Le Bonbon - London - February 2016 by Le Bonbon

ISN’T LIFE BEAUTIFUL?!

February 2016 - n° 11 - www.lebonbon.co.uk

Photographe : Flavien Prioreau www.ﬂavienprioreau.com ﬂavienprioreau@hotmail.com Modèle : Aymeric Isnard

EDITO

Founder Jacques de la Chaise Director Charles Guillet Business Development Director Vuk Levkovic Editor Benjamin Harvey Art director Tom Gordon Contributors Pauline Daron, Anissa Boumachouene, Chloe Hunt, Valentin Vignaud, Karina Stridh, Antony Thiriat, Sonny Syah, Elodie Hazelwood Photographers Sarah (Mez) Merrett mezphotography.format.com Zak Dimitrov www.zdravkodimitrov.com Ella Hermë www.ellaherme.com Contact us hello@lebonbon.co.uk Le Bonbon Limited 3 Stanford Mews Dalston Lane London - E8 1JA

Advertising and enquiries Vuk@lebonbon.co.uk 079 8365 1644 Charles@lebonbon.co.uk 079 8365 1643

Last month I bought my partner a little book of Kokology. You know those dumb little psychological games designed to uncover the emotional and behavioral traits of a person by asking them a series of questions about an imaginary situation. ‘There is a cube in a desert, how big is it?’ or ‘There is a horse in a field, how far away is it?’ or ‘A man walking down a country path walks into a puddle, how deep is it?’ The arresting way, in which Kokology molds and manipulates the picture that forms in a players mind through suggestive questioning, loses its power after two or three rounds. The size and shape of an object that suddenly appears is, more often than not, a symbol of values (be it internal or otherwise). The ease or difficulty of a task symbolizes how you deal in certain situations or how you cope when faced with adversity. After a very short while you realise how stupid Kokology is, even if as little as ten minutes before it had some weighty spiritual or mystical power to see straight into your soul. The hype, or more accurately, the near universal lack of enthusiasm for the month of February is a little like Kokology. The build up to it - thoughts of cold, dark afternoons and the weary boredom it stirs – seems to shape this narrative that February will be this depressing, nothing time of the year, with no value, consequence or meaning. Like Kokology, how we respond to thoughts of February and its structural elements initially seems to uncover complex personal psychological traits, but really they are just words and numbers attached to the passing of time with little meaning or motive involved. But, to consider February in terms of its structural elements for a moment, let’s look at the facts. It is an anomaly. It is a unique month, an individual one – it stands out amongst the crowd. For the first time in four years, February 2016 (a leap year) gifts us an extra 24 hours, a whole day of opportunity and who knows what will happen? Who among us will finally get the chance to celebrate their actual birthday on the 29th? How many people will fall in love - an Irish tradition has it that women are supposed to propose? What scientific breakthroughs will take place? What are you going to do? This February issue of Le Bonbon is also special as we have some of the most exciting content to date. From the amazing French illustrator Jean Jullien to the shoe-gaze sounds of Beach Baby, through traditional Polynesian drum dancing and a new furniture showroom and botanist on Hackney Road, his issue of Le Bonbon is full of love and we created it all for you. We hope you have a wonderful month this February and wish you a Le Bonbon time. Benjamin Harvey

The east end has changed

So should your estate agent

daveystone.com Estate Agents for the East End

CONTENTS

2016

Conservatory Archives

L'Erbolario

Hula Kicks

Dan Hillier

Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes

Jean Jullien

Le Bon Cocktail

Lady Bonbon

Love Stinks Party WEDNESDAY 17th FEBRUARY QUEEN OF HOXTON

LE BON TIMING

Red Africa @ Calvert 22 This multicultural exhibition will feature works from artists, ﬁlm makers and art collectives and

Bruno Querci @ Appestat

explores the relationship between Africa and the

This month Appestat is hosting an inquisitive

Soviet Union during the Second World War.

exhibition of paintings by Bruno Querci, an

Where? Calvert 22, 22 Calvert Avenue, London E2 7JP When? from Feb 4th until Apr 3rd How much? Free

artist born in São Paulo. The exhibition aims to deepen our ideas and interpretations of time, history and ancestry. The Latino origin of Bruno has a direct impact on his work, which conveys a sense of nostalgia, place and the passing of time.

Where? Appestat, 102 Islington High St, London N1 8EG When? P V (with a performance by Fritz Helder) 26th February How much? Free

Le Bonbon Love Stinks party @ The Queen of Hoxton We're still recovering from Christmas but are already told to buy ﬂowers and book tables... Not to be outdone, 2015 wasn't a good year: our 'Right Swipes' were right twats. Single is the word and Le Bonbon is ready to make you forget those long wintery nights alone. Come and join the warm atmosphere at Queen of Hoxton for a night that will be sweet and chill.

Where? Queen of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX Londres. When? 17th February from 7 :00pm to 11 :30pm How much? £5 Advance tickets / £7 OTD

LE BON BOTANIST Text Sonny Syah Pictures Zak Dimitrov

Conservatory Archives: The Culture Is Growing Somewhere along Hackney Road. Plants and antiques. The article had to be submitted the next day. There was no time. I wait for City Mapper to load as I stand on a street corner somewhere in East London; all I can see are rainclouds laughing down at me.

And then just like that everything

to various ceramics and indoor

turned ever so pleasantly on

Horticulture; all personally

its head. Stepping out of the

sourced from antique markets

unabated scramble of bustling

around Europe and Scandinavia.

Hackney Road and into the

Jin tells me the initial concept

Conservatory Archives is like

of the store came about when

ﬁnding yourself in a welcomed

she was studying Horticulture.

oasis in the eye of a storm.

Whilst there seemed to be strong emphasis on landscaping and

As Billie Holiday plays from an

outdoor gardens, consequently

antique Hi-Fi in the corner of

there was very little in the ﬁeld

the showroom, I am immediately

concerning interior design and

drawn to the lush green that

plants- or what she fondly refers

hangs, sprouts, and shades

to as ‘living sculptures’... each

in its entire natural splendor.

uniquely tailored to any living

Only a month into the venture,

space.

young couple, Jin and Giacomo,

has cultivated a desirable

Giacomo on the other hand, has

environment. What used to be

a doctorate in Mathematics, yet

an old hardware store has now

through his family in Italy, a line

been reclaimed and re-ﬁtted to

can be traced through a love and

showcase everything from smart

passion of antique trading. They

Teak shelving and armchairs,

speak fondly of their adventures

abroad sourcing stock, and the colorful eccentricities of the collectors they happen to meet along the way. To label the Conservatory Archives as an antique shop with plants would be nearsighted and misleading. What separates them from your typical bespoke antique stores and upmarket plant shops is their vast range of exotic interior botanicals and niche furniture items, each handpicked from a couple with an eye for design. From specimen Cacti and ‘Swiss Cheese Plants’ in colossal ceramic pots, Fiddle Leaf Figs, hanging ‘String Of Pearls’ and Air Plants, to miniature plants for glass Terrarium houses and window sills... everything is ﬂowing lush and green. No cut ﬂowers and dried plants to be

found here. The large space

about the Latin names of some

they have utilized enables Jin

of the species of plants, or just

and Giacomo to showcase a vast

have a coffee from their Espresso

array of unique Horticultural

machine and enjoy the respite

additions, with one-off items

from the outside world. It’s

that are constantly changing due

getting back to the madness of

to demand.

our busy lives that may have to

And from the plant aﬁcionado to

wait a little longer.

the browsing weekend window shopper, they encourage all to pop in and take a look around, ﬂick through one of their specialty books, chat to Jin

Conservatory Archives 493-495 Hackney Road London | E2 9ED FB : /conservatoryarchives 7

LE BON FRAGRANCE

Smell the Roses in L’Erbolario

In search of spring? We found it. Simply wander up Upper Street, past inviting restaurants and busy cafes, until you get to 106A, L’Erbolario. Push the door open, hear the bells announce your arrival-and pause. Let gorgeous scents caress your nose, as if someone just handed you a fresh bouquet.

the Nettle Lotion are still top

and their selection of room

sellers from the original line.

sprays, diffusers and candles can

In the lovely mint green store

reinvigorate a home with

on Upper Street, your eyes

the promise of spring this glum

are treated to cabinets upon

February.With the exceptionally

cabinets of products, each

friendly staff, headed by

in packaging more delightful

charming Alexa Titus, Who are

than the next. At the front, you

on hand to help you ﬁnd, for a

ﬁnd the signature perfumes.

family member or yourself, and

The Legni Fruttati scent, with

the undeniably excellent prices

notes of pear and cedar wood,

for these all natural products,

and summery Neroli perfume,

L’Erbolario is a must visit the next

The L’Erbolario on Upper Street

delicate bitter orange blossom,

time you are in Angel.

might be the only one of its

are the store’s best sellers--for

kind in England, but it is widely

good reason.

popular in its founding country,

While the many perfumes explain

Italy. Still family run after nearly

the store’s fantastic scent, it is

40 years, L’Erbolario started as

hardly L’Erbolario’s only offering.

a small herbalist store in Lodi,

They have a range of skin care

Italy, making cosmetics based

products packed with natural

on family recipes. Not much

vitamins to save your face

has changed, as far as their

from winter winds, their hair care

dedication to environmentally-

range even includes dyes based

friendly, natural products goes.

on natural ingredients

The Royal Jelly Face Cream and

like berries, henna and cocoa,

— Advertorial Karina Stridh

106A Upper Street, Islington Borough London N1 1QN www.erbolario.com/en www.facebook.com/ erbolariolondon

LE BON DANCE

Hula Kicks

Traditional Polynesian live drum-dancing south of the river “It is diﬃcult to describe what happens,” Fran tells me over a beer in a pub in Shoreditch, “it is a huge part of my life and when I perform, it is like I transform into someone else.” spiritual heritage of Polynesian

difﬁcult to deﬁne - you just have

Fran is Hula Kicks, an expressive

dancing. The two venues are

to experience it for yourself.

performance art collective who

distinct in design. Kona Kai - with

— Advertorial Benjamin Harvey

couriers Polynesian culture

its seashell lampshades, wooden

through traditional drum dancing.

walls, well-stocked rum bar and

The work - that Fran ardently

intelligent cocktail menu - has a

describes as an attempt to

casual, lazy-summer-evening feel

teleport an audience to the

to it. It is the perfect setting for a

slow lapping shores of the south

relaxed evening of conversation.

paciﬁc – comprises of a duo of

Sugar Cane, on the other hand,

drummers and her serpentine

is far livelier – a nightspot with

movements, “I have an undying

Tiki hut booths and a bamboo bar

love for the sea,” she tells me.

offering tropical cocktails – the perfect place to shake loose

Her performances, at home in

the proverbial dust that gathers

Kona Kai ("Kai" in Hawaiian means

during a stultifying working week.

