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Sunday 30 January 2011

COLLABORATORS REVIEW OF 2010 : ANNA TREVELYAN

A picture of you or some image to represent you.





















Short biography
Fashion stylist innit!

Memory or thoughts from a project we worked on in 2010, could be interesting funny etc
hmmm the most memorable was surely making a pussy grow out of the ground when we turned Machine-A basement into a slutty graveyard!!

A little about what your up to next
Everything! i love it! watchthisspace and you will see!

Some example of your work could be a picture, video etc






Link to your site / blog etc.
www.annatrevelyan.com
www.annatrevelyan.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/annatrevelyan

Saturday 22 January 2011

REVIEW OF 2010 : EMILIA ZIEBA






















Hi guys I'm Emily and I would like to tell u a bit how I became Alun's assistant. One day I accidentally came to an Art Direction page surfing in the internet. What I've saw there interested me so much that I decided take a risk and write an email with my portfolio to mysterious Mr Alun Davies. That's how I started my adventure with London and this local, international artistic world. After few hours of traveling and got lost few times I landed in really strange place full of ruined, deserted buildings. I felt horror breeze and thought how come anyone can be here for more that 5 minutes and create such a wonderful things like Alun's, impossible. Especially that no one was there the time I came. After a while when I get myself together I called the number which I found on the internet page. Few signals and nice, male voice welcomed me warmly and invited for a cup of coffee. I felt suprised so much especially with my permanent fear from talking on the phone with lisping English people, I could totally misunderstood and catch something like not 'pop in for a coffee but for example "put in fold in coffin haha ;P Short massage from Alun with direction assured me that I should take my bump and go to his place what I've obviously did. There met me another surprise because the door was opened by a young, handsome man not old and bald with a moustache and big belly, like I supposed. :P We've had nice, quite long conversation about work he already did and my experience as well.

The following day I've been invited to hist studio. Except basic intern duties like to give, to fetch, to sweep Alun was asking me to sort out his stuff and make simple props and accessories for the shoots, films and music clips among set for Glass Magazine, the feathers accessories for SHOW studio, Boudoir set for OFFICE Magazine, Painted backdrops for ANOTHER Magazine and Costumes for Samuel Chase. Cutting, gluing and painting, mostly how to do fab things reallysimply and shortly and get amazing final effect and make zajebisty (I couldn't use other than polish expression ;) climate in photos, movie or music clip to effect what I had in mind. Fantastic experience indeed! To be in the center of artistic world, among many different professions. To watch a team of make up artists, stylists, models, photographs and by building a set to become an author of a background for beautiful costumes, events, shoots and young debut stars music clips. Hours of hunting feathers in neighboring parks and cemetery ... How many my emotions and filings accursed in those places, how many steps in miles walked through, sat in the tube during journey to the studio or shoot places, on the way to meet new adventures, to build new fantastic world full of magic, artists performance, later admired for people which bought the freshly printed glossy magazines. The difference is that I took a part in this whole history which was given to me. From a big mess of many different things thrown away on the floor to ready made sets to rebuild later on, and placing props back in boxes, cases, packages. That is how I'll feel after I come back to my polish reality.. like an empty studio waiting for the new set will keep waiting for the new challenge this time with totally different people in absolutely different place in the world.


















































Above are images of two models made as an answer for "human against civilization" sentence inspired by Jean-Paul Chrles Aymard Sartre philosophy.

I graduated Poznan Academy of Fine Arts in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Stage and Costume design. I am on my second part of the studies at the moment. I have already been working as an assistant and trainee in several theatres in Poland during my studies.

Despite the fact that my education and work experience has prepared me for the position of stage and costume designer, I am also interested in interior, exhibition and set design. Last term of my studies I spent abroad and courses which I chose during my studies at Lithuanian Dajles Academija was completely connected with interior and exhibition design. After that I started to think about work in this field seriously.

COLLABORATORS REVIEW OF 2010 : TOM LEVINGE






















I'm a music video director but I've also had a crack at documentaries, sketches, shorts, dog walking and am currently writing and gambling a dangerous amount.

2010 was a terrible year. Political unrest, appalling sports performances, general sinister goings on BUT I did have the good fortune to collaborate with Alun, who has been nominated Wales' suavest man three years in a row. He keeps the certificates hidden away in a secret drawer, but if you ask he'll show you them, they're very fancy.

Alun, Rod (Bright Light Bright Light) and I (along with a super talented team too long to mention here) created the Love Part II video, with very few resources, but a generally agreed upon idea that it should look beautiful and present BLBL as a powerful new pop sensation. Alun's vision and good humour really brought the project to life and we had a great time shooting it. His suggestions and use of reference materials were totally inspiring and I can't wait for our next project.

I'm just about to shoot my first ever 3D video and have some really, really stupid stuff in development. 2011 is the year that we all hit the big time.

www.vimeo.com/tomlevinge

Friday 21 January 2011

COLLABORATORS REVIEW OF 2010 : CHRISTA HOLKA






















I’m Christa Holka and I am a photographer. I came to London in to do an MA in Fine Art at Central St. Martins, which I finished in 2008. I met Alun very soon after my arrival in London and we became fast friends. I then began working with him in the summer of 2008 doing Art Department/Set Design on a feature film. Since then, I regularly work with him on set design projects for fashion, but have also worked with him as a photographer.

My personal work is mostly documentary photography and deals issues of documenting and archiving the communities in which I exist. One of my biggest ongoing projects is “I WAS THERE”, a series of photographs of friends and acquaintances in parties I frequent in London. Intersecting with my personal work, are photos I share with my friends’ blog The Most Cake.





























































Outside of my own work, I work predominantly as a freelance photographer documenting live art/artists and art events as well as in editorial photography. I am also a stills photographer for film and television and occasionally work as a photographer’s assistant for fashion editorials and with Alun in set design and art direction for fashion and film.

Working with Alun, I’m always impressed by his incredible creative vision, passion, professionalism, attention to detail and ability to make the most gorgeous sets and objects with any budget no matter how small. Working with Alun has and continues to influence me and my work on a number of levels, and I am lucky to work with him. Plus, it’s just fun to work with your friends!

So, some highlights for the year included:

The saga of Lady Gaga. I was part of a very intimate team working with Alun assembling costumes for Lady Gaga’s European Tour. I don’t know if I have ever worked so hard and so long in my entire life. This project also marks the moment where I hit my exhaustion limit and broke. After two long weeks of work, and the final 2 days of 15 hour days, plus the final all-nighter, I lost it! My usually calm and relaxed demeanor even in the toughest, most stressful situations just went out the window and I do believe I was asleep in the studio, refusing to get up to finish the job. After an hour nap, I did get up and I did deliver those costumes to Anna Trevelyan. Oh yes I did.

















Rihanna for i-D Magazine. I must admit, I was starstruck. Rihanna is one of my favourite pop stars of late and that I got to be in a room with her for a whole day whether or not I even spoke to her, was terrifically exciting! This was a full day shoot where we brought everything. Lots of furniture that I think I helped source, fabrics, etc. and in the end, it was all about a wooden stool. I never could have imagined that a wooden stool would be so important or so precious. I am since always on the look-out for the perfect wooden stool which I plan to buy and give to Alun as a surprise some day.

Kate Moss for British Vogue. This was a two-day shoot, one of which was on location in a gorgeous location house. This was again a situation where we brought the world in terms of props: gorgeous furniture that we sourced from all over London. I also remember Alun sending me out to source an old mattress, not just a mattress but an “exquisite” old mattress. I never found the thing but I tried did I ever try.

Rosamund Pike for InStyle Magazine. For this shoot, we built a gorgeous old film set. Aside from the Adidas Campaign I worked on with Alun a few years ago, this was the first time I got to see the almost all of the big props Alun sourced go to work. The result was an impressive, convincing film set. I also got the opportunity to do some “behind the scenes” photos on this shoot that are included in the final story.















