Judith Kerr in Conversation

On Sunday I went to a talk at Somerset House which was part of the 'Pick Me Up' graphic art fair. The talk was so special because it was none other than Judith Kerr in conversation, the author and illustrator of wonderful children's books such as 'The Tiger Who Came To Tea' and 'Mog the Cat'. 

I have such admiration for Judith after watching a recent BBC programme about her. At age 90 she has had a long and exciting career and her childhood is particularly interesting. She escaped from Nazi Germany as a young girl to start a new life in England where she began a career in Textiles and  teaching. It was only after having children that she began to write and illustrate the stories that her son and daughter loved best. The rest as they say is history.

What I love so much about Judith's books is the sense of humour and imagination found in her illustrations. And hearing her talk there's no doubt that she has lost none of that sense of joy and passion for what she does. Judith is currently working on a new book 'The Crocodile Under the Bed' and was happy to show the audience a few of the proofs for the book. She also joked about the fact that she is mainly remembered for her first book 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' which was first published in 1968, despite having written dozens of books since. It's a testament to her talent how well her books have stood the test of time and how well they are received by generations of kids.

I'm really glad I booked this talk and would really recommend to anyone to have a look at the Somerset House website as they are always holding small events of this kind as well as evening talks and screenings. I'm also am keen to get my hands on the recently published 'Creatures' which goes into detail about her life and career. If you're interested in seeing more of her childhood drawings then I'm sure it is well worth a look!

I hope you're having a lovely thursday! Xx

Erwin Blumenfeld at Somerset House

 

I managed to squeeze in another 'artsy' adventure today! This time it was the Erwin Blumenfeld exhibition at Somerset House in London. Blumenfeld was a Berlin born photographer who emigrated to New York in the 1940s. Whilst forever believing himself to be an outsider to the American lifestyle, his fashion portraits were responsible for creating and embracing the signature look of the New York woman. Polished, glossy and almost too perfect, his covers for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar depict beautiful women as the utmost objects of desire. 

Perhaps Blumenfeld's most famous image is one featured on the cover of Vogue which depicts the disembodied features of a woman's face - it is instantly recognisable. His simple use of colour still seems fresh today and there is always something Surreal and a little bit different about his photos. Accompanying the exhibition were some examples of the magazines in which he was printed as well as a short film which went into more detail about his life and work. This was fascinating - it seems that despite his idolisation of 'perfect' women in his commercial work, his own self-portraits which are distorted and unidentifiable, showing someone deeply concerned with and constantly exploring the idea of his own identity. I highly recommend popping in to see this display if you can. Blumenfeld's photos are so iconic and made a huge impact fashion photography.

The exhibition is free and finishes on 1st September.