Control : A London Artists Initiative to raise funds for Parkinson's

"Art speaks where words are unable to explain"

It speaks about who we are, the community we live in, and how our lives are affected by those around us.

A group of eleven artists from London have got together to present 'Control'. An exhibition of new works responding creatively to the feelings, challenges, and stories of people with Parkinson's disease.

As a South Londoner, I'm so happy to see the area becoming the hub of a thriving creative force. Artists who are constantly engaging and coming up with innovative means to make a positive impact on the community. Raising awareness about ongoing issues, which probably don't get the kind of attention they deserve.

The event organised by artist Marcus Aitken in partnership with Parkinson's UK, will be held at the hARTsLane Gallery at New Cross Gate from Friday 21st September to Sunday 23rd September, 10am to 5pm.

It's also going to be part of the Deptford X festival which starts on the 21st. The exhibition seeks to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s UK, and will also include an affordable art shop with artworks under £50. It's a win- win for everyone involved.

Here are some of the artists, who are part of this collective. Their styles are so vastly different, so it's surely going to be exciting to see their unique interpretations for this exhibit!

If you are in the area, do pop in to show support, and grab some brilliant art work for your walls.

Juliana Futter

Marcus Aitken

Kirsten Allen

Heena Patel

George Cole

Jacob Eaton

James Hart

#ControlArtExhibition #ParkinsonsUK

Gritty Little London

This summer, Instagram was flooded with the hashtag 'PrettyLittleLondon'. Sun-kissed pastel colour homes, blooming roses, wisterias and picture postcard perfection.

How about bad graffiti? A growing underbelly of anger, chaos, rebellion presenting itself in tacky and provocative sticker plastered walls. And our favourite subject Donald Trump.

A Gritty Little London.

#londonstreetart #StreetArtLondon #BrickLaneStreetArt #GrittylittleLondon #LondonGraffiti

My design picks from the D&AD Awards 2018

D&AD has always been one of those awards that I have admired since my early advertising days more than a decade ago. So this year I got the opportunity to attend the show to see some amazing works, talks and sessions. The setting itself was brilliant, the historic Old Truman Brewery London that made for the perfect large and open space for the displays and workshops. Here are my favourites from the poster/ packaging design winners.

I love this series 'Study Opposite Styles' So striking at first glance, and all those details.

By Dentsu Inc. for Tokai Polytechnic College.

This ad set is for Soy Sauce. I liked the simplicity in this idea and execution. The best graphic design still seem to be coming out of Japan.

By Ogilvy and Mather Japan for Sagawa Shoyu Inc.

This set is titled 'Eating Kabuki with your fingers' So brilliant- the colours and composition.

By Dentsu for Sochiku Minami-za

A set of Water Bottle Packaging H2O for G20 by Jung Won Matt.

Some clever book covers.

Funny and interactive. I love this simple piece for Ikea

This was not part of the awards. But an initiative by Mother London, an advertising agency in Shoreditch. I hear a lot of people around me say that they never faced or saw any gender discrimination happening in their workplaces. Worse, some even claim that because of all the debate and attention, women are given special preference over men.

I can tell you that I didn't get a raise in my work place for 3 years. Every time I asked for it, I was told '3 months' or '6 months' or that the books are not looking good. This in spite of me getting in a big account for the agency in 2016, and single handedly in charge of the creative department. Being a woman from an ethnic minority is a double whammy. I wonder if a man in my position would have gone three years without a penny raise.

There is a silver lining. This motivated me to start my own business, and trust my own art to earn me an income. End of the day, the only person you can depend on is yourself. Man or woman.

#DAD2018 #PosterDesignDAD2018