Critical Studies Brief

Timorous Beasties: The London Toile










French Toile de Jouy





Timorous Beasties 'London Toile paper' design is based on Toile de Jouy wallpaper from the late 1700's which is instantly recognisable but they've replaced of images of rural France with urban landscapes. On closer inspection of the wallpaper you see people being mugged, this is referred to as historical revivalism and parody in postmodernist terms.

Critical Studies Research

Images from the John Ruskin Collection which inspired Timorous Beasties for their 'Bird in the Hand' exhibition.

left: Francois les Vaillant (Histoire Natureller des Oiseaux Paradis, des Rolliers, des Toucans, et des Barbus, 1806)
right: Timorous Beasties's pisticule design

























The image on the left is from Edward Donovan's bokk 'Insects of India' published in 1800. The one on the right is Timorous Beasties 'Papillion de Nuit'.

Critical Studies Brief

I've been asked to chose a designer/artist from the surface design field and find out who influences/inspires them. I've chosen Timorous Beasties because I'm planning on going to their 'Bird in the Hand' Exhibition at the Sheffield Millenium Gallery. I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone (no pun intended)!

I was lucky to find an interview by one of the members of Timorous Beasties (Paul Simmons) in a book on wallpapers. He mentioned the following as sources of inspiration: Paul Klee, John Ruskin, Willaim Morris, Ridley Scott, Italian motorcycles, Quasimoto, Ricky Gervais. I've chosen to look at the works of Willaim Morris because they're work has been described as William Morris on acid. And John Ruskin because his collection at the Sheffield Gallery inspired they're current exhibition there.












left: Timorous Beasties (Pheasant toile)
right: William Morris (Larkspar)











left: Timorous Beasties (London Toile wallpaper)
right: William Morris (Brer Rabbit)
below left: Timorous Beasties (Igauana and Insects)
below right: William Morris (Woodland Weeds)

Research

Bauhaus Designers






Theodor Bogler










Marianne Brandt











Josef Hoffmann (mustard pot)















Peter Behrens
















Peter Behrens











Otto Lindig













Otto Lindig

Research

Cathy Miles

Research

Edouard Manet
Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe (the luncheon on the grass), 1963
The juxtaposition of the nude amongst the dressed caused controversy when it was first exhibited. It's funny because we're exposed to alot worse these days.

Research

Steven Harrington

Research

Pyramide de Louvre
These glass pyramids in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum look jarring against the traditional architecture. It makes you wonder who came up with the idea until you change one element. When you look at the building at night (below) it definietly has a wow factor.

Research

Jill Bliss
























































Bliss's nature inspired designs can be best described as light summery innocence, she loves working with recyclable and sustainable material.

Research

Lotta Kuhlhorn
(Swedish illustrator and graphic designer)
Vibrant cool designs!

Research

Lotta Bruhn
(Swedish Illustrator)

Research

Rachel Cave (Print Surface & Pattern Designer)
Her work reminds me of some of the marimekko designs and prints and her colour palette's quite funky. Looking at Cave's work makes me realise that there's always going to be a place for repeated prints in Surface Design.

Research

Vlad Artazov
I came across this Czech photographer by accident and I think his black and white photographs are amazing. His pictures of a 'Nails Life' are really funny and simple.

Research

Zaha Hadid
JS Bach Chamber Music Hall
Actually saw this this installation at the Manchester art Gallery a few weeks ago, it was pretty spectacular, also liked the design of the chairs.