his or her sea.. ) an authentic Tiki bar in Fulham, and Sugar

Fran has an arresting gaze

Cane in Clapham Junction, have

that draws you in and, as she

each fortnight become a part of

describes with passion what

the ﬁxtures in each venue and

Hula Kicks are about, she slowly

offer guests a unique experience

and gently takes you to another

that is not so much an ‘act’ but

part of the world. TThe emphatic

an invitation for an audience to

performances are like no other in

interact and engage with the rich

the city and conjures something

Facebook: Hula Kicks Twitter: @francinetalei Instagram: hula_kicks Kona Kai Bar 515 Fulham Rd, London SW6 1HD Tel. 020 7385 9991 www.konakai.co.uk Sugar Cane Bar 247 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 1JW Tel. 020 7223 8866 www.thesugarcane.co.uk

LE BON ART Text Benjamin Harvey Artwork Dan Hillier

Dan Hillier’s New Art Histories I discovered your work on the

looked out of the window and

It reminds me a little of Jake and

cover of Royal Blood’s debut LP.

there was a row of them on the

Dinos Chapman’s reimagination

Yeah, they got in touch with me

platform so that was nice.

of Goya paintings and also Mat Collishaw’s work. I guess the

in the summer of 2014. I don’t know whether you’ve seen

The work is this kind of blend

reason I mention this is because

the cover of their EP, but they

of different things, this kind of

I’d consider you an artist rather

wanted something similar to that

Victorian imagery with this more

than an illustrator.

and so they must have Googled

fantastical world that you invent

Being an illustrator versus an

‘man with animal headed’ and

through that. In a way I think it is

artist is something that has

found my work. I went to meet

placed in East London.

come up recently. A few people

them and I had a listen to the

It is funny because my original

have been writing about my

music and though it would be

plan a couple of years ago was

work and sort of calling me an

good to work together. I mean I

I had this idea of selling body

illustrator and it doesn’t really

don’t normally do commissions; I

parts from my stall on Brick

ﬁt for me, because I’m not

usually just have my own artwork

Lane. I still have the stall and I

illustrating anything. But working

but I thought they were going to

still sell some of my work there

with those historical sources I

do really well and the music was

now, it’s on Hanbury Street so

feel that there is an enjoyable

good so I thought I’d give it a go.

there is this Jack the Ripper

continuation of what those

thing going on around there as

artisans and artists were doing,

The album was actually released

well. I was collecting a lot of old

making those back in the day.

two days after I went on this

Victorian anatomy books and

The work is incomprehensibly

nine-day retreat in Peru so

things like that. I started making

detailed and the skills and

I didn’t actually get so see

these characters in like 2006/

craftsmanship of what they made

anything because I was away.

2007 but my work has shifted a

150 years ago, I feel like I’m just

I was getting messages from

bit since then. Where I used to

picking it up and running with it

people saying, ‘your pictures are

create these Victorian characters

and so it does feel like there is

all over town, it’s doing really

it’s balanced out into landscapes

this historical context I guess.

well’ and stuff. When I arrived

and starry skies, more elemental

back in London I got onto the

stuff really.

tube in Heathrow and I kind of

My initial inﬂuence was Max Ernst who was doing this back in the

30s with his collages, he was

my work, not into that full 3D

getting the ink out and playing

making all these books out of

necessarily but to make some

around with that to see where it

found material and so I feel it is a

objects, like triptychs. I love

leads me. I think the next thing

continuation of that as well.

the medieval triptychs in the

that is going to be big for me is

National Gallery where you have

The Globe. Emma Rice is the new

I’m thinking about Hans Bellmer

these beautiful wooden panelled

Creative Director and so when

and his ‘La Poupée’. Would you

objects that would have been

she got the job she got in touch

ever work with sculpture? I have

carried around in a case then

with me and asked if they could

thought about it. I love the idea

sort of set out and opened up.

use some of my artwork for all of the years promotional material,

of working with 3D but I keep coming back to 2D because of

What’s the plan for the rest of

such as posters and stuff. We’re

habit really. It is a whole other

the year?

going to do a proper release in

skill set to learn so maybe

I am feeling the urge to do

April so that is pretty exciting.

sometime in the future. But I

something a bit different. I am

think the next thing is to take

doing some stuff with colour and

LE BON ETOILE Text Elodie Hazelwood Photo Lily Rose Thomas

Catching up with Beach Baby At the beginning of Brett Easton Ellis’ terse comingof-age debut novel Less Than Zero, damaged west coast rich kid Clay gets picked up from LAX airport and anxiously meditates on what’s to come. Whilst his ex-girlfriend Blair drives him home on the freeway, her words stick in his mind ‘for an uncomfortably long time... People are afraid to merge on the highway in Los Angles.’

gaze, rich with the complex inner

actor or a musician, a writer or

workings of its characters. I think

an artist – it’s as if the mundanity

of Less Than Zero every time I

of hospitality offers the space

listen to Beach Baby.

for creative thinking. When I got

The novel (published in 1985

Ollie and I have been friends

Records and their debut release,

when Ellis was just 21 years

for a long time. We used to give

Ladybird, weaves both Lawrence

old), which follows Clay as he

rich people food in a Venetian

and Ollie’s vocals through this

becomes increasingly alienated

themed chain restaurant in Soho

neatly crafted, pop-rock tune.

