I have had a running argument with friends and family for a long while over Desert Island Discs. I maintain that the format is only interesting when the guest is someone you know, or of general interest to you. Their argument is that everyone can be interesting. I disagree, I don’t care what the head of the CBI listens to. I am similarly disinterested in the life story of the director of the National Ballet.
However, I must confess that the unknown guest can be an absolute joy. Of all the things that have tempted me to create a blog and start writing, Jan Pienkowski was not one I saw coming. I caught him on Desert Island Discs on Sunday. I knew about the Meg & Mog books but I didn’t know about his other work.
This is one of the great joys of listening to radio online, if you want to know what someone or their work looks like you can just Google them. I did just that and 2 of the pics are attached. His stuff is beautiful! Full of Eastern European mystery and menace but also wonderfully intricate and feminine. I was struck at once by how different his style of art is to mine. I am all angular warnings and revolutionary colours. I am now looking for some books of his or, even better, some prints to hang.
Whilst on the subject of Desert Island Discs here are three of my other favourites.
1. I discovered Rufus Wainwright when somebody, I forget who, chose his “My Phone’s on Vibrate for You”. A wonderful song and a fascinating guy.
2. Simon Cowell chose a mirror as his luxury because… “I will miss me” What a total wanker!
3. Artist Cornelia Parker chose a solar powered vibrator as her luxury.
PS. Grayson Perry was outstanding on Have I Got News for You tonight. Very funny.
October 24, 2009 at 5:08 pm |
Nice start Ollie. Keep going and grow with it…
October 25, 2009 at 12:58 am |
Yo Olvis. When I’m on Desert Island Discs I’m going to choose the soundtrack to that ancient black and white Rpbinson Crusoe series they used to show during the school holidays. As the years went by the tape became increasingly stretched and out-of-tune and lovely. I’ll also pick Midnight Train to Georgia, My Favourite Dress and five Sparklehorse songs.
October 26, 2009 at 5:03 pm |
Mmm. Good choices Matty. I will have to check out Sparklehorse.
October 28, 2009 at 5:00 pm |
Dessert Island disks depresses me since I heard Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and found out that he and I have similar musical tastes. Oh dear.
October 28, 2009 at 7:02 pm |
I heard David Cameron on D.I.D. He said the Smiths were the band for his generation. I was fuming he’s not in my bloody generation I thought, until a little prick at work looked him up on the internet and proved he was almost the same age as us.