La Bodega Negra

About La Bodega Negra

I recently visited La Bodega Negra which is a Mexican restaurant located in Soho, London. The inside is pretty much standard of what you expect tables, chairs and soft mood lights, but this is all hidden away behind the facade of a controversial sex shop.

The windows are filled with pink neon lights advertising peep shows and strip teases alongside a padlock heart and oversized plump lips. There is a retro feel to the shop front with the stencil font used but also from the advertisement of adult video. It entices you in with the word come lit up above the front door as nothing indicates its a restaurant instead of the sleazy place it claims to be.

I like the design of deception and how it almost makes the restaurant have a reverse speakeasy theme, but also relates back to Polly Nor and how people choose to be perceived online, pretending to be something there not. However, Las Bodega Negra does this in a slightly unusual way taking something that society looks down on and thinks should be hidden away and instead being loud about it therefore making a more exclusive venue.

Polly Nor

Women And Their Demons

Polly Nor is an influncing illustrator I discovered through Instagram, her work mainly focuses on the female form and she describes her illustrations as ‘women and their demons’. She uses a fun cartoon graphic style and a pastel colour pallet putting a feminine touch on these graphic images.

No Filter

The dark and satirical drawings capture the real 21^st Century Woman in her natural state doing everyday tasks such as lounging, smoking, masturbating or taking mirror selfies. Along side these women many of the images also feature the devil which is the character’s imagination representing her inner turmoil and an unstable part of herself she wants to keep away from the rest of the world. It’s a devilish manifestation of anxieties, frustrations and secret desires.

In Your Dreams

Babe Your Going To Be Fine

These ideas relate well to Millennials like myself, as we have been the first generation to grow up with social media and effectively being able to edit our lives online. As a generation we can now show people what we want them to see rather than the reality by living life through an Instagram filter with this unhealthy internet addiction. This whole obsession with the internet is a key theme behind a lot of Poly Nor’s drawings.

No Filter

Stuck On You

The Feel When Gucci

Polly Nor’s illustrations has even been featured in a Gucci art project for the launch of their new watches. The project is called The Feel When Gucci and features multiple artists having their work turned into memes. Her image in particular is relatable and humorous using the same iconic devil representing another one of our many evil sides, this time focusing a little less on just women and relating to both genders.

Her overall influence looks at relevant feelings many of us experience daily but don’t express, focusing on peoples worst sides rather than their best. As well as looking at feminism, sexuality and how women want be/are perceived by others.

Long Days Short Nights

Meet Husa

About Husa

I recently discovered an inