Magnificent Obsessions

[pitch]

Yesterday I went to the exhibition of the same name at the Barbican, London. It brings several artists together - all known and obsessive collectors of 'stuff', from scarfs, medical equipment, stuffed animals, postcards, everyday junk, and of course records! A tattoo artist in Mexico City - Dr Lakra - has collected an eclectic mix of albums, primarily for the artwork, some featuring tattoos, but others that just caught his eye, many from the fleamarkets on the outskirts of the city. The gallery had a whole wall covered with a selection...... I have to admit I spent a little longer here than at other exhibits. Anyway - I had the grand total of 4 of the albums featured and thought that it might be a fun exercise to identify all of them (or at least some of the more obscure ones)!! Not really allowed to take photos - but I managed to snap a couple of pics - and found a few on line (to try and fill in the gaps). There are 184 covers.... 8 rows of 23.

To kick it off:
(from the top - row 5) there's:
Sticky Fingers - disco LP
Slade - Slayer
(Row 7)
A Mexican release of Persuasive Percussion vol 1
and there's a Rolling Stones - Tattoo somewhere

Also - I've also included a pic of what I think is the selection process with them laid out in his studio.....

A review of the show - http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-b...ent-obsessions











The collector

[Viva Chiba]

...

I recognise Beat Ablak, Niemen, Dr Hook and that Europa one with 'Love Is Blue'. Think Led Zep are in there too ...

[medlar]

I have these lurking on a quick glance. This is fun!

Trammps

http://www.discogs.com/Trammps-The-T...I/master/91515

Zongamin

http://www.discogs.com/sell/release/536721?ev=rb

The Surfmen

http://www.discogs.com/Surfmen-The-S...elease/5528978

[amidar]

I spy what looks like a Bollywood version of Grease. Was there such a thing?

Oh and 'The four sides of Melanie'

[Sonovox]

I guess I know why I finally shifted a copy of 'Anna Russell In Darkest Africa' this week.

Also spotted 'In A Classical Moog' by Criss Cross next to Spike Jones... will try and have a proper ferret round later.

[amidar]

I thought I saw Led Zep II but on closer inspection its this: http://www.amazon.com/Doggy-Style-Ra.../dp/B001I24OV0

I recognise Beat Ablak, Niemen, Dr Hook and that Europa one with 'Love Is Blue'. Think Led Zep are in there too ...

[effi_deep]

upsetters return of the superape

[ninja simone]

Some of the more obvious ones:

Perez Prado esta Increible
(Stereophonic) Perez Prado S/T
Perez Prado - Mambo Mania
Antonio Machin S/T
Dueto Azteca

+ another Polish one that's been on display in my studio for months but I can't identify without looking when I'm back in London...

I also went to see this show a couple of weeks ago but was frustratingly being herded out by the time I got to this record bit at closing time so only saw them briefly - can't see it in these pics but I'd swear there was a Swamp Dogg - Rat On! in there somewhere..I was pretty surprised how few I recognised too. The show's generally worth seeing but some collections are better than others - Martin Parr was my favourite and a bit more Peter Blake instead of some of the weaker contributions wouldn't have gone amiss. I was hoping to see the Madame Tussauds waxwork that he was given in lieu of payment for designing a poster once - some super-realistic long-forgotten (I think) African leader with a fly swatter that I remember being my favourite when I went there as a kid. Always been very envious of him owning that.

[emperor tomato ketchup]

Row 3, number one is a Frank Zappa & The Mother's bootleg called "Tis The Season to Be Jelly".

I'm not sure if I should be proud of this observation but I am taking my copy out now.

[babycart]

I like Dr Lakra´s wall , but couldn´t most of us knock up something similar given a big wall and a couple of days?

[Rich Hero]

I like Dr Lakra´s wall , but couldn´t most of us knock up something similar given a big wall and a couple of days?

I finally got to see the exhibition on Sunday and that very thought crossed my mind, but then most of us are not renowned artists (I assume ninja simone's invite was lost in the post?). Not that I knew who many of the artists were...

The show lived up to the Barbican's usual high standards. I thought it was interesting how the way they were displayed, as well as the objects themselves, affected my opinion of them. For instance the scarves were just inviting you to walk in amongst them (do not touch!). While the collection of the San Franciscan artist reminded me of the sort of shop that stocks loads of interesting objects but you know they'll be priced higher than you want to pay and you daren't pick them up and handle them. Some of the collections felt like museum displays and others, like the records, looked like the sort of thing that I can well imagine many people here amassing (space permitting).

As stated, bar the obvious few, I wasn't aware of most of the artists, and the examples of their work were limited. I'd have been interested to get a better sense of how their collections informed their work. Or didn't, as the one who collected the Indian art, claimed. Surely it's impossible to entirely separate what you collect from what you create?

There seemed to be quite some overlap between many of the collections. Is this a reflection of what ends up in charity and junk shops, what society at large views as disposable and worthless? Or was the aesthetic the driver for collecting them?

And, if you're still going to catch the exhibition this weekend, leave the records and the paintings to last, and save some time for them. Those two rooms had me in stitches. The paintings were superb, I wanted all of them (apart from one). Especially the cat. And the record two to the left of the woman's waist in this picture, the 'Fud' record of the sock puppet with the hotdog...



Incidentally, there were two copies of The Trammps III. What do I win?

[babycart]

And the record two to the left of the woman's waist in this picture, the 'Fud' record of the sock puppet with the hotdog...

there´s one on Mercadolibre in Ecatepec for $80 if you´re interested.

Looks like a promo for FUD sausages with a side each by José José and Camilo Sesto, both of whom require extreme caution.

Here´s more from the FUD monster.

[spiritual jazz mags]

Pretty sure I saw Herbie Hancock's Thrust when is visited.

It's also worth looking at the Sol Lewitt room if you are visiting. There is photo of Steve Reich Drumming box set amongst his book collection photographs. Even better, if you look inside the drawers there are original manuscripts for Pendulum music and some other Reich pieces.

[spiritual jazz mags]

I like Dr Lakra´s wall , but couldn´t most of us knock up something similar given a big wall and a couple of days?

That's missing the point of the exhibition. In this instance the Dr Lakra vinyl collection reflects those interests which are evident in his artistic practice, examples of which are displayed in the room with the LP covers. Most of his work concerns tattoos, and a large number of the LP designs also feature tattoos.

[Rich Hero]

Looks like a promo for FUD sausages with a side each by José José and Camilo Sesto, both of whom require extreme caution.

I already have one record by Camilo. Do I need any others, (aside from Fud)?

...if you look inside the drawers...

Damn, missed that!

That's missing the point of the exhibition. In this instance the Dr Lakra vinyl collection reflects those interests which are evident in his artistic practice...

Not in every instance though; this was one of the more obvious links between collection and art. And in others it relied more on prior knowledge to draw the connection. It would probably have been better, in my opinion, if they discarded the few works by each artist as these weren't really enough to draw conclusions about how their collections informed their work.