus. But look out Frenchay students, you're going to be next! For February's issue our photographer Beth will be perusing your campus and picking the most original looks to be featured on this page!
Josephine wins the prize for best student saver this month with her bargain boots which were a steal at 39p at the scrap store. We also love her neon jeans... they match her neon hair!
George got his shoes from Nike Town, his jeans from Route One, his beanie is Carhartt and he is wearing a t-shirt by Sheffield based independent brand; XCVB.
Danny is a savvy internet shopper and got his new Adidas coat on Ebay which is where his Emerica Francis trainers are also from.
t e x t — d u l ci e h o r n P h o t o g r a p h y — B e t h Ran d a l l
Lottie injects a pop of animal-friendly colour into her gothic look with a pair of green Vegetarian boots. Her cardigan is from H&M and her top is Primark.
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Fashion – Clothes Show Live
UWe students showcased at Clothes show live
After pitching to industry professionals UWE students' work was chosen to be shown at the prestigious Clothes Show Live. Article by dulcie horn
The annual Clothes Show Live in Birmingham ran from the 6th to the 10th of December last year and was visited by more than 200,000 people. Two groups of second year fashion students from UWE were selected to show their collections of four outfits as part of the ‘Next Generation’ catwalk show. The show was compered by various celebrities across the five days including Jamie Laing and Ollie Lock from Made in Chelsea. Their innovative designs were modelled by professional models three times a day across the whole event. Jasmine Magee, a fashion designer in her team, said “seeing our clothes on professional models really brought our collection to life.” Her group, which also included other second year fashion students Jessica McFarlane, Joanna
Robins, Aileen Morris, Melody Gabbot, Hannah Evans and Kate Powell, took their inspiration from the theme ‘Bringing the Inside Out’. The textile designers in the group created digital prints from a range of different sources that varied from images of cells to blueprints and machinery. These prints were then transformed by other members of the team to create the final garments. The other selected team was made up of Grainne James, Becky O’Keefe, Ffian Jones, Aimee Gale, Matthew Prior, Ash Kaur and also Kathryn Drury as the photographer and stylist. For their collection, which is pictured, they contrasted Japanese warrior shapes with an urbanised ‘boy-about-town’ look. Their collection features contrasting textures with a plethora of print inspired by a wide range of sources; from volcanic eruptions to traditional Japanese artwork.
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Fashion – Winter Essentials
Article by Chaneen Salako
The Hot Water Bottle With the cost of central heating rising rapidly we want to keep nice and warm, without breaking the bank. The aim is to keep the cold, and it’s even more aggressive cousin, the flu, away. I invested in two hot water bottles last year and they worked a dream… I even sneakily took them out in public with me! Last year I was shocked to receive a sky high gas bill in the winter months and decided we needed to make some cut-backs. We found that if we stayed under a blanket, with a nice hot hot-water-bottle it did the trick. You can pick up a hot water bottle from as little as £1 in Poundland. However, I would recommend getting one with a cover, mainly for protection’s sake, but also because you can get some ultra-cool covers.
Winter Essentials February is the coldest month in the year. Well, even if that's not entirely true, it’s still a pretty cold month. Keeping warm throughout is important, especially if we want to be heartily healthy for the first few months of the new semester. I have collated a few trendy-but-practical bits and pieces that helped me last year, and hopefully will help us all this coming year.
The Onesie The Onesie has been a craze for quite a few years now! I must say I didn’t have one of these last year, but I got one for my birthday in the last few months and my-o-my, how I live in it. It is the most comfortable and warm item of clothing I own… and it’s foxy (literally!). I would definitely recommend snapping up a Onesie as a matter of urgency. They are so popular, you can find them on the hangers in all the high-street shops. There’s a wide range of men’s and women’s onesies for as little as £11 in Primark. The Thermal Cup Our travels to and from university on those cold and frosty mornings can be very chilling. I would recommend picking up a thermal cup or mug. I have so far seen the most striking cups in New Look and Primark, and they start from about £6. I am a thermal cup fanatic and I have spent tons trying out new ones. But so far I have found nothing beats the Bodum Thermal Travel Mug. It comes in about 7 different colours, it’s got a double steel lining to keep liquids extra hot — for up to 3 hours, and, best of all, it does not spill. You can chuck it in your bag (the right way up or upside down) and your drink will stay put. They are a real investment, starting at about £20 from John Lewis. Ugg Boots These bad boys have to be my number one buy of all time. They are ultra-warm, and ultra-snug. They are a bit costly
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at first glance, but as long as they are looked after, you can get a lot of wear out of them. They come in a range of different colours and a selection of different sizes. Paired with a sweater and leggings they are really good for those long days in library where you just want to be comfy. Uggs can be bought from many places, such as House of Fraser, Bank and Debenhams. But please be aware, when buying online there are very many convincing but counterfeit sites claiming to sell ‘genuine’ Uggs. The Wellington Boots It’s always worth owning a pair of Wellington boots. In the rain and in the snow your feet will always be protected. There are a variety of Wellingtons out there to suit everyone’s taste. If you look hard enough you can find anything from shiny ankle boots to thick, heavy duty wellies. And for extra warmth and comfort, check out Blacks for thermal welly socks starting at around £10. The Beanie Hat Okay, now for the beanie. I think we have all noticed that this icon has, oddly, been hot and on trend all year round. Everyone from celebrities to children have been rocking beanies. And because of this, a wide selection of colours, styles and shapes have been created, for fashion’s sake. So if you don’t have at least one already, get yourself a beanie. They are warm and stylish, and these days they go with absolutely anything and everything. The Phone Gloves Finally, I must say, the most frustrating thing I found was having to take my fingers out of my gloves in order for me to use my phone. It was always a battle between frozen fingers and phone usage. Phone usage generally won and the sacrificing of fingers would begin. Thinking about it, I ask myself, is that awful numb feeling worth it? Luckily, this year I’ve been able to upgrade to a phone that works with gloves on (yay!). But for those of you without such pleasures, the ‘phone gloves’ work wonders. You can get them for next to nothing on eBay. They have a grey (composite) tip on the thumbs that are wire interwoven, this enables compatibility with the screen on your phone or tablet. It’s always important to keep warm in the cold weather, I really hope these ideas have helped a bit. And oh yes, happy New Year.
