>> I know I've been slacking off but like I said on my Twitter, all I could think about is dunking myself in an ice bath... or alternatively, running through a fountain like the one at Southbank... I have nothing remotely sartorial to write about when I'm wearing what are essentially shoes that appeal to the inner child... yup, the type of floral Docs that inspire hate threads on The Fashion Spot and are considered trite and 'try hard' (when did a verb and an adjective come together to become a properly established adjective?). I'm only going to say this much... they're incredibly useful for making me feel five again propelling me to run through fountains...
Anyhow, onto weightier matters... since the mind is most occupied with ice baths and fountains, an easy exhibition at the Hayward, that's heavy with largescale and literal installations made sense... 'Walking in my Mind' is on at the moment and for the occasion, Yayoi Kusama has tacked her polka dots on the trees alongside the Thames , in an astro-turfed garden and inside the gallery. Illustrator Yoshitomo Nara has reconstructed the coolest hut that mirrors his working studio. The work that astounded me the most was the room that Chiharu Shiota had constructed which was an expanse of black thread cat's cradle...each line held taut to intertwine in a super complex web that protects a circle of white wedding-like dresses in the centre. I don't have images of the actual room at the Hayward but with her past work at other galleries here... you get the picture... the cat's cradle technique is a repeated motif that crops up to different degrees...
I wonder what the dress trapped inside this entanglement of thread is supposed to represent... I'll attempt to think about it in my ice bath...
**EDIT** Ooops...gender bender mistake... I knew Yayoi was a woman but wrote 'his' but wasn't sure about Chiharu... apols...
Chiharo Shiota had attached the shoes to an outside wall of a house in Berlin last autumn. That was a real stopper. M.ariii has some pictures on her flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/m_ariii/2928757691/
Posted by: Jonna | 04 July 2009 at 22:53
An even better view: http://www.flickr.com/photos/offshore/2931592735/
It just looked so amazing.
Posted by: Jonna | 04 July 2009 at 22:56
i have to say that i adore those docs. who cares what others say anyways... you always manage to pull things off because it's clear that you wear them because you like them, not because you're trying to look like a trendster...
as for that exhibit, my mind is whirling. wow...
Posted by: Eliza | 04 July 2009 at 22:58
I need to see this exhibition! I love the docs on you!
Posted by: Winnie | 04 July 2009 at 23:19
I took like a million photos of those trees as well! They cheered me right up... The exhibit is breathtaking. Not sure what it means but it sure is beautiful.
http://dreamingspiresandoldcartyres.blogspot.com/
Posted by: MJ | 04 July 2009 at 23:28
There are really hate threads about those shoes on TFS? That's so funny! I really like them!
-Ashley
http://breakfastatsaks.blogspot.com
Posted by: Ashley | 04 July 2009 at 23:29
you and those shoes are amazing :)
Posted by: daria&willow | 04 July 2009 at 23:31
south bank is actually the best. such a nice place to chillax
Posted by: knitkicks | 04 July 2009 at 23:47
Ah those fountains are amazing! Love the Southbank with a passion... Must get to that exhibition! Xxxc
Posted by: cassiopeia | 05 July 2009 at 00:19
susiebubble, i read your blog avidly, checking in every day to see what gems you have unearthed, and it's always a pleasure.
so this comes only out of all the love i have for this blog - yayoi kusama and chiharu shiota are both women x x dlae
Posted by: dale | 05 July 2009 at 00:22
this exhibition looks absolutely incredible, thank you so much for posting. Im definitely going to try and get there before I leave london on thursday.
and by the way, if you can make those doc martens work, go for it! let the haters be jealous they can't make them look so good =)
xx
Posted by: refulgence | 05 July 2009 at 00:24
Susie - you really are beautiful! Your just so unique! keep doing what you do, we are in this mad,crazy blogging adventure together!! xoxo
Posted by: Christiangalinthecity | 05 July 2009 at 00:46
That exhibition looks amazing!
Also, I would love to have shoes like those. :)
Posted by: Jazz Kate | 05 July 2009 at 01:14
Those Docs are adorable!
I was at South Bank today and was equally excited by the fountain. Sadly I slipped and fell on my butt while dashing in. :( Should have been wearing Docs!
Posted by: Zen | 05 July 2009 at 01:18
I love Yayoi Kusama's work, she's always so inspiring!
Posted by: Faith | 05 July 2009 at 03:12
wow its sooo wonderful marvelous
i loved it!!!!!!!!!
the dream in reality...
what a art exhibition!
Posted by: chiunkim | 05 July 2009 at 03:39
The Docs are awesome!
The installations just amazing, especially the one with the shoes. Wow. And who wouldn't want to take a walk in the park amongst polkadotted trees?
Posted by: SRR | 05 July 2009 at 03:53
I was trying to supress my urge for docs but then I checked in for my daily dose of stylebubble and I'm all a quiver.
Posted by: Soph | 05 July 2009 at 04:22
No one may dis your Docs!
Posted by: Sister Wolf | 05 July 2009 at 06:02
Why the Doc hatred? I think they're adorable, and more importantly, you seem to like them so it's fantastic.
Just one tiny error in the post though: Yayoi Kusama is a woman. The polka-dotted trees look unbelievably surreal, though- half of me expects this to turn up in a Tim Walker shoot.
Posted by: Dru | 05 July 2009 at 08:22
ohh i'm looking for floral docs now.... eventhough its winter in australia. they look amazing!
Posted by: jenna | 05 July 2009 at 08:24
Your doc wearing has liberated me to step out in clogs again. I love clogs and I really shouldn't be an apologist for that!