Naomi Campbell for British GQ. This was another moment where I felt truly starstruck. The chance to be on set with one of fashions most notorious models was quite exciting, not to mention the very ambitious set that included a special effects swimming pool AND us building a separate free-standing room. Also, as it goes with celebrity rumours, Naomi was not a nightmare, but rather she was well behaved, quite unremarkable in those terms. On top of being on set with Naomi, my job for about half of the day was splashing Naomi while she was photographed (!!!).

Beyond fashion shoots, I also collaborated with Alun by doing the photography for Bright Light Bright Light’s 2010 Limited Edition Tour EP as well as some publicity photography for 2009 and 2010.































































































And I think that about covers it! I look forward to many more of these memories with Alun to come! Hey 2011!

www.christaholka.com
www.xtawasthere.tumblr.com

COLLABORATORS REVIEW OF 2010 : BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT

















I'm Rod Thomas and make music as Bright Light Bright Light.
I live and work from my studio in London, but grew up very near Alun back home in the Welsh valleys.
I make my own music - a type of electronic synth-based pop that draws influence from the late 80s / early 90s - and remix other artists, collaborate and DJ regularly in London.

2010 was an important year for me establishing my music and coming up with the visual identity to accompany Bright Light Bright Light. Because we'd always swapped ideas on a friend basis, I approached Alun about being involved with the project on a creative direction basis, and it seemed to be a perfect fit. We clubbed together as the 90s turned into the 00s, and he's been part of my life in London throughout, so he knows my reference points inside out.

We had our first photo shoot back in 2009 where Alun made a fantastic set to reflect the sound I was creating. At the time the tracks I'd done were 'A New Word To Say' and 'Disco Moment', and the fragmented set he made perfectly mirrored the mood of the songs. We then spent months planning how we thought things should be presented - both me and the world around me - and then worked together (with Tom Levinge) to make the 'Love Part II' video in his studio. We made a small room feel like a different world and had so much smoke it was like being in Laserquest, and ended up making something we were both extremely proud of that fit the song, and cemented a great working relationship. We learn a lot from each other - me about fashion and set design, and him about live music and making music.

This year I'm finishing off the debut album 'Make Me Believe In Hope' as well as doing lots of writing with other people, remixes, festivals and some live shows. I have set up a 90s clubnight with another fellow Neath export David Oh, which we're running in London called 'Another Night' playing club classics and some rarer treats from 1990-1999 .

Together, Alun and I are working on more video ideas, further exploring the visual side of the project, and continuing to have a total blast while working hard, which is the best way I can think to spend 2011!














Bright Light Bright Light live at Koko London
There are free downloads of my work and remixes at www.brightlightx2.com
A DJ mixtape is up at http://dj-set-november-2010
and 'Another Night' has a home at http://anothernightclub.blogspot.com

REVIEW OF 2010 : GEMMA SMITH




























Paper and card played a large part in the creativity whilst working with Alun, It was wonderful to see how these materialised into such contrary forms, creating unique environments and atmospheres, full of colour and attitude.

I assisted Alun back in February 2010, since then I have assisted other set designers and prop stylists such as: Shona Heath, Dawn Weller, Emma Roach, Anna Burns and James Hatt. I have recently worked independently on advertising shoots.

I have work on fashion shoots: Vanity Fair, Net-A-Porter, Italian Vogue, Turkish Vogue, British Vogue and advertising campaigns: Swarovski, Moet, John Lewis, Kelloggs, MTV, Aviva, Thomas Pink and many more. Whist continuing to assist designers and now work on my own projects, and am very much looking forward to seeing what this year brings.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

REVIEW OF 2010 : Erik Nilsson-Gullstrand






















My name is Erik "Tonrie" Nilsson-Gullstrand and graduated secondary school from a swedish gymnasium with a text communication profile last summer. At the moment I'm back in Sweden doing some personal projects however I have big plans returning to the UK and London quite soon.