jessica johnson
WESTWORLD 002 / FEB 2014
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High street – Size Sixteen Mannequins
son of groucho
Debenhams uses size 16 mannequins in an effort to better represent British women Article by Raphaella Carmen
On Wednesday 6 November, Debenhams introduced size 16 mannequins at its Oxford Street store; making it the first department store in England to use plus size dummies. Most high street retailers use size eight and ten mannequins, such as Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Marks & Spencer, despite the average British woman being a size 16. Debenhams first introduced the size 16 mannequins in 2010 for a two week trial period. They then announced that they would introduce them across the country and now three years later the new mannequins are in their Oxford Street store. Equalities Minister Jo Swinson, who was seen posing near the size 16 dummies at the launch, said the move makes business sense as recent research has revealed women are three times more likely to buy clothes modelled by someone their size. With the average British woman being a size 16, Debenhams’ use of size 16 dummies is a pretty smart move.
“I hope more retailers will recognize that meeting customer demand for more diversity makes good business sense,” said Jo Swinson in a statement accompanying the Debenhams launch. “Many customers want to see more realistic images in magazines, TV and on the high street, and having mannequins that reflect and celebrate our diverse society is one way of helping to achieve this.” Hughes Models’ plus size model, Kate Hislop discussed the event with Channel 5 on Wednesday: “For the first time really you will be able to go in as a consumer and think ‘that could look pretty good on me’.” Debenhams director Ed Watson said: “We’ve developed our own range of size 16 mannequins to sit alongside our usual size ten dummies. We felt it was important to better represent what real women actually look like when advertising our clothes. Having worked on this project for three years, we hope that it will help people in some small way to feel comfortable about their bodies and, crucially, that other retailers will follow.” Retailers have been largely criticised for using mannequins and models that do not reflect real women, which has led to a rise in the use of plus size models in advertising. Debenhams, in particular, have promised earlier this year to stop using airbrushed models in its product shots and invited other retailers to do the same, insisting it was their “moral obligation” to stop using airbrushing. However, the launch has also stirred some negative comments. A columnist for The Daily Telegraph said it is “crazy” to make women “feel good for being fat”: “But hang on – what gesture are we making here? Some women are naturally size 16 and we shouldn’t criticise them for it. The truth is, though, that the alarming size 16 average has happened because women (like men) are eating and drinking too much.” Many took to Twitter to share the same view that size 16 women are “fat” and that Debenhams were only using the size 16 mannequins for women and not men. The plus size dummies will be appearing in stores across the country in the upcoming months.
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Exhibition Review– Joëlle Tuerlinckx
W OR ( L ) D ( K ) I N PRO G RESS ? Belgian artist Joëlle Tuerlinckx holds most comprehensive presentation of her work to date in Bristol’s Arnolfini.
joëlle tuerlinckx: world(k) in progress?, installation view
Review by Tara Rance
Joëlle Tuerlinckx’s exhibition is now available for public viewing at the Arnolfini. The contemporary exhibition first started at Wiels in Brussels, then moved to Haus der kunst in Munich and has now arrived at Bristol where it will be available until the 16th March, free of charge. Tuerlinckx’s exhibition is spread across all three floors of the Arnolfini and has five galleries for visitors to explore. All five galleries focus on shapes such as the line, point and circle. These may be found on their own as wooden bars, circular cutouts, or hand drawn images which have been circled, such as a picture of a fish the artist drew as a child, now with a circle around it. Another important element in the exhibition is space and how Tuerlinckx has played with it. “An exhibition is, first and foremost, an experience of space – space composed, perhaps, of objects of space – that
proposes action, or reaction, as a means of reflection, of thinking our human condition.” Tuerlinckx stated this in 2012, and it is still apparent in her work a year later from the empty painted frames, the way she has written the titles of her art directly onto the walls and how a puppet gallery steward sits reading in the gallery space. Tuerlinckx decided to communicate her work in different ways to visitors. As well as the tactile art such as the sculptures and drawings, she also used sound and projection. The sound consisted of two parts; the noise of seagulls and voices reading Tuerlinckx’s writing. Using another sense in the exhibition really helped to make the visitors feel more involved in it. The projection displayed an extremely large image of a young model posing in her underwear, which looked like it was for a lingerie advert. Being such a large projection, this was one of the main features of the exhibition as it was impossible for it not to be noticed. The lighting that shone onto the projection
also encouraged this, changing from a warm, natural colour, to a deep red. The majority of visitors will, most likely, view the exhibition as being quite perplexing as it is hard to understand the precise meaning of Tuerlinckx’s work. For example, one gallery simply contains large sheets of white paper that cover every inch of the walls and it is hard to understand what Tuerlinkx is trying to express. This however, could have been one of the artist’s main intentions; to allow her visitors to interpret and perceive the art in their own way. Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking exhibition, which gets the mind questioning what it is really about. The way in which Tuerlinckx has used elements such as sound, shapes and space really help to make the exhibition individual. An afternoon well spent. Admission: free For more information: arnolfini.org.uk