The last time TTR were strolling around the basement space at Somerset House it was for the London Fashion Week A/W 12' exhibitions, so it was certainly a noticeably different crowd when we headed to Pick me up Contemporary Graphic Art Fair over the weekend. Less clacking Louboutins, more squeaking Converse, but no less of a creative buzz, and dare we say it, slightly more enjoyable! With work on display from some amazing graphic artists and collectives from the UK, events, workshops and prints to buy with pricetags as sweet as a tenner, Pick Me Up is totes fun.

We started our journey around the colourful plethora of print, with a stop off at Print Club London. An East London gem, who had set up shop, screen-printing live, featuring some super duper artists and print makers. Particular favourites were Esther McManus, who's intricate, narrative lead prints have been (unsurprisingly) popular with visitors and press alike at the event, and Screen-printing/illustration powerhouse Dominic Owen, who was on hand signing his bold offerings, hot off the press to his adoring fans. 

One of our favourite time-killing spots of Shoreditch; Beach London, also had a space, with books one aspires to own, and in classic Beach style, beautiful aesthetically yet grubby thematically print work. Luring us in with amazing execution and colour, only to find yourself enchanted by a phallus. We particularly swooned over Jasper Dunk's riso-prints for 25 squids. 

We weren't left hankering for that fashion feeling, as Viktor Hachmang and Raphael Garnier of Landfill editions provided the textile gorgeousness in their space; I particularly salivated over Hachmang's silk scarf. The dark imagery with the soft pastel colours was super duper.

In the Pick Me Up selects area, Matthew the Horse's unfalteringly funny ink drawings went down an absolute treat. With artists including Marcus Oakley, Jean Julien and many more, there is SO much to see at Pick Me Up, the atmosphere is focussed on interaction, fun and getting stuck in, definitely worth a visit. 

No blogging suites or organza in sight, but in our humble opinion, exchanging air kissing and current season show-pieces for accessible, UK made art for a hot minute will definitely give you a pick me up.

Pick Me Up runs until 1st April

Posted on March 28, 2012 at 7:32:29 by Alice Nyong