SUSO

The Best Of The Best

"Matthew Burrows moment of magic almost topped the lot."

Almost but not quite.  His goal for Glentoran against Portadown back in October last year made the top 10 (if not ultimately the winners spot) for Goal Of the Year 2010.  Not bad for a little known Irishman from the celtic outback.

Some might call his extravagant back heel simply luck.  Us, we see pure imagination and spot on execution (....and ok maybe a little sprinkling of good fortune from the leprachauns in the crowd!)

Check out the full list of top goals from 2010 as compiled by Fifa and then you decide whether Turkish international Hamit Altintop's spectacular volley in a EURO qualifier in Kazakhstan was worth the title of 2010's very best.

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Categories Sport Tags Endeavour

By Sammy on 26/12/10

King Of The Swingers

"... Banksy's buddy, looking at £80,000 at auction"

Back in 2001 Banksy was commissioned by Greenpeace to highlight the plight of deforestation.  His creative idea - part of the 'Save or Delete' campaign' - was to paint a picture of the lovable characters of The Jungle Book lined up in front of their executioner awaiting their inevitable fate. 

The visual had been intended for use on posters, billboards and postcards to bring the world's attention to the devastating impact of cutting down trees. But alas, because of copyright issues with the the Disney Corporation over the use of its characters, Greenpeace decided not to use it.

Banksy held onto the sizeable work, which measures 66X90 inches, and later gave it to a friend who is now to sell it at auction where it is expected to fetch £80,000!

The previously unseen work shows a masked axe-man preparing to execute Shere Khan, Mowgli, Baloo the Bear, King Louie and baby elephant Hathi Junior, all of whom are blindfolded with their arms tied.  What we love however is the extent to which King Louie, just seems more concerned about undoing a banana with his feet. Genius.

Krushed & Sorted ... this crew sound pretty fine aswell...

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Categories Art Tags

By Sammy on 15/12/10

A Warhol For Xmas?

"Could be worth $35.3m one day ... more if it features a slimline alumimium can of course!"

Last month, at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York, the 7ft 1962 Warhol painting of a Coca Cola bottle sold for a tidy some of cash.  Try $35.3m. This against the presale estimate of $25m!

For those of you not necessarily dialed in to the whole Warhol phenomena - from the 1960's to 1980's, portraits by this New York artist were de rigeur for the rich and famous. Anybody who was anybody wanted one, and owning an original was an undisputed mark of fashionable, social and career achievement - indeed, only the very wealthy could afford one. The commissioning price could reach $40,000.

The Warhol technique was all about colouring-in silk-screened and monstrously enlarged photographs with deliberately clumsy blocks of psychedelic and pastel colour on canvas. 

There will neer be any more genuine Warhol pictures because the artist died in 1987. However unsurprisingly there are today some talented Warhol inspired artists around looking to make new portraits in his style so that new generations might still own something like the real thing, but at an affordable price. 

Modern digital techniques combined with today's printing technology make this more commercial than ever but if you're looking for your own Warholesque one off, the trick is to find and commision the more superior creative talents around in this field. Those who have genuinely studied the original master's work in detail, and thus are capable of delivering an unmatched authenticity and reverent spirit of homage in their work. If you're looking for a special Xmas present this year try these guys out for size.  Only remember ... slimline alumimium is so the way forward if you're looking to cream a few million! 

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Categories Art Tags Design

By Sammy on 3/12/10