and isolated from the people

and sneak shots of bourbon

Channeling the sounds of late

around him, catapulted the

from behind the bar. When we

Pavement records and The Cure,

young writer into international

ﬁrst met he told me that he

the band later released No Mind/

success. His minimalist writing

makes music and I shrugged it

No Money, Limousine and most

style set a president for a new

off fairly quickly. Anyone that has

recently Sleeperhead, all of

generation of writers, one that

ever worked in a restaurant will

which interplay odd Gen X lyrics

offered a deft and evocative

recognise that everyone is an

with this pissed-off-sweet-guys

home that evening I plugged in When I meet Ollie Pash one of

to listen to his band. From the

a duo of frontmen (along with

second his voice torched at the

Lawrence Pumfrey) in Beach

beginning of their sole release at

Baby, he describes to me how

the time, I was blown away.

things appear to be on the up for the band on everyone’s radar at the moment. “It’s going really

Since then the band has changed

well, yeah...” he says, after which

its set up and have been working

there follows a long pause. He is

on shaping and perfecting their

annoyingly modest.

style and sound. Last year they were snapped up by Chess Club

angst and innovatively structured

or settings that form a backdrop

set to rise exponentially in 2016

songs.

to i-D esque’ portraiture on the

as with each release they draw in

single covers are like the tight

more and more fans. With a full

Ollie had just arrived back from

rhythm section of the band

L.P. release on the cards later on

the US, where the band played

composed of the Greek bassist

in the year, it doesn’t just seem

a number of shows in New York

Iraklis Theocharopoulos and the

to be going ‘alright’ for the four

and LA, Ollie’s partner Lily Rose

drummer Josh ‘Shep’ Hodgson.

piece. It rather seems that we truly have to watch this space,

Thomas, a deeply talented photographer (the two are a kind

The band has a busy schedule

because something is going to

of inverted Patti Smith/ Robert

of live shows moving forward

happen, and it’s going to rock like

Mapplethorpe type dynamic duo),

into spring with a slot supporting

nothing else.

went with them to document

the infamous Bill Ryder Jones at

the trip and show support.

Scala in Kings Cross on March

—

Her art direction for the band

3rd and a UK tour with Sundara

(directing their music videos

Karma throughout February and

and designing their covers) has

March. Their shows are feverishly

this concretizing affect on the

intoxicating and tight but

world that Beach Baby imbues.

increasingly difﬁcult to get tickets

The solid, bright pallid colours

to. The popularity of the band is

www.chessclub-records. co.uk/tag/beach-baby/ www.soundcloud.com/ beachbabymusic Facebook : Beach Baby Music Twitter: @beachbabymusic 13

LE BON COLLECTIVE Text Anissa Boumachouene Artwork Alice Dunseath

Dancing Shoes for the Eyes Have you ever been for a drink in a bar that turned out to be far more than just another trendy, nicely lit location in which to while away the hours sipping mojitos?

What better way to get strangers

taken from the philosophical

interacting than by throwing

movement known as Object

some of the most vibrant and

Oriented Ontology, which

challenging contemporary

promotes the idea that all

artworks into the mix?

objects are equal, connected,

Icebreakers and conversation-

‘alive’ even, an idea opposing

starters will be a thing of the

the standard view of the world

past, when a swift glance over

that places humans as the

Whilst knocking back your limey-

your shoulder is all you’ll need if

dominate force. Using lights,

delight you discover that the

you are lacking inspiration. More

objects, videos and imagery, two

building’s four walls are home to

importantly however, all the

walls of the venue will explore

a whole host of ‘extracudrinkular’

work is from local artists, further

both the unimaginable vastness

activities. Dream Bags Jaguar

strengthening the sense of

of the macrocosm, and the

Shoes on Kingsland Road is an

community this kind of exhibition

imperceptible minuteness of

example of such a venue. It

will promote. For example, over

the microcosm. The focus is

wasn’t the stone baked pizzas or

the next few weeks (29/01/16-

taken far away from the ‘middle

the extensive cocktail list that

13/03/16) the venue will host

ground’ that we humans occupy,

really got our mouths watering.

the work of Alice Dunseath, an

asking us to ponder something

Nor was it the promise of lazy

associate lecturer at Goldsmiths

more. Is your head hurting from

Sunday markets and an ever-

College, whose work has been

reading this? The best thing you

changing roster of DJs that truly

screened here in London at

can do is to take yourself down

piqued our interest. No, what

the V&A, Selfridges and at ﬁlm

there and see it for yourself.

Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes offers

festivals internationally. Her

You should probably grab a mind

that we are most excited about

broad portfolio includes ﬁlm title

loosening cocktail whilst you’re

are the art exhibitions - featuring

sequences, commercials, fashion

at it.

local artists - that dominate its

ﬁlms and virals for clients such as

walls and inform the interior

BBC Radio 4 and The Barbican.

scheme of the two-story venue. Just when you were worried the

The installation she is presenting

conversation was about to dry

in this Shoreditch bar is called

up.

Project OOO. Its title’s 3 O’s are

Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes 32-34 Kingsland Road London, E2 8DA Phone: 020 7683 0912

BONBONERS! COME JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

FOLLOW ME !

www.lebonbon.co.uk

FB : Le Bonbon London Insta : Lebonbonldn Twitter : @LebonbonLDN

BOTTEGA PRELIBATO

APPESTAT

Enjoy a FREE coffee or tea with your BRUNCH

Free glass of house wine*

Authentic Italian Food Coffee – Delicatessen – Gallery

Phone: 020 7739 4995 info@bottegaprelibato.com

Phone: 020 7226 5457

45 Rivington St. – London | EC2A 3QB

102 Islington High Street – London | N1 8EG

www.bottegaprelibato.com

www.appestat.co.uk

*with any main course ordered

L'ERBOLARIO Bonbon Price : £40

Y O U R Gift set* Usual price : £47 Cosmetics & Beauty

H E R E

Call!

Phone: 020 3601 8130 106A Upper Street – London | N1 1QN *incl. a candle, a roll-on perfume and a bath/ shower gel Only in February – as long as stocks last

079 8365 1644 vuk@lebonbon.co.uk

AIDA Warm up this February

Coffee for only £1,50

Menswear - Womenswear - Homeware - Café Phone: 020 7739 2811 133 Shoreditch High St - London | E1 6JE www.aidashoreditch.co.uk

OTHER CAFE GALLERY

CHOI’S

Only £45*

Valentine’s night offer

50% off for all kinds*

Vintage design & Sophisticated food Phone: 077 8726 9499

Workshops – Bespoke Jewellery

otherinvoices@gmail.com

Phone: 077 2052 5199 - @ChoiCHois

48 Balls Pond Rd – London | N1 4AP

226 Bethnal Green Road – London | E2 0AA

*incl. cocktails, champagne, 3 courses meal, dessert and coffee.

*expiring 31st of March

QUARANTACINQUE

STRONGROOM BAR & KITCHEN

Only £10 Sandwich & Coffee ONLY £5!

Serious Italian Coffee

Yeah Burger* + Fries + Pint Strongroom & the Yeah! Burger

Phone: 020 89816765

Phone: 020 7426 5103

45 Romand Road – London | E2 0HU

120-124 Curtain Road – London | EC2A 3SQ

www.quarantacinque.co.uk

Available Mon-Sun 12pm-4pm

FB: /cafequarantacinque - @cafequaranta5

*Meat option or Veggie option

HOLIDAY INN PARIS OPÉRA GRANDS BOULEVARDS****

RESIDENCE

89€*

Standard room

+ 2 breakfasts included +2 "bateaux-mouches" tickets

Free glass of delicious Moroccan house wine* City Break in Paris !

Wine – Coffee – Design

Price : 164€/pers for 2 nights, 244€/pers for 3 nights

Phone: 020 3538 7887

Dates: 22 Jan to 15 March included

130 Upper Clapton Road – London | E5 9JY

Reservation : reservation@hiopera.com

*offer stands for the evenings

* 89€ / pers for 1 night (on a double occupancy basis). Special

Buy one get one free !

offer with code "Bonbon"

THE RESTORATION

Free gift*

CONSERVATORY ARCHIVES

Free plant*

Vintage – Furniture – Home accessories

Vintage goods – Plantae

Phone: 079 9057 3889

Phone: 077 8552 2762

Unit 1 Bouverie Mews, 2 Bouverie road

493-495 Hackney Road – London | E1 6JE

London | N16 0AJ

Tuesday to Sunday 11.00am - 7.00pm

www.the-restoration.com *When you spend over £100 in store

FB: /conservatoryarchives

*on spending over £15 – offer available on week days only

SIGNORELLI

THE MERCANTILE

Find the best present for your

soulmate Get 10% off instore

Special prosecco brunch

FREE Signorelli bread to take home!*

Independent Womens Clothing Boutique

Bakery - Pasticceria - Catering

Phone: 020 7377 8926

Phone: 020 8534 4972

17 Lamb Street, Spitalﬁelds – London | E1 6EA

ciao@signorelli.co.uk

www.themercantilelondon.com

7 Victory Parade, East village – London | E20 1FS

Fb & Insta : /mercantilelondon

www.signorelli.co.uk

* for any brunch ordered during the week days

LE BON WALL

I’m not one for Valentines cards, so how’s a magazine instead? Love you B

“I only shiver when

“Evie & Dids I love you both to the moon and back” Your Big Sis

your adoring eyes pierce right through me” Stendhal – Just him, simply, yes.

“Forever is a long time, but I wouldn't mind spending it with you Victoria” Charly – Last Sat, after his ﬁfth pint at The Victoria Pub.

“Pretinha Faço tudo pelo nosso amor

Obviously.

Faço tudo pelo bem de nosso bem (meu bem)..” Seu Jorge - São Gonça – it’s

5. Clouds of love to my sweetest, above the seas, through thin air.

just a song I like, alright!? Phew! I love you like crazy Reb -Benjamin

Jane, an eternally emotional creature

So sei dançar con voce meu amor. Marilia – Carioca for life

Mon soleil, tes rayons manquent à mon coeur givré. Je t'aime ma Pauline. Raoul – Sippin’ some White Russian cocktail

Lover

“My Dear, I wont stop until your legs are shaking and the neighbours know my name” - Big Tony

“The most wonderful thing you gave me is Nous étions deux nous étions deux, et j'ai dit oui à ton ennui. La Femme – French is sexy isn’t it?

Rainy Monday in London : kisses falling from the sky, like tasty drops. Ervin, Professional Space

conﬁdence- I trusted you. In this fucked up world, because of many reasons I do not trust anybodyeven myself. You changed it and than ruined it. My heart is broken”. Andy – While looking at a pic of his dead Persian cat hanging in the toilet

LE BON ILLO Text Benjamin Harvey Picture Jackson Krule

The wonderful world of Jean Jullien The splendid French illustrator Jean Jullien rose to extraordinary new heights toward the end of last year after his ‘Peace for Paris’ symbol became the wistful icon for peace in response to the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris last November.

There is something distinctly

craft, balancing commercial

satisfying about his work. His

work with studies- the colleges

probing eye examines and denies

respectfully offering him the

the banality of everyday life.

freedom to explore his creativity.