My creative work isn't much but I enjoy working in a kind of scandinavian way, I do love my scandinavia. The woods, the mystique, the cold.

I worked with Alùn on a few projects in 2010, I came to London to assist Alùn on the SZ Magazin shoot with Daniel Sannwald. But when I was suppose to go home, my flight was cancelled so I stayed for another week and assisted on the Vincent Peters shoot for British GQ and helped out with Alùn's fantastic accessorising for the exibition at Machine-A. So you can easily say I had a great end of 2010. The Daniel Sannwald shoot I thought was great, the team who worked on the shoot, the atmosphere was great - listening to Fever Ray nonstop for two days, running around London looking for ivy and emptying that pool which took for ever, but no complains, I enjoyed my time there and I feel like this is not the end. 2011 is going to be a good and productive year.















This is one of the most recently projects I've been working on were I provided with the artistic parts and also created the west-dress. Photography by Amina Rose.

http://tonrie.tumblr.com/

REVIEW OF 2010 : ROBERT JONES

















My name is Robert Jones and I am currently in my second year at London College of Fashion studying Fashion Illustration. I am interested in the mixture of fashion and music and what it brings season to season.

My illustration style is mixed media stencil graffiti. I also enjoy short film production and photography. I have gained experience in different aspects of the fashion industry such as styling, advertising and graphic design.

After working with Alun on a few projects during 2010, one of the projects that I enjoyed was for a Fashion Film Director Jez Tozer. An exhibition incorporating a party which Jez was putting on to cellebrate the launch of his new film collection 'The Alchemy Series' the theme was based on black and hanging sculptures and garments created an ambience in the room and was a great way to finish the year off and to see the new year in, with the Christmas spirit high and the Guinness flowing together with the smell of burnt wood in the air.






























Ipad case and bag designer HbyHarris

Saturday 8 January 2011

REVIEW OF 2010 : DAVID CURTIS-RING























David Curtis-Ring, Peacock portrait photography by Christa Holka

I worked with ADAD on the music video Love Part II where we had some great fun with smoke, confetti and sugarglass! In the video there is a moment when a sheet of glass appears to break over Bright Light Bright Light and so while filming this part Alun and I were hovering above Rod with a sheet of sugarglass, poised, waiting for the go-ahead to let it fall! Eek! This felt quite dramatic at the time, to be dropping what seemed to like a piece of glass! We only had two chances to get it right but it worked out really well in the end. The sumptuous collage of textures, lights and varying colours that you can see in the finished piece are among my favourite things about the video!

I'm a London based artist working in set design, costume and props. My practice references mythology, elements of fantasy and mysticism and often features the animal as symbol. I'm interested in creating a striking visual language through an exploration of archetypes and a tactile, colourful and handmade aesthetic. I've just recently finished work on a music video for pop duo Muchuu where I art directed and designed the set and am now beginning a project with fantastic DOP Michel Dierickx.

www.davidcurtis-ring.blogspot.com















Video still from Love Part II by Bright Light Bright Light























Muchuu Set design photography by Fanny Jansen

Tuesday 4 January 2011

REVIEW OF 2010

Hello,

2010 was an extremely busy year at AD AD, it was the first year to see so much of our set design work on the stage as well as in print, online and as live installations. Working across fashion and music, we have collaborated with some of my early inspirations (Peaches, Vincent Peters, Willy Vanderperre ) as well as some brilliant up and coming talent (Daniel Sannwald, Charlie Le Mindu, Bright Light Bright Light). It also seemed the perfect time to develop our costume props and accessories taking them to a new level, some touring the world (Lady Gaga) and gaining a whole new audience for our designs.

Some of the highlights I have listed below but the stand-out event for me was the amazing opportunity to travel and work with Peaches in Berlin. I spent almost 2 months working with avant garde recording artist as the production and stage designer for her shocking and brilliant musical opera 'Peaches Does Herself' at the prestigious Hebbel Am Uffer, creating dynamic sets such as a vaginal lipped bed giving birth to the contemporary dancers dressed in fetus style outfits, to oversized set pieces such as an operating table, the Peaches trademark 'Shocker' hand and dancing cardboard trees. The show was a back to back musical of Peaches songs and the imagery followed with props including a specially commisioned exploding dildo by 'Babes-n-Horny', hair arm costume props and many more. The show was sold out for the whole weeks run in Berlin, and was such a success it shall return again in May 2011.
COSTUME PROPS

Another on-stage sucess were the scintillating and mirror ball encrusted dancers costumes for the Lady Gaga Monsterball World Tour, commissioned by Anna Trevelyan for super stylist Nicola Formichetti. Gaga wears dress by Armarni Prive.


EDITORIAL \ CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL STORIES

In print and online AD AD created editorial art direction, prop design and costume props with stylists and photographers such as Kim Howells for Contributing Editor, Raquel Garcia for Metal Magazine, Yasuhiro Takehisa for Dazed and Confused Korea and Vision Magazine. Markn for Harpers Bazarre, Vincent Peters for Vanity Fair, GQ and InStyle, Daniel Sannwald for Suddeutsche Zeitung Magazin and Thomas Lohr for Under Current Magazine.
COMMERCIAL

Commercial shoots and campaigns included Net a Porter, Office, House of Fraser, Lu Flux (Esthetica at LFW) and Waddler Clothing with photographers, Holly Falconer, Jonathan Hallam, Markn and Sophia Spring .
LFW AND BEYOND

Staying in the wonderful realms of fashion we collaborated with milliner Piers Atkinson for his London fashion week installations, creating body contorted mannequins in gloss black, speared with neon tubing for his A/W 2010/11 stand at Somerset House, and golden lacquered bodies with glitter pink Hollywood Hills for his S/S 2011 installation. More recently creating futuristic erotica inspired costume props for his Christmas window display at it-boutique Machine-A, where we had incidentally previously brought to life a themed ‘graveyard for vaginal worship’; a live performance Installation for Machine-A and Charlie Le Mindu, a cardboard graveyard and astro turf lawns graced the Machine-A basement, a body and fountain of hair was suspended as performers writhered in worship on the floor.
MUSIC & MOVING IMAGE

Ongoing artistic direction for Grazia.com’s LFW soundtrack recording artist Bright Light Bright Light, with brilliant projects that included his first music video for single 'Love Part 2', an abstract space was created where two anonymous dancers play guardian to BLBL as cascading shards of glitter and glass attempt to invade his environment. Aswell as lighting and stage design for live performances at Koko London, styling consultant for their show at The Hammersmith Apollo and all current press photography. Continuing In the world of pop, the music video for La Roux's 'Bulletproof ' began a global debut in 2010 and made it into the top ten around many countries in the world including top 5 in US, after brilliant success in the UK in 2009. The video has now been played over 15 million times on YouTube alone! A 'Tron' inspired geometric set design was created by AD AD with post production by Mathematic Studios Paris.FILM & INSTALLATION

The end of year rounded off very chicly with a subtle installation for photographer and video director Jez Tozer for his 'Alchemy Series' launch event. Freshly charcoaled wood was suspended in a lattice across the entrance creating an aromatic, ambient, live trailer to the film screening later to be shown online at SHOWstudio.com, (themes of fire, smoke and fashion), with designer fashion garments by Craig Lawrence and Noki hung in the show space.

2011 is already looking busy with discussions with LA film studios, the release of the feature film 'Wreckers' in early spring and a continuing presence at LFW. I will endeavor to keep you posted!

Happy New Year !!

Alun
Special thanks to all my assistant and collaborators over the past year, Lloyd Rossborough, Kim Morley, Kirri Barker, Erik Nilsson-Gullstrand, Emilia Zieba, Rosie Knowles, Christa Holka, Lynne Morris and everyone else who has been involved with ADAD projects.

Saturday 1 January 2011