Wim Delvoye is banned from exhibiting tattooed pigs in China

Eight tattooed pigs by Wim Delvoye have been pulled before the opening of SHContemporary in Shanghai, China. The pigs were tattooed with Walt Disney characters and other symbols. There has been no official comment about the ban from the art fair organizers, but Delvoye has made his frustration known, stating, “We have collectors who've traveled to China all the way from Europe to see the pigs. They're very disappointed.''. If they had been purchased by collectors the pigs would have been slaughtered and their preserved skins sold for over $10,000 each. Delvoye went on to say that he does not understand why the ban was so “aggressive“.

Delvoye has been tattooing pigs since the 1990s. In recent years it seems that more artists are killing animals in the name of what they call art. Is it art? What are your thoughts on this? Should a line be drawn between branding animals for slaughter and consumption and tattooing and slaughtering animals in the name of art? What do you think?

Bullring Bull turns silver

New Silver look Bull

Old bronze statue

Unveiling

As a Brummy, I thought it only appropriate to add a patriotic post about my beloved hometown....!!! As the Bullring celebrates five successful years in Birmingham, the original bronze bull statue - all five tonnes of it - has been given a makeover in the form of a slick of silver paint.

I guess unless you are from Birmingham, and walk past this huge momument every day, like I do, you may not apprecaite this! I quite like the new look bull, although there has been mixed reviews with many stating that the statue now looks tacky and no longer unique. Fans of the original bronze incarnation of the bull need not worry, the silver paint is not permanent and will only be temporary!

I can't believe that there were people in there!!

Anyone of the 4 billion of us who watched the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony would have been left speechless after the unsurpassable and magnificent show. However, I'm currently in disbelief; I've just been informed by my boss, John, that the 'movable boxes' part of the ceremony was infact created by three-thousand people jumping up and down inside columns (as seen above). The illusion they created was phenomenal, and I was convinced this was all down to digital enhancement; definitely my favourite part of the ceremony. Apparently the chinese practiced this routine again and again for....wait for it....five years!!!!! what amazing dedication. As John said, "its easy to see why, when china can produce something like that, that communism clearly works." Hmmmm..not sure about that one!

I've also just come across this site, with some great photography of the ceremony:

Kelloggs Rice Crispies Ad

This is, by far, some of the worst casting I've seen in a while! Three young children, two of which are far too close in age to be just siblings as opposed to twins, yet one has a northern accent and the other a southern?! And don't even get me started on the little scottish(?!?!) lad. Surely, its startlingly obvious that this kind of lifestyle advert needs to be, in the very least, believeable.

I'm really unimpressed, and who cares how many rice crispies are in a packet?! Pointless, pointless waste of money; Kelloggs should ask for a refund from Leo Burnett in my opinion. (who's website is also pretty poor, btw!)http://www.leoburnett.com/

Umbrella Covers?!

With all this rain we've been having (what happened to the scorching summer we were promised?!), it got me to thinking; what is the point in the cover that fold up umbrellas come with?! When its been pouring with rain, and I come to fold up my umbrella, the last thing I would do is try to squeeze my soaking umbrella into that! why isnt the velcro fastener/stud clip good enough to secure the umbrella? And its not as if its waterproof so I can put in back into my handbag! A major design flaw if you ask me, and a complete waste of material. I don't think I've ever replaced the cover after the first time I use a new umbrella, and I don't know anyone who does!

Its a similar situation with sleeping bags. I realise the bag into which you have to squeeze your poorly rolled up sleepimg bag, is designed to keep the sleeping bag dry, and compact, but why is it such a mission to fit it back into the bag?!

Arrhh....glad I got that off my chest.