Using the world as a canvas,

“From my mother I discovered

his illustrations are playful and

the simple, inventive creativity

whimsical as well as beautiful and

of modernism and from my

provocative. Before he arrived

father the politics,” he tells

that afternoon, I come across an

me. And though his education

Instagram post – drawn onto the

played a major role in his artistic

side of a bathtub the head of one

development, one gets a sense

“Like a lot of my work, it came

of his characters has their eyes

that Jullien operates best when

as a response to something in

shut as they smile and sink into a

he is given the time and space to

the world,” he tells me when

bubble bath. The caption reads

wrestle with his unique ingenuity.

we sit down for coffee in a café

‘indulgence...’ We talk for a while about what’s

near his studio in East London. Though some criticised Jullien

Jullien has never studied

next. With clients ranging from

for using the tragedy to further

illustration. The son of an

Childline, Google, The Guardian

his commercial career, he tells

architect/ curator mother and

and The New York Times it might

me that the illustration came

a politically minded father, he

seem that there is little else

from an earnest place, “I like to

came to London to study graphic

to explore commercially. The

communicate something with my

design at Central Saint Martins

mention of David Shrigley sparks

work and I tend to respond to

around six years ago. After his

an interest, “I think that the show

topical events or dialogues that

undergraduate studies, he went

in the Hayward a while back was

are happening in the world, be

to the Royal College of Art where

amazing. For an artist/ illustrator

it our compulsion to use social

he completed a Masters in Visual

to be given that amount of

media or the ﬂatness of a work-

Communication. It was during

space to operate within, it was

driven society.”

this time that he developed his

great to see.” He rolls off a list

of things that he is working on:

through Jullien's lens, to the

turning subjects and objects in

a television programme with his

right, the path leads towards

on themselves. As he moves from

brother, something for a start-up

intelligent, commercial product

project to project, he continues

in the Silicon Valley (he couldn’t

design and to the left, the work

to gather momentum to the

mention the name), a couple

of an artist using sculpture, paint

point where there seems to be

of exhibitions, a clothing line

and installation.

no stopping him. I ask him if he fears running out of steam? “It

in collaboration with a clothing brand in Tokyo. As he describes

He is a generous and conscious

has to be good,” he says, “when

the projects to me we reach this

artist with his feet ﬁrmly on

it stops being good, then I’ll start

moment, a kind of three-pronged

the ground. With ineffable

worrying.” There is no sign of that

fork in the road. Straight ahead

enthusiasm, the wonderful world

happening anytime soon.

there is this continued offering of

of Jean Jullien has the power

—

an illustrative world reimagined

to make us laugh and think,

www.jeanjullien.com 27

And you, you can be mean And I, I'll drink all the time Yes, we're lovers, and that is that

David Robert Jones 1947 - 2016

Artwork Jean Jullien

'Cause we're lovers, and that is a fact

LE BON CREATIVE

21st Century Love in ABC’s

Afternoons, animals, anxiety,

Crossed Lovers, just... can you

Kawara’s ‘Today’ series, pictures,

anniversaries, all the small things,

just, keep calm, keep trying,

photos, parties, playing, passing

biology, Bob Dylan, blossom,

kaleidoscopes, Kim and Kanye,

out, pathetic and pointless

blue, beer, bloom, cancelling

kale and beetroot with lemon

arguments, pernickety, precious

plans, cinemas, chemistry, C.

zest, lemonade, lounging on the

attention to detail, questioning

Love, cream, cards, dropping

sofa, laying in bed, looking deep

the meaning and motive,

everything, dazed, dead inside,

into their eyes, looking deep

quietness, quilts, quasars, quite

deliberating, do’s & don’ts,

into their soul, looking at the

a lot of stuff, quibbles, queen of

detox, dizziness, dying embers

ground as they talk and talk and

bleeding everything, red in the

elaborate gifts, emergencies,

talk at you, momentarily giving

face, rosy cheeks, raw anger,

embellishment, engagement,

up, movements of the ocean,

raw emotions, raw minced meat

emoji sincerity, entertainment,

mentioning each other to friends

in front of us because we didn’t

fantasy, French kisses, ﬁctions,

and family, making up future

understand the menu in that

friction, feeling like the world

plans, marriage, melodrama,

restaurant that we went to on

is about to implode, feeling

making plans, melted chocolate

holiday, realising that you are

like you’re on top of the world,

dripping from their stomach

completely and utterly obsessed

feeling microscopically small in

down to the dip in their thighs,

and overcome with a deep feeling

the world, gradually breaking

noticing birthmarks and odours,

of love and admiration, settling

down boundaries, gathering

never letting go, never let me

down, sunsets, screaming,

thoughts and feelings, gifts, gifs,

go, not now not ever, Netﬂix and

selﬁsh, sensual, sexual,

games, gondola rides through

chill, nobody does it better, not

sensational, tense, traumatic,

Venice, happiness, hatred,

in a million years, over and over

tender, trepidation, unending,

hearts, hands, hundreds &

again, OJ and bacon pancakes,

unedited, unadulterated,

thousands on ice creams, in

on Sunday mornings we’ll take

unﬁnished, undying love...

the middle of an argument,

a walk down the canal, on our

—

intertwined, idling on sandy

wedding day we’ll do it in the

Text Benjamin Harvey

beaches, in city parks, jumping,

car from the chapel, on our

Photo Reiu Tüür Opera 2008

jelly beans, Jupiter, juniper,

honeymoon we’ll do it in the sea,

Stone lithography

jello shots, Juliet and the Star

on the shore, out in space, On

LE BON COCKTAIL Text Seki Lynch Photos Anoldent

A Tale Of Two Tipples Writer and cocktail extraordinaire at London’s Society Club, Seki Lynch, has created a beautiful cocktail for us and has kindly shared the recipe for you to try at home.

