This week's links. Enjoy.
Damien Hirst Auction
The enfant terrible of the British art scene has cleaned himself up and asked himself this: when it comes to money in the art world, why doesn't the lion's share go to artists? His precedent-setting sale of new work, now on at Sotheby's, skips the gallery/dealer middle man and goes straight to auction — and is being closely watched by both artists and dealers.
Oddest Book Titles
For the past 30 years, the Bookseller magazine has awarded a prize to the oddest book title it can find. The 1992 winner was How to Avoid Huge Ships (published by Cornwell Maritime Press), which strikes me as good advice. Lots more quirkiness in the list, too.
Musical Taste and Personality
A study by Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University involving more than 36,000 people from around the world reveals that the musical tastes and personality types of people are closely related. For example, classical music fans were found to be shy, while heavy metal aficionados were gentle and at ease with themselves. Fascinating and unexpected research.
The Paris Review Print Series
In 1964 Drue Heinz made a gift to The Paris Review to enable the magazine to initiate a series of prints and posters by major contemporary artists. The list of artists who participated is astounding—they include Andy Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Rauschenberg, Helen Frankenthaler, and Robert Motherwell. Each print was published in an edition of 60 to 200, signed and numbered by the artist, and many are still available for purchase. Proceeds go to The Paris Review Foundation, established in 2000 to support The Paris Review. Wish the Rauschenberg print was still available...
Wallace and Gromit Model for Harvey Nichols
A cute new series of ads by Harvey Nichols feature the charming Wallace and Gromit (plus other Nick Park characters) modeling Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani and Paul Smith among others. Really charming idea. Via Graphicology.
What Your Global Neighbors Are Buying
"People in Greece spend almost 13 times more money on clothing as they do on electronics. People living in Japan spend more on recreation than they do on clothing, electronics and household goods combined. Americans spend a lot of money on everything." Fascinating rollover graphic in the New York Times. There's an article, too.
New York Daily Photo
Brian Dubé's great visual blog (with accompanying insightful comments) captures New York in all its manifestations. Via Andrew (thanks!)
London Design Festival 08 Preview
Designboom has a nice little sneak peek at some of the designs on show at this year's London Design Festival. I particularly liked the ‘Labware’ lamp range by London Glass Works.
The perfect dining area above was photographed by Nicolas Mathéus, who has a gorgeous portfolio of work. Via Purple Area.