Mike Figgis' Soho Composites last day

Today's the last day of Mike Figgis' Soho Composites at the Photographers' Gallery.


You may remember that I wasn't impressed with the last piece of Figgis' London content that I'd come into contact with. It was the rather strange "Considerate Londoners" film for Transport for London that was supposed to show how if Londoners thought about each other a bit more, the whole world - or at least the top deck of a London bus - would be a better place.

I wrote "I love Mike Figgis and thought that Leaving Las Vegas was amazing, but I really wasn't convinced by this film. I wonder how much artistic / creative licence Figgis was given for this, and whether the TfL powers that be turned it into a film made by committee..... It seems a waste of Figgis' talent specially as I bet he wasn't that cheap to hire."

Really pleased to say that Soho Composites was excellent. If you get a chance to go to the gallery today, it's well worth a visit.

"Well known for experimenting with the creative process, Figgis is spending one week prior to the public display intensively photographing in this central London location, and continuing during the week of the exhibition.

The images will be produced and printed on-site over the course of the week, in a temporary studio space within the gallery. These photographs will then be presented on the wall with Figgis adding and subtracting from the previous day's display."

I was pleasantly surprised to see a certain book in the Photographers' Gallery bookshop next door:


Always nice to see something in a bookshop that you helped to produce (I was chief researcher for the book).

Liverpool Street Station 6pm Rick Astley - watch out US

I know a number of you saw my little plug for the Rick Astley flash mob / rick roll / rick mob / rock mob / rick rolling, call it what you like, last week. So it's tonight. Literally, I don't know, tens, hundreds, thousands of people will be at Liverpool Street Station shaking their snake hips and singing "Never Gonna Give You Up" to Mr Astley's 1980's masterpiece.


I'm excited. The Americans kind of think they invented flash mobbing at stations - with their No Pants Subway Days and Frozen at Grand Central Station. They're a bit miffed that Rick Astley is taking the limelight at the moment. I was having a drink with Joel Veitch this evening (like you do - sorry I'm such a fan of the dancing penguins and kittens. Waving at LJ, Piero, Matt, Jerome & Nik too) and he pointed out that the BBC had interviewed him about Rick Rolling earlier that day. They dismissed it as a "daft craze".

But back to station flash mobs - that's hundreds of people meeting at an appointed time to do something - anything - the thing is they all do the same thing at the same time. Let's not forget that Victoria Station has been the home to several flash mobs.


Here's another from Victoria station. What about the Circle Line Parties? Eh, Eh. The UK & London can do them too.

I've never seen so many advance notices for a station flash mob in the UK before. It's been on the radio - in fact I'm hearing it on Heart FM as I type this blog post. It's being twittered. (here's me on twitter) Going round on emails. Everything.

The staff at Liverpool Street Station are certainly going to have a fun time.

UPDATE They came they saw they Rick Rolled


From Whatleydude's live blog of the event. Expect to see tons of different views of this on YouTube and any other video sharing site.

The video re-mix below by Rickrollerz rocks. Remember there was NO MUSIC at the actual event so they put this together by taking footage from loads of different people singing to song with their lips moving to exactly the right parts to the song.


I particularly like this picture from Orhan* and his description:


"The crowd, under the electronic board, at exactly 6pm started singing a song by Rick Astley called "Never Gonna Give You Up" to the bemused looks of the commuters watching the spectacle from the balconies, and around the concourse area. After about two minutes singing the crowd disappeared,and everything was back to normal again."

Mmmm really sounds like there was a lot of disruption to hard working commuters by a "bunch of slackers" then. See some of the comments below if you'd like to know what I'm referring too.

IKEA take your Tube Map sponsorship to next level

Last month IKEA sponsored the latest version of the London Underground Map (although with Bank / Monument shenanigans another one will be on the cards soon).

However, I wish they would follow the lead of their Japanese counterparts and sponsor and furnish a whole train:




Thanks to Jess & Ian who sent me a link from Pink Tentacle about IKEA's latest initiative. "The Swedish Furniture giant IKEA has converted the Kobe Portliner Monorail into a moving showroom before the April 14 opening of a new retail outlet at Port Island. The redecorated train, which features a colourful exterior, bright upholstery and fancy curtains, will carry passengers in style until May 6."

That rocks. Please, please, please IKEA do this in London. I'd almost enjoy travelling on the Tube if you did.

Can the Nothern Line learn from Japan

Hot on the heels of the above story is another - only in Japan - subway story. Check out the video to see subway staff zealously helping to ease the overcrowding situation.


Like me, Matthew who sent the link in doesn't think this happens any more, but I'd be willing to be proved wrong.

Genius Subway Ad for Wonderbra

Many thanks to Sizemore for sending me the following picture from Singapore's MRT stations.


It plays on the yellow safety line which you have to stand behind to make sure you don't get hurt by oncoming trains or are not so close you could fall. A second yellow "Wonderbra" line implies that if wearing one of their bras you'll need to stand even further back as your boobs will be so much enhanced!

Perhaps it should go alongside the following warning or saucy invitation at Penrith station