notably a Shimbashi at Le Sherry

a favourite tipple of his the

Butt, comprised of Japanese

Webster’s F. Street Layaway Plan

whiskey, ﬁno sherry and bitters.

is a perfect marry between my

Yet fonder still is my memory of

time in Paris and London. To pay

buying a bottle of Chartreuse

homage to my time in both and

Verte (my favourite French spirit)

help chase away the blues I give

with my best friend, hurrying

you a twist… Cheers.

back to Rue Roy, and drinking it I have fond memories of drinking

in an apartment the size of an

in Paris. It seemed the cocktail

oven.

scene took off in a big way around late 2012- early 2013.

Back in London now, even as

Great joints like Le Coq, Le Mary

dry January has many in its

Celeste, Curio Parlor and Le

dreary grip, (insanity that in

Sherry Butt were causing a stir

the month we acknowledge to

amongst locals and tourists. To

have the most depressing day

ﬁnd even a half decent drink

of the year, we deny ourselves

prior to this, one had to visit

aid!), the pickling of my liver

the old institutions or expensive

continues. London dry gin, as

hotels and leave with little more

most other gins, is a close friend

than dust in your pockets. These

of mine. Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald

new bars offered great drinks in

also had a grand affection for

enviable spaces at fair prices-

it. Rumoured to have been

Rue Roy Layaway Plan

45ml London Dry Gin 10ml Green Chartreuse 10ml Cynar 2 Drops Angostura bitters Lemon twist Add ingredients to mixing glass. Add ice and stir till diluted. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Enjoy.

LADY BONBON Text Lexi Rose Artwork Jean Jullien

The Adventures of Lady Bonbon: Valentine’s Day Dear diary, As it’s February it seems apt to write an entry about Valentine’s Day. Plus, the gorgeous team at Le Bonbon asked me to. It's taken me all day to try. I sit here, pen poised, wondering what can I possibly say on the subject?

Cue the violin.

is the only day of the year pretty

I could write here what I wrote

much every man that walks past

to my friend Kevin earlier, about

me is carrying some sort of ﬂoral

how I'm happy being single and

arrangement.

"not gonna let some half-baked-

I could also lament that it's also a

ass-hat-Hallmark-holiday make

day that causes expectation and

me feel bad about it" I'm a strong

therefore causes disappointment

and independent woman and

for many.

screw love. Sadly I cant sing or swagger

But you know what? I'm not going

like Beyoncé, so that’s out the

to say any of those things.

window. I could write about how I'm

There is no way I’m going to

single. How I haven’t got a date

I could also lament that it's a day

let myself turn into a clichéd

this year, again.

that creates expectations and

bitter anti-valentines-scrooge

therefore causes disappointment

just because no one’s rocking

How my Valentine’s Day will

for many, I’ll probably dedicate

up at my door with a bottle of

probably amount to me moaning

a small part of the day thinking

wine this February 14th whilst I

to my buddy Emily that I

of how I’ve spent the past year,

lie seductively on a bed of rose

didn't get any cards and how the

heart on sleeve, repeatedly

petals with no pants on.

cashier in my Sainsbury's local

leaving myself open to rejection

Instead I'm going to say this

gave me a look of sympathy as I

and boys treating me meanly.

about Valentine's.

bought half priced Häagan-Dazs

I COULD sit here and rant like

It is lovely if you have

and a bottle of rosé on my way

I did to some work colleagues

someone special to spoil. And

home (which I would've bought

about how it's stupid that people

so you should spoil them if that's

regardless of what day it is).

celebrate love on only one day a

your wish… or if you and your

year. How it amuses me that this

beloved don't ‘do’ Valentine's

that is OK too. And if you are on

my jokes and makes me laugh.

Again, my darlings I do not know,

your own like me and are feeling

Maybe this man loves to watch

but he’ll appear when he’s ready.

a little blue and lonely that’s ok

American basketball at 3am as

Well, handsome man,

too. It’s better to be alone than

much as I do. And will appreciate

wherever you are - as Michael

to be with someone who makes

when I quote Beastie Boys lyrics

Bublé once said:

us feel sad.

at them. "Who is this man?" I

I just haven't met you yet.

And somewhere out there there

hear you all ask in unison like a

is a man who's tall. A lovely man

Greek chorus!

that is also so handsome that

Well, I don't know him... but I

Yours,

it makes me ache. He will be

know he's out there somewhere.

Lady Bonbon x

my best friend. Who laughs at

“Where will you ﬁnd him?”

LE BON MYSTIC

Aries

Cancer

Things are rather petty for you this month, small

BIG SMILE.

things which you know you should brush off are

You are about to get money coming in. No reason

really getting under your skin. You’re struck by a

to be a cheapskate-but rather the pragmatic and

lightening bolt of insecurity and everybody you

ambitious person that you are. My advice would be

know and love is putting you to the test, constant

to think about a placement. Your business dreams

misunderstandings need to be stamped out, so try

will come true - courage and stamina. These are all

to stop and think before you open your mouth or

good news for you who was suffering last month, it

it could cost you. However, same sex relationships

seems like you are ﬁnally touching the light. Hurray!

could be your saviour. Gravitate towards somebody

It’s about time.

with a strong spiritual connection; they could help you out in more ways than one.

Taurus

Leo Your list is looking good: taking on new challenges

You can feel it coming... Websites are bursting

at work CHECK; breathing new life into dusty old

with reminders and cards scream at you from

friendships CHECK; keeping in touch with family

shop windows. That’s right, St Valentine is comin’

CHECK! In fact, you've been so consistently brilliant

to town. But deep down, you know it: ﬁnding

at taking care of everything around you that you've

that special person won’t be made any easier by a

been neglecting that extra special person in your

whole mess of advertising and social pressure. And

life... That’s right, it’s time for a little bit of you time.

true love isn’t a commodity simply to be bought and

So turn your phone off, put some music on, ﬁll the

sold. This year let February be a month just like any

bath, light a candle, lie back and chill. It’s selﬁsh

other. Let love come to you gently, naturally, and

o’clock and you deserve it!

discover how it’ll reward you with endless blessings and wonderful sex.

Gemini

Virgo What happened to all those new-year resolutions?

Your endeavour will be rewarded this month.

You were doing so well! Don’t worry; it happens

One advice: Take it easy. We know you’re living

to us all. We begin a new year with such drive and

the upside down momentum, and the down side

ambition to do more, be more, live more, and then

is putting you in a tired state, but you are still a

life gets in the way with all of its important stuff.

sunshine delivering happiness to a lot of people

But resolutions aren’t something we should make

around you. It’s time to integrate that it’s not the

once a year. Take each day as a gift, make a new-

right time to be in a relationship as you always

day resolution instead and give yourself a manageable

change your mind about your feelings. So, to sum-

goal for the next 24 hours, instead of piling on life

up, February is going to be a month where you’ll

changing pressure for the rest of eternity.

release tensions and do what you love, cool isn’t it?

FEBRUARY 2016

Libra

Capricorn

February is going to be hectic for you, so think

Because you have been pushing yourself to make

fast and learn to juggle. You have the ability to see

changes and face your challenges, you made

what is real and what is false and you use this to

things happened. So this is with no surprises that

expose the truth. This may not make you popular,

you can expect positive ﬁnancial news as well as

but it is deﬁnitely for the best. This month you

beneﬁts from work. Clarity, Strength and self-

are the initiator and things won’t happen without

management. It could hardly be any better for you

you - whether it be dates, nights out or sex, you

who feel sometimes overwhelmed and confused

need to make the ﬁrst move. Use Valentines Day as

with managing your budget. Planets are revealing as

a starting point for something new and exciting, be

well a strong envy for self-love and maximising self

spontaneous and vivacious and you love life in the

esteem. Well done and keep on this way, 2016 will

coming months could surprise you.

be a good one for you.

Scorpio

Aquarius

Congratulations for your achievements, you’ll

Too bad, it looks like February is going to bring forth

probably will be receiving an award, but who cares?

a blizzard of wrath, straight from the sky. Have you

The most exceptional reward is yourself, so well

checked your windows when leaving this morning?

done! Mid-February you’ll be concerned with

Beware, cause 10-cm spiders are said to be roaming

domestic issues. Our bonbon advice is to solve

around, ﬂeeing the grasp of winter to ﬁnd shelter in

your previous problems, but not before the 18th of

cosy homes. However, your heart will be indulged,

February. The sexual and Romantic trouble-maker you

as you’ll ﬁnd out 3 separate lovers eyeing you at

are might start a new adventure with someone you are

the ofﬁce, between two screens. They might not be

working with… Enjoy baby, but at the same time, be

Brangelina-like, but don’t be too harsh, and seize

aware of the dangerous insights of such a relationship.

this opportunity to get down.

Sagittarius

Pisces

Lucky Sagittarius looks like Cupid has sharpen

My dear Pisces, don’t be discouraged by your

ed his arrow and is aiming it at you now. Maybe it’s

misplaced expectations for January; February

that girl, genuinely smiling to you in the reﬂection

will be full of unanticipated doors opening. It is a

of the window, may be it’s this cute guy, who just

powerful month for getting your own way through

spilled his ﬂat white on the ﬂoor cause he caught

your diplomatic, assertive nature. You are pro-

your eyes. Maybe it’s that greyhound, all fragile and

active in your frame of mind, and you feel good

sensual, with its big eyes and tight thigh... Don’t

about yourself. This month is all about being self-

rush it though, you might end up with a black eye

centred and going after the things that will make

or a couple of stitches...Follow the moon’s gracious

you happy. Look out for that lover from the past,

dance over the skies and declare your devotion to

they could resurface in your life and it’s deﬁnitely

your beloved one with ﬂower.

something worth revisiting.

LE BON SNAPSHOT

LE BON AGENDA

SG Lewis, 4th February, OSLO SG Lewis is a super star in the making. Releasing his debut EP Shivers through the ever-on-point tastemakers PMR, the electro-pop craftsman creates soothing sounds that will wrap around your ears like a sonic electric blanket. Having already received support from the likes of Zane Lowe and Annie Mac, and with a number of high proﬁle remixes under his belt, the Reading-born producer looks set to be one of the breakout stars of 2016. Catch him before he's selling out stadiums. Book for free on the DICE app or online on dice.fm

Show Me The Body, 8th February, Ali B's Safehouse Show Me The Body are cut from only the ﬁnest punk cloth. Mixing rage, grit, noise and sheer force, they smash what ever stage is put infront of them with their intricately balanced mixture of pulsating riffs, galloping drums and hell-raising vocals. Loved by The Fader, The Guardian and Pigeons & Planes, they bring their nihilistic attitude to Ali B's Safehouse. Let them run riot. Get prepared for this huge gig. Book for free on the DICE app or online on dice.fm