Paul Noble: Welcome to Nobson, Gagosian Gallery, King's Cross

The Gagosian Gallery is an epic franchise with branches all over the world. In London the gallery is based at 6-24 Britannia Street, just round the corner from King’s Cross Station on a strangely deserted street. I was delighted to be finally visiting this prestigious and trendy establishment. The space is clean and stark… a stern faced doorman lets you in, and then other security men stand guard at almost every picture, it is a little bit silly but certainly gives the gallery a very exclusive feel.

The current exhibition is called ‘Welcome to Nobson’, a collection of works by East London artist Paul Noble. The works illustrate Noble’s fictional world, Nobson, an odd and fascinating illusion conjured up in immaculate fairy tale detail in Noble’s most recent drawings and sculpture. The entrance is through a dangling curtain of black and white blocks, as you walk in the forms bash together, it is a very physical start. The vast graphite drawings are minutely detailed, delicate and decorative, carefully executed and apparently miraculously avoiding any smudges. Some show elaborate narratives, little stories woven through the lines and markings; you could examine each work for hours and still spot new things.

I loved the huge expansive drawing pinned onto the central wall, it demonstrates mind-boggling craftsmanship on a monumental scale, intricate and beautiful. Heaven (2009) and Hell (2009) were also favourites of mine – two adjacent drawings depicting fenced off areas - bizarrely heaven is a closed trapped space with sturdy brick walls, while hell has ornate pretty fencing with easy access to come and go.

I couldn’t decide if I liked the sculptures or not - Couple (2011) and Three (2011) are made from pale pink marble towering above the visitors on tall blocks; they are mysterious, ultra smooth surfaced and other worldly. To me they looked a bit like giant dollops of marshmallow on top of each other, though I’m not sure this was what the artist intended!

An absolutely stunning exhibition and entry to the Gagosian Gallery is free!

Visit website here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 44 - Guts for Garters

As I sat on a crowded Northern line carriage, suffering from agonising toothache, I began to wonder if this post-work traipse across London would be worth the effort. I had no idea then that I would be visiting an exquisite, unique and entirely unforgettable treasure trove, packed full of long forsaken goodies and exciting inventions.

This spring, more precisely two weeks ago, ‘Guts for Garters’ launched their eccentric idea on the world, a new concept store that houses all manner of creativity. The two founders, Rachel Chudley and Cassie Beadle, both recently graduated from the prestigious Courtauld Institute, felt they had something new and different to offer to the art world, an imaginative space for desirable and more importantly accessible art and design, quite simply a museum of everything and anything.

The exterior is white and minimal quite the opposite of the magical, colourful and enchanting interior. This is no jumble sale, though on first glance the eclectic collection looked a little similar. It is made up of carefully sourced vintage finds – clothes, jewellery, books, and other strange and wonderful objects that fall within ‘Guts for Garters’ first theme: ‘The Royal We’. Here you will find ultra collectable designer clothes that mimic the Queen’s elaborate style hanging on racks looking delicious. Creations from upcoming artists grace every inch of wall: strange pictures, crafty crockery, and daring jewellery, many pieces specially commissioned for this project. Each item is unique, and with some pieces costing as little as £20, this is affordable art at its most inventive.

Having always wanted a costume department for a wardrobe I was utterly delighted with the array... wishing every bit of it was mine. Sticking dutifully to my pre-New York buying ban I resisted purchasing anything, though I did treat myself to one of the new £3 catalogues to entertain me on the tube home. I was so impressed with the incredible attention to detail and thought that these two illustrious girls have put into this mission, showing a real passion, and immense effort. Among my favourites of the gems (and there are honestly too many to list) were the fabulously macabre bone rings, carved from deer antlers. Starting at £50 these beauties looked brilliant on, striking and mad, but strangely pretty too. Also some wildly exquisite chunky bracelets by a genius artist called Bert Clayton.

Every couple of months G4G will be staging a new theme, with ‘Surreal Women’ up next. There is a certain spirit of rebellion to this current exhibition, ‘The Royal We,’ as there always is when joking about the monarchy, but also an air of undeniable elegance and charm. This subject was incidentally decided long before Kate and Wills made the announcement.

I found my heaven in Guts for Garters, a beacon of originality that lights up Camden with its hip, distinctive vibe. Please don’t take my word for it, this is a whole world of delights that you must see with your own eyes.

Visit website here.