Posted by: Make Do Style | 05 July 2009 at 09:06
epic post! seriously!
Sara
http://hellodontmindme.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Sara Bara | 05 July 2009 at 09:12
Yayoi kusama is a she btw. I love her work, her mad, all consuming polka dot visions are amazing, plus the fact that she can actually see polka dots everywhere.
Posted by: Natty | 05 July 2009 at 10:08
I love the floral Docs.
Posted by: Stephanie | 05 July 2009 at 12:03
Your floral Docs are awesome !
Posted by: Tiphaine | 05 July 2009 at 12:09
The Docs are beautiful and haters should be shunned! I have serious Doc envy :/
I'm a vegan though so I don't wear leather...(please take a moment to think how hard this can make shoe shopping..sob!)..but it is my choice to do this so I can't complain. You can get vegan Docs but they're so hard to come by! I'm always trawling ebay..
Posted by: Ali | 05 July 2009 at 12:30
wow, amazing!
Posted by: TOMERea | 05 July 2009 at 12:33
AWESOME EXHIBITION!
& i think these docs look absolutely great on you, you look so fresh with them & the dress & the long hair. kinda like 5, but still your age too.
Posted by: Mili | 05 July 2009 at 12:46
Okay, forget the hate threads...I love me these floral docs. So pretty. Keep on stomping through the puddles bella!
And the exhibition is fabulous...so ingenius!
Posted by: Anika | 05 July 2009 at 15:45
Brilliant post; the trees, the dreamy dresses, the shoes tied up with strings.
Doc Martins make me feel like Ronald McDonald.
Posted by: diane | 05 July 2009 at 15:50
I absolutely LOVE the floral docs!!
I have the black patent ones but I did want the floral ones
The haate threads should just shut up!!
http://lipstickboudoir.blogspot.com/
x's
Posted by: Ore | 05 July 2009 at 19:39
You look great in your pictures! those are the only pair of Doc Martins I'd probably ever wear. I'm such a sucker for cute florals.
Posted by: Lucy | 05 July 2009 at 20:16
AAAAAAAAAAMAZZING WOWOWOWO
Posted by: Saga | 06 July 2009 at 00:13
hahaha gorgeous!! what a sight, i bet some people thought they were dreaming! i think the boots are great, especially in the lighter print, it's less grunge more cute- always my favourite out of the two!
Posted by: selina | 06 July 2009 at 00:19
running thru the fountain looks like loads of fun! those docs are lovely and i'd kill for them. not try hard at all...
i wish i could see the chiharu shiota installations inn person. they are "mind blowing".
Posted by: adreamer | 06 July 2009 at 01:25
Whole exhibit is amazing, wonder what the deeper meaning is?
Posted by: Bombshell Kitten | 06 July 2009 at 05:16
Tokyobanhao has some flowery docs as well I think. I'm not a big doc fan in general, I don't see why these especially would invoke hate and the regular docs not? It's just a print?
I love Yayoi's stuff, so much fun. Saw her pumpkins (yup, dotted) at Naoshima last year, so cool to see the kids and adults playing on them.
Posted by: kim | 06 July 2009 at 10:50
I can't believe that there are people who hate floral Docs! How could you hate something so pretty and reminiscent of childhood?!
I've wanted a pair since I was about 14. It was the 90s and Docs were cool but I was decidedly uncool and lusted after the flowery ones. I used visit the Doc shop and dream of the day I could save up enough to buy a pair. It never came and since they've come back I've thought of buying them but felt I was a bit too old for them. But seeing you wearing them makes me wonder...maybe its time to indulge my craving for pretty flowery Docs! :)
Posted by: missmilki | 06 July 2009 at 11:25
I don't care what other people say, those shoes are <3 !
Posted by: B | 06 July 2009 at 11:25
The black thread one is sort of disturbing but I love it anyways.
Who says floral Docs are try hard? LAME. Any kind of Docs are boss.
Posted by: Isabel | 06 July 2009 at 15:03
"Walking in my mind" is amazinggg
Could just stare at the trees for agesss
And I couldn't passs without leaving a messagee :) haha
I loveee the docs
Posted by: Raji | 06 July 2009 at 18:46
Floral docs make my heart skip a beat!
http://tinkinmycloset.blogspot.com/
Posted by: tink | 07 July 2009 at 07:56
Those things are all kinda trippy.
Posted by: Charles | 08 July 2009 at 16:46
I knew those shoes-on-strings looked familiar! I used to live just down the road from the apartment on Torstrasse, Berlin, that was host to a sister installation for a while. It was so fantastically whimsical, I never even bothered to find out who was responsible. Just skipped a bit whenever I walked past it.
Great pictures of the black thread installation. Can't stop looking! Ta :)
Posted by: Rose | 10 July 2009 at 03:52
I don't know what you mean that people on TFS hate floral docs...I myself have posted pics of my favorite floral Docs in that thread (I like the purple ones as well as the classic multicolor) and people have always talked about them in a positive way, or shown their own, including the Yohji collob.....I'm confused...
Posted by: meg | 11 July 2009 at 03:33
Meg.... I think I'm referring to the Trends That You Hate thread...
Posted by: susie_bubble | 11 July 2009 at 10:31
oh okay. I was confused...because the Doc Martens revival thread has love for all things Doc Martens....http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f49/doc-martens-revival-42483-52.html
Posted by: meg | 12 July 2009 at 00:19
These images are stunning - the cats cradle - wowwww! And I am now in LOVE with the idea of polka-dotted tree trunks. I want to see prints all over the place! Why can't there be more of this around?!
So inspiring :)
Posted by: megan v | 21 July 2009 at 17:34