Thom Ravnholdt Creative

Ashley Ryder Rubber Suit - QX

2011-11-27T18:17:00.004Z

This week, the lovely Ashley Ryder is on the cover of QX Magazine wearing a rubber suit made by me:

NOMIO Article On Me

2011-11-12T15:42:00.009Z

There's an article about me on online blog magazine NOMIO - Nothing Of Me Is Original. Read it here:

New Website Coming Soon!

2011-11-08T13:30:00.003Z

My new website www.thomravnholdt.co.uk is currently under construction, and will be up and running very soon. As my body of work is constantly growing and evolving, I now feel ready to present it to the world in a more professional looking and stylish way. You can look forward to clean and easily navigatable galleries, as well as less words and more images. So far www.thomravnholdt.co.uk will direct you back to this blog, but please bookmark it and stay tuned, I will post again when it is ready to launch.

Leigh de Vries 'Strange' Video

2011-09-24T15:02:00.009+01:00

Here's some behind the scenes teaser pics from the brilliant Leigh de Vries' music video shoot for the song 'Strange'. It was shot over one weekend, and will be ready to launch later this year. I made a dress for one of the scenes, inspired by a crow. It's a basic fitted, long sleeve dress, with elements in tulle, plus a big back- and shoulder piece in foam and human hair. Stills by Lance Roehrig and myself:

Directed by: Tal Rosner and Lance Roehrig

Minion's Costumes: Ismail Erbil

Stylist: Victor Velvet

Make-Up: Sarah Jane Ellis

Hair: Robert Masciave

Stephen Jones Hat Update

2011-09-01T22:37:00.003+01:00

The winner has now been announced in the Design A Hat For Stephen Jones Competition, and I was not her. Nor was I one of the three runners-up for that matter, but hey, that's life and reality for a struggling designer. I do need to get rid of this one-off piece however, and I want to see it put to good use, in a way that will do it justice in terms of styling. If you, or anyone you know can use it for a photo shoot, music video shoot, performance or accessory for a fashion show, do let me know. I will give it away to whoever will guarantee to use it, all I want in return is some good snaps and a credit. Let me know via my FaceBook link.

A Little Costume History

2011-08-25T00:29:00.000+01:00

A selection of costumes from various shows and performances back in the day, worn and made by myself.

Villain Looks

2011-08-20T00:40:00.000+01:00

Me and Fil OK used to have a band called Villain, melodic electro drama punk would best describe the sound, here's some of our looks from our performances and promotion shoots:

Buttons Off, Eyes On

2011-08-19T22:42:00.003+01:00

'Design A Hat For Stephen Jones' Competition

2011-08-15T22:44:00.002+01:00

I decided (very last minute as usual) to take part in the 'Design a hat for Stephen Jones' competition at Talenthouse.com.
I re-steamed an old felt hat (bought ages ago in a charity shop in Duncerque, France, used loads during the dunst days) on a model of my own head, cut the edge and trimmed it in black latex binding. I'm really into insects at the moment, so I made a big bug to go on top. The body is basically a bladder made of sections of semi-transparent black and regular black latex sheeting. The wings are layers of green and yellow acetate, sewn into layers of black tulle. Legs are drawn and appliquéd on with a mix of black liquid latex and latex trim. I set a rule for myself for this last minute effort, to only use materials and tools that I already had in my workshop, as I needed to make use of some of those things that are just lying around instead of keeping buying and storing.
In retrospect, it is quite a Spiderman-esque result, and some would argue, more a mask than a hat, but let's see what Mr Jones himself says when the winner is announced on August 26th. I'm up against hundreds of talented designers and makers from all over the world, including a couple of friends. Winner gets his piece exhibited in NYC and pictured in VOGUE, plus a two week internship at Stephen Jones' workshop in London. I would love that! Exciting!

...And Some Gold Again

2011-07-22T22:35:00.007+01:00

My favorite Golden Wonder, aka DJ Sqeaky, seems to get papped everywhere wearing my golden gear. Here's a few more from the NYC Downlow stage at Lovebox, one on the balcony stage, photographed by Darrell Berry, one backstage, from VICE Style online:

More Gold For David

2011-06-28T20:35:00.005+01:00

Last year around this time, I made a pair of gold sequinned chaps and a matching jockstrap for my friend David, aka DJ Sqeaky. This year the ensemble was updated with an added waistcoat in the same material. There's no official photos yet, but David did manage to get snapped wearing it at Gutterslut last week, here's the evidence in this week's QX:

Invisible Alteration for Thomas Adés

2011-06-25T15:03:00.006+01:00

Internationally acclaimed composer and conductor Thomas Adés came to me for help with an interesting and unusual request. Due to the very physical act of conducting an orchestra, he always gets very hot during his concerts, especially when he has to wear the classic tail-coat and shirt combo. I was given two jackets and two shirts to alter.
At first I removed the sleeves from the shirts and made them into short sleeves. I then trimmed the cuffs from the cut-off sleeves, and added press studs to them, and sewed the opposite snap half in the lining of the jacket sleeves.
When Tom is wearing the jackets, it looks as if he is wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath, due to the right amount of shirt cuff sticking out of the jacket sleeve. And he is able to remove the cuffs easily when they need dry cleaning.
Tom tried it out recently at a concert in Amsterdam, and gave me very positive feedback, it kept him just that couple of degrees cooler, so it was a big success. (Above pic found via Google. Tail-coat photo to follow.)

Furry Costume 4 Jonny Slut

2011-05-11T21:43:00.001+01:00

Jonny Slut off Atomizer and Specimen asked me to make him a corset using both rubber and fur. So I made him this piece, in heavy latex rubber with metal boning, shoulder panels and collar in hand cut fake fur with hair extensions in natural hair, and lined in black cotton. These pics are taken with my snap-shot camera, not the best in the world, but you get the idea. Also, in these pics, the corset is neither polished, styled nor laced, but I will post some pics of Jonny wearing it soon .

Fil OK's New Shirt

2011-05-01T22:09:00.005+01:00

Here's some proper pics of the black frilly shirt I made for Fil OK.

BIG Shoulders, BIG Frills

2011-04-22T16:32:00.005+01:00

Here's another shirt I made for Fil OK. This is Jason wearing it, will upload proper pics of Fil wearing it ASAP.

Philippe Wearing His Corset

2011-02-24T15:48:00.003Z

A photo of the rubber corset I made for my friend Philippe. We must have shot 400+ pics with different stylings and props, this one is one of my favorites. Isn't he handsome?!

Søren's Hats Again - Elle

2011-01-20T22:45:00.006Z

The suits and hoods I made for Søren Bach's hat collection about a year ago have now featured - together with Søren's hats - as the main styling element in a beauty/make-up editorial in Danish Elle, January 2011 issue. I still think that fur and latex is a hot combination! All photos by Mattias Edwall, make-up by Sine Ginsborg.

Burlesque Costume For Christian

2011-01-13T23:31:00.004Z

At the end of November 2010, I was imported to Copenhagen to make a costume for my friend Christian's Burlesque Festival, which he was also hosting as 'The Gentleman'.
I posted sketches of my ideas before I started the project (see October 2010 post), and Christian and I agreed that I made a sleeveless, short legged 'play suit', with a very deep cut, and a pair of seamed stockings. He also gave me a vintage top hat to cover in rubber. I only had a day and a half to make it, from pattern, made from scratch, to finished product. The result is cute, sexy and stylish. All photos by Clare Farrell.

Ball & Bits for Empress Stah

2010-12-10T18:16:00.000Z

Here's another outfit I made for Empress Stah. It consists of a patent leather covered helmet, and leather triangles stuck directly to her body. The amazing Perou shot the pics which are for Stah's new website, and she will also use the pieces in a new performance to be premiered in Australia in the New Year. (I have blurred her nipples so the Americans won't delete my blog.)

Halloween Shirt For Fil OK

2010-11-07T23:22:00.009Z

My friend Fil OK who is a DJ, club promoter and music producer asked me to make him a shirt for a Halloween party he was hosting at his club NagNagNag. Here's some pics of it.

Costume Sketches for Christian Gentleman

2010-10-31T23:01:00.005Z

At the end of November I am being flown to Copenhagen to make a costume for Christian Van Schijndel aka The Gentleman, who is hosting the 2010 New Burlesque Festival part 3: NEO Burlesque at Warehouse 9.

Here's some ideas for him to choose from:

-Nothing is set in stone, we will work the finished look out together, and I will post pics when it's done.

A Corset For Philippe

2010-09-29T21:22:00.002+01:00

Here's a corset/top I made for my dear friend Philippe.

It has back lacing, a busk at the front, and metal boning like a classic corset. The adjustable shoulder straps give it a vest-like look, and the extremely low cut shows his pecs off nicely. It is made of three layers of rubber, two layers of black 0.8mm for the outer skin, and one layer of red 0.5mm for the lining.

It's a made-to-measure piece that has taken several fittings and a lot of measuring, drawing and designing to get the perfect fit and look. As soon as I get the time, I will do a photo shoot with Philippe in the corset, with make-up and styling and props. Can't wait! Stay tuned...

Piece For Alis

2010-09-05T22:16:00.009+01:00

I did this piece for fab photographer Alis Pelleschi's portrait project 'I'm So Hot...'. She is taking pictures of 100 naked men, each wearing one accessory, each designed by a different designer.

With mega short notice, I made these wonderful pin-striped sleeves and collar, having no idea which model would be wearing them. I'm glad they fit, I think it looks good!

This is a pic of Alis holding a print of the image, I will get the actual portrait when she has done the exhibition that these pics are intended for.

Inflatable Hood For Empress Stah

2010-08-12T19:09:00.008+01:00

I made this rubber hood for the wonderful performance- and trapeze artist Empress Stah, for a performance she did at this years KERRANG! Awards. Her show was all about plastic surgery and body image, and the character was a nurse with a heavily worked-on face. So I did this rubber hood with inflatable lips and cheek bones. Stah can inflate it herself by mouth with a rubber tube concealed at the corner of the mouth, that can be hidden away under the lower lip. The eyes are really exaggeratedly slanted to give it that Joan Rivers face-lifted look.

The dress is the 'U' Minidress by Torture Garden for House of Harlot.

Friday Night Nemo

2010-08-06T15:23:00.002+01:00

The other night I dressed up for the first time in ages. I was invited to a fancy dress party with an ocean theme. It was a colleague of mine who suggested Nemo, I'm not sure why. But I could easily picture myself as the adorable little clown fish. So I made fins out of rubber, in a double layer sandwiched over a wire skeleton. I stuck them on with Mastix spirit gum, and painted my face in Kryolan Supra Colour (grease paint). It was a success! Unfortunately there was no prize for best outfit (I would have won it, fins down).

Gold Chaps For David

2010-06-22T22:45:00.007+01:00

My Friend David who is a DJ and promoter asked me to make him a costume for him to wear for this years Glastonbury Festival where he is playing and performing. He wanted gold sequin chaps and a jock strap to match it. David provided me the fabric, and I got down to work. It is probably one of the most time consuming textiles I have ever worked in, but I think that the end result is super hot and camp:

Wedding Hat For Therese

2010-06-08T21:53:00.010+01:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went to my friends Marie-Claire and Thomas' wedding in Denmark, and it was SO romantic! I was crying my eyes out the whole day, and then I got really drunk.

My good friend Therese, who had been bestowed the duty of being Maid Of Honour, in turn bestowed me the trust to make her something fabulous that she could wear on her head. She sent me pictures of her outfit, her colour scheme, and a packet full of silk flowers, beads, sequins and other goodies, so I went to the drawing board straight away.

Therese had told me that there would also be a little bird in the packet (with a specific sentimental value to bride and MoH), so my initial idea was to make a little top hat, pierced by a leaf-gold-plated branch (no less), on which this bird would be perched. This looked something like this:

(Well, she did give me free hands, and told me to go the whole way, so I thought: You want it, you got it!)

But then the packet arrived, and the bird was tiny, and the flowers were really beautiful, so my ideas started to go more classic, simple, sculptural, fascinator kind of hat. Also, sitting up there with the bride (who looked absolutely stunning), I didn't want her to take any visual attention away from her either.

At first I started experimenting with steaming various felt and fabrics into shape, but after visiting Millinery Warehouse in Pimlico, (a charming little shop, well worth a visit), I discovered the material sinamay. It's like a very coarse canvas weaved from a natural fibre that apparently only grows in the Philipines. I knew of it before, but always thought that it had a quite naff Marks & Spencer's / Royal Ascot / Fancy Dress sort of quality to it. However, discovering all the different colours and kinds, I bought some to have a go with. After all, some off Stephen Jones' and Philip Treacy's best work is in sinamay. It was challenging, but great fun, and I will definitely work with it again. So I made the basic shape; short of a proper hat block, I used a plaster cast of my own head:

I trimmed it in gold silk bias binding, and then added the silk flowers and leaves. And last, but not least, the little bird!

Therese looked so beautiful wearing it, and the hat was a success with all the grannies and aunties who all wanted to speak to the createur, who got more and more drunk on pink champagne as the day progressed...

Hand Joy @ C4RD

2010-04-30T20:03:00.012+01:00

This Wednesday, April 28th, was the opening reception for Hand Joy at Centre For Recent Drawing (C4RD) in Islington, and it was a major success, with lots of people showing up. The weather was amazing, a lovely spring evening with loads of good energy, air-kisses, networking and cheap red wine. I was so all over the place myself that I almost forgot to take pictures, but Corinna Spencer took some, and I took a few on the day I installed my sculptures.

The exhibition is open until Friday the 28th of May, opening times are Wednesday to Friday, 12 - 6 pm, 2 - 4 Highbury Station Road, Highbury Islington, London N1 1SB, +44 (0) 2039 6936.

One of my new sculptures called 'Planet With Many Orifices' (on my bed before installation at the gallery). I have lit it from behind so that the internal structure is visible too. Every orifice leads to and meet in a smaller planet at the core of the sphere.

Same piece, front lit, and close up of an orifice

'Rosebud' hanging

'Rosebud' and 'Brown Baby' on the floor, prior to installation.

Installation view of 'Planet...' hanging, with Maxime Angel's collage/drawings behind.

A piece originally from my degree show, previously untitled, now titled 'Queer Self & Fish'.

Installation view.

Hand Joy's curator Paul Kindersley holding a map of how to find the pub for the after party.

More pics from the exhibition here.

And don't forget the launch party for the 2nd volume of Zine For Recent Drawing: Box Of Desires, featuring original artworks by the Hand Joy artists. The zine is a limited edition of 20, presented in an A4 box. This takes place on Wednesday the 19th of May, also at C4RD, from 6 - 8 pm.

Calling All Boys Remix / Mikkokoo

2010-04-17T15:05:00.005+01:00

Believe it or not, I also make music once in a while. Well, it's sort of on the back burner at the moment, due to the whole costume thing taking off. But follow this link, and you can hear a mix I did of 'Calling All Boys' by the funny and amazing performer/hostess/DJ Mikkokoo, for her project The Vagrants.

I love the charming Finnish accent, the bold and slightly surreal lyrics, it kinda reminds me of Amanda Lear or Yoko Ono, very arty. Go Mikko!

Enjoy!

April Art

2010-03-27T13:06:00.006Z

Again, a quiet month here on my blog, have been 9 to 5ing like a mad man. However, at least one interesting project coming up. Will be part of a group exhibition 'Hand Joy' at Center for Recent Drawing (C4RD) in Islington, curated by Paul D C Kindersley. I am working on inflatable rubber sculptures for this, inspired by mutation, sex, orifices, science fiction, cloning, geometry, maths etc, gonna be very funnydisturbingkinky. My key words to work from are Desire, Eroticism and Memory. Opening on 28th of April. Will keep you posted. XX

It's Nice, That!

2010-03-09T14:32:00.004Z

Yay! This week, my friend and collaborator Shelly Love is the featured artist on www.itsnicethat.com. From today and the rest of this week, I am one of her chosen artists , alongside Stuart Pearson Wright, Ron Mueck and others. Check it out!

Bottle Cover / Rubber Rose

2010-02-16T16:04:00.001Z

I also made a little present for Søren, to say congratulations with a successful show. This bottle cover with a bottle of red wine inside. It has a concealed zip at the back, just like the suits from the show. I put a rose on it to reflect the roses in Søren's hats. His initial idea was that all the cat suits would be covered in flowers too, I'm so glad he didn't because just this one took hours!

Søren Bach - The Show!

2010-02-14T21:12:00.011Z

So, Tuesday I went to Copenhagen to help Søren with the last preparations for his show Wednesday the 10th of Feb.

His hats are amazing! This new collection is so beautiful and romantic, and extremely professionally made.

I arrived in the afternoon, and we went straight to work. While Søren finished his pieces, I made rubber covers for all the models footwear, and helped Søren find ways of attaching his things to my rubber suits.

Wednesday the show was on at Copenhagen's Town Hall's beautiful main hall, and it went really well. We had to literally bathe the models in talcum powder in order for them to get in to the suits, and gloss them up afterwards with silicone spray. This mixture made the stone floor backstage ridiculously slippery, and my biggest fear was that one or more of the girls would fall over on the catwalk and snap their ankles, but luckily no-one did.

The show was a major success, it was Søren plus 10 other designers, each with 5-6 entries each, Søren's was first, and I thought it was the best and most remarkable. Only a few others were 'showy', the rest was quite boring to be frank.

Personally, I was very pleased with my own rubber work, all suits and accessories fit the models perfectly, they had the desired sprayed-on look that Søren had requested, and he too was very pleased with the final result of our work combined.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Article in Out&About

2010-02-08T18:40:00.006Z

This month (February 2010) I am gracing the cover of the Danish gay monthly mag Out&About. There's also an article about me inside the magazine about what I do, and a couple of portraits by Ian EJ Wilson, plus pics from the dunst years.

For those who don't read Danish, the headline says: THOM RAVNHOLDT - RUBBER, CYBORG THEORY AND THE BODY AS ART FORM. The title of the article inside is 'The body as creative starting point', with a sub-title that reads: 'Rubber and traditional pattern cutting meet in THOM RAVNHOLDT's artistic universe. He creates rubber outfits, hyper-real looks, and queer-inspired formations that play with the human body'.

Oh, I love seeing myself in print!

Bow Tie & Braces For Jeffrey

2010-02-02T21:03:00.003Z

My friend Jeffrey asked me to make a pair of skinny rubber braces for him and a classic tie-it-yourself bow tie for his boyfriend. So I did.

The braces are black with white pin stripes, adjustable and with clips. The bow tie is double layered in black and metallic pewter, also adjustable with snaps at the back. I hope he likes it!

Suits for Søren Bach in Progress

2010-01-24T20:35:00.003Z

Quick Update / Project With Søren Bach

2010-01-20T22:49:00.009Z

It's been very quiet here on my blog for ages, I know. I have been so busy at my day job, and I am currently taking on a lot of made-to-measure work for private customers, rubber gear mainly.

A project that takes most of my spare time at the moment, and one that I am very excited to work on, is a collaboration with the Danish milliner and Royal College graduate, Søren Bach. He is preparing his new collection of hats to be shown at the Copenhagen Fashion Week, and he has asked me to dress the models in made-to-measure rubber outfits. So I am currently working on cat suits, hoods, gloves and footwear for this project.

Søren's work is amazing, I have immense admiration for his skill and sense of detail, and I am constantly inspired by his creativity. His colourful and cartoonish creations have been worn by Björk, Grace Jones, and Joan Collins to name a few. This new collection is darker and more dramatic and romantic than the last one, perfect for winter.

The show is on February 10th. More to follow.

A shot from our last model fitting

Björk in a Søren Bach hat

MoonSpoon Saloon at Victoria Miro

2009-11-12T01:45:00.013Z

In May 2009, I did the make-up for a fashion show at Victoria Miro gallery in London for the Danish brand MoonSpoon Saloon. The show was a beautiful spectacle of catwalk show and live music and dance by the amazing American group We Are The World. The 'White Crane Collection' has strong Oriental influences, and I was given traditional Chinese opera masks as inspiration for the make-up, bold graphic colors and dramatic shapes.

Here are some pictures and videos from the show:

Burton Bubble / Harper's Bazaar

2009-10-08T21:15:00.017+01:00

Here's an inflatable costume I made for a story in US Harper's Bazaar (October issue 2009) about the film director and artist Tim Burton. It is not an article as such, but a fashion shoot featuring Burton himself modeling some of the clothes, intended as a teaser for his upcoming retrospective at MoMA in New York.

A lot of the looks are based on Burton's own drawings and characters from his films. I'm not sure if the girl inside the bubble featured in a film or any of his books, but I was given one of his drawings for inspiration:

Copy of original sketch by Tim Burton

It was quite a challenge to make, as this was in PVC/plastic, and I am used to working in latex rubber. I did however have to put latex cuffs on the neck and thigh openings for the bubble to be as air tight as possible, so another challenge was to find a gluing method for bonding PVC to rubber. It took me many sweaty hours to work it out, but this is the result, and I think it works really well.

Styling by Jacob K, photos by Tim walker.

Freaky Eyeball Illusions

2009-10-04T11:37:00.009+01:00

A while ago, I was approached by a guy from Marvin's Magic, one of the world's leading magic toy companies. They were developing the 'Freaky Eyeball Illusions' kit, and needed some custom made eyeballs for promotion, demonstrations and product development.

So I made a batch of eyeballs in various freaky colours:

A totally random project for me, but it's this kind of weird stuff i love doing.

Freaky Eyeball Illusions is available from Marvin's Magic and well assorted toy stores now.

Ladyhawke 'Magic' music video

2009-10-02T19:49:00.021+01:00

Here's another music video I did the make-up and hair for. It's for the single 'Magic' by Ladyhawke (Pip Brown).

It features artwork by Sarah Larnach, who also did the artwork for Ladyhawke's 'My Delirium' video and the album sleeve, plus the new special edition 'Music Inspired Art labels' on Beck's beer bottles. I'd give my beauty-box for my own beer label!

'Magic' also features costumes by Oliver Garcia & Russell Harris. I think it turned out really well.

Miss Fish 'Beauty Regime' music video

2009-09-19T15:36:00.031+01:00

Miss Fish, pic by me, make-up by Hairwerk

My dear friend, colleague and mentor Miss Fish asked me to direct a music video for his queer punk anthem 'The Beauty Regime'.

Fish and I go back to the dunst days, where we performed, and made music and art together. I was at the end of my first year at Chelsea, and I took the challenge of making the video for my end-of-year project.

Most of the tiny budget was used for my air fare between London and Copenhagen, and to get the camera woman freighted to and from Berlin (the German film maker Julia Ostertag who shot most of the footage). The actual finished video materialized as a beautiful mix of favors, goodwill and hard work, an example of enthusiastic collaboration between ultra-creative friends.

The first video below is my initial storyboard made in iMovie. It's a very basic A-to-B narrative, a small Odyssey, in which Fish leaves her flat to go to play a gig. The city is dark, Fish is paranoid, and may/may not be followed by a gang of evil muggers. She travels through a labyrinthine cityscape of alleyways, tunnels and trapdoors, until she ends up in the lab of a crazy professor/stylist/magician. After the mad professor has given Fish a make-over from a dark, gothy look, to a white angelic punk-diva look, Fish walks through a curtain, and is suddenly on a stage, the waiting audience goes mad, and Fish sings the rest of the song live.

The storyboard is merely a couple of drawings, small animations and the track, edited together to give the artist and the rest of the crew an idea of my vision.

The video below is the finished work, the edition (one of a few) that was nominated in the category of Best Music Video at Hollywood DV Video Festival, April 2007.

Full credits of cast and crew are at the end of the video.

Inflatable Rubber Sculptures / I'm a Chelsea Boy

2009-09-18T22:25:00.021+01:00

In summer 2008 I graduated from Chelsea College of Art And Design, where I studied a 3 year Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art.

I did many interesting projects during my time at Chelsea, but these pics are from my degree show exhibition.

I decided to make a series of inflatable rubber sculptures, so I applied to D.vote Clothing in Shoreditch for work experience, to learn how to work with latex sheeting, and the various glues and seaming techniques.

I could write a long academic rant about what these pieces represent, but in short, at my last two years at Chelsea, I was obsessed with the mythological meeting between the 'Cyborg' (constructed human/humanoid), and the 'Queer Individual' (trans-genders, intricate DIY sexualities, constructed bodies), and how they relate to each other in a queer political, feminist theoretic and art historical discourse.

For me, my pneumatic latex structures represent some of the dualisms that the Cyborg and the Queer also embody; strength/fragility, natural/man-made, nature/culture, sexuality/innocence, aesthetic beauty/abject repulsion, and so on.

I hope you like the pictures.

I still work at D.vote today, it's really great having a job where I can use my hands and my creative skills. I have also been known to apply my rubber making skills to made-to-measure fetish clothing and theatrical costumes, again, contact me if you would like to know more.

In This Shirt / The Forgotten Circus

2009-09-13T12:30:00.023+01:00

Here's another video I did with award winning director Shelly Love. The original video is called 'The Forgotten Circus' and is 20 minutes long. The music is by The Irrepressibles, and this version is edited down to a shorter music video (first version) for their song 'In This Shirt'. The song and DVD are both on The Irrepressibles' EP 'From The Circus To The Sea', the cover of which also features a still from the video.
The video features actor Gerard Bell and students from The Circus Space in Shoreditch, where the video was also filmed.

I designed and did the make-up with my assistants Alex Clout, Caryn Hablutzel and Vikki Lawson. Ashley Emmanuel Henn and assistants did the hair, Oliver Carcia and assistants on wardrobe, many of the costumes featuring metal headpieces by Manuel Albarran.

Original work sketches by me, stills by Sofia Schorr-Kon and me.

Wonderland photo shoot

2009-09-12T13:34:00.005+01:00

A while ago I was asked to do make-up on a photo shoot at the Ministry Of Sound club in London. The pics were to be used for promotion and flyers for Fouad Bousnani's club Wonderland. The girls had to look like drag queens, an easy task for me :-) The costumes were beautiful, and the girls gorgeous. I have yet to see the finished material, but here's a couple of snaps from behind the scenes:

All pics by Yasmín Björnsdóttir

The Skull Dress

2009-09-11T20:50:00.001+01:00

This is another dress I made for Kelli Jean Drinkwater, Haloween 2007, I think it was. It was commissioned by DJ and promoter Buster Bennett (Nuke Them All, YrMum&YaDad, Antisocial etc) for a Halloween party flyer. I'm not sure the flyer ever materialized, but Kelli Jean wore the skull dress for several parties and club appearances and performances.

Here are a couple of pics by me and Eoin Whelan, plus a couple of my work sketches.

I love, in the top pic, the juxtaposition between the 'ideal' Triumph-model in the billboard, and Kelli Jean who is a plus size model.

DIVA Magazine

2009-09-11T19:45:00.011+01:00

Yesterday, the new issue of DIVA magazine hit the shops. My two fat & fabulous girlfriends Kelli Jean Drinkwater and Bea Sweet posed on the front cover, Kelli Jean is sporting a girdle/corset that is made-to-measure by me.

Inside the mag there's a 6-page fashion spread, also with Bea and Kelli, and there's an interview with Kelli about fat chicks, fashion and sex.

Bea Sweet who is an incredibly skilled make-up artist, and who also did the make-up for the shoot, gives cruelty-free beauty tips.

'The Fat Issue' is out now.

Tommy Sparks 'Miracle' Music Video

2009-09-10T00:17:00.004+01:00

Here's a music video I did the make-up for, it's Tommy Sparks and the track is 'Miracle'. Directed by the very talented Shelly Love, costumes by Oliver Garcia, and Caryn Hablutzel assisting me. That forrest was so cold in the middle of the night!

Shelly Love, Crossroads Films / Merge Films, 2009

The dunst Years

2009-09-09T23:13:00.005+01:00

In the early to mid noughties, I was part of the notorious and infamous Copenhagen based dunst collective (it is spelled with a lower-case d, and yes, it means 'really fuckin bad smell' in Danish).

dunst was (and to some degree still is) an art collective, compiled of a performance group, a dj group, a film group, and so on.

dunst started as a counter movement to Copenhagen's increasingly rigid and conformist gay community, dunst brought the real meaning of the word 'Queer' to Copenhagen. The performance group in particular made a name for itself, and the notoriously debauched dunst parties turned Copenhagens boring nightlife upside down. We did shows everywhere from the dirtiest of nightclubs to intellectual university lectures on gender studies, from the smelliest squats in Berlin and Amsterdam, to Danish National TV and at one point our own TV show.

Throughout Europe and Scandinavia, we spread our grime and glitter, leaving audiences flabbergasted and confused as to what they were witnessing. Every performer made their own original music, and we performed our shows as big visual plays with narratives and drama supporting the tracks.

No taboos were too dark or embarrassing, our live shows often contained piss, penetration, cat fights, vomiting, drug taking, food and masturbation - and worse. Underneath the make-up and costumes, everything was hyper real!

Getting into art college in London in 2004, I moved to London and thus left the dunst guys behind too. For further information on what they get up to, and for loads more pictures, videos and history, visit www.dunst.dk

All pics are of me and friends, all my own make-up and costumes.