Juergen Teller on family, personal style and taking pictures...

Juergen Teller's got a show, as if you didn't know, it's at the ICA in London entitled 'Woo!' until the 17th March. When I got to interview him for GQ Style he revealed a spontaneity that really is a key element in his artistic work and something he carries into his everyday life... 

'I thought I should be a photographic assistant, I came in '86 my english was so poor, the only people who would actually see me were Mark Lebon and Nick Knight, everyone else said fuck off, they were both so sweet and then there was Ray Petri, I did my first Arena shoot '87- '88. I had this really weird hair, bits in a knot and a bit longer and Ray said 'Cut it off'. I was really impressed with these people... with Ray and Mark.  

Smoking Cat (Woo! at ICA)

The pyjama phase... they were from my grandfather, soft comfy. The cap, yes, I went to Romania, I always had it on and then I shaved my head. It was a very exciting time, it was all west London, the east didn't exist, it was super exciting... then I met Judy Blame and then Zoe Bedeaux. My style's all about comfort, it's always about comfort. 

Artist Cerith Wyn Evans (Woo! at ICA)

The shorts came when I did an advertising job with Marc Jacobs and Marc said to me 'Wouldn't it be great to use Charlotte Rampling for Marc Jacobs women's wear?', and I said, 'She's not going to do it.' To swing it I thought maybe if I'm going to be the male she would find it more interesting. When got there I didn't think about the clothes and I'm far too fat, I'm not going to fit anything. There were a pair of silver shorts, so the next day I came getting nervous...  'You look ridiculous what the fuck is this...' she said, 'How do you see this?' I just wanted to kiss her fondle her breasts... She got a cigarillo out and said 'Ok lets start, I'll tell you when to stop', and that's when the shorts started and the book started. I did this book after the ads came out and thought, 'What the fuck do I do with these shorts (shots)?' So for half a year I went to Paris and did half naked shots. That's I made this book and Sadie [Coles] helped me, directors pose... 

Juergen with his and Sadies son Ed

I thought it would be a really nice thing to get married at my mums place in Germany, Sadie's sister was a witness, and Lola said 'Sadie, what are you going to wear?', because she always wears trousers, and she said, 'Good you pointing it out, well, I'm not going to wear a dress', and Lola said 'I'd like you to wear the Arsenal outfit', so I wore the away kit and she [Sadie] wore the home kit, the Arsenal strip...  We went to the register office did a polaroid, had a Japanese meal, and went to play football, that was it.'

ICA-Juergen Teller 'Woo!'

'Bowie Nights at Billy's Club, London 1978' Nicola Tyson at Sadie Coles HQ

Artist Nicola Tyson (known for her figurative paintings) unearthed her snappy snaps and low and behold a slice of social history has emerged. 'Bowie Nights at Billy's Club, London 1978' is the title of the exhibition at Sadie Coles HQ gallery on until the 25th February, 2013. I was mesmerized when Nicola first showed me these previously unseen moments she recorded whilst studying at college of a night we all looked forward to going to. These spontaneous and shadowy images look like they might have happened yesterday and strangely enough in my mind it felt like yesterday when I first saw them the truth be known.

Marilyn, me and Boy George 1978

This was the year after the 'punk' scene dissipated and the beginnings of what became the 'new romantic' era emerged. This Bowie night set the cornerstones of the celebrated 'Blitz' night often talked about and referenced. Anyway, go and have a look and be prepared to be amused and fascinated by Nicola Tyson's perfectly formed account.

Jeremy Healy, Andy Polaris, unknown

By 1978 a new scene was needed to fill the 

vacuum left after Punk went mainstream – 

and “Bowie Night” was a start. Roxy Music 

and David Bowie had influenced the darkly 

flamboyant aspects of the London punk 

scene, and so in opposition to the dumb 

monochrome cynicism of mainstream Punk, 

each Tuesday anything went at Billy’s, the 

more theatrical the better. 

                                                              Nicola Tyson, 2012.

www.sadiecoles.com

Nicola Tyson 

Screw Your Courage to the Sticking Place - Gallery Show at Simon Oldfield

This month sees a new exploration for me, the task of co-curating a gallery show at Simon Oldfield now situated at 6 Carlos Place, Mayfair. I've had a continuing love affair with art over the years, in fact I often wish I had the funds to buy more art for my own personal collection, those that know me know I have amassed a small treasure trove. For this show entitled Screw Your Courage to the Sticking Place I've endeavored to include a few artists who are perhaps not known so well for their art work outside of the fashion world and a few newer artists who are busy establishing themselves on the art scene. Working with Simon Oldfield, the show itself consists of two solo shows from Simon Foxall and Matthew La Croix. For the group show the cast list goes as follows Bruce Ingram, Matthew Stone, David Holah, Paul Kindersley, Judy Blame, Simon Foxall and film maker Angel Rose.

Judy Blame 

Angel Rose - still from film 'Ritual 1' SS edit

Simon Foxall

David Holah

Just a few examples of art work...
simonoldfield.com for more info.

fredbutlerstyle: Wednesday 2nd January 2013: 2012 Review = Princess...

Please click on fredbutlerstyle: Wednesday 2nd January 2013: 2012 Review = Princess...: for full report!
 "2012 threw up a few personal conundrums but as I always say, 'it's all a learning curve', I'm glad to report I'm still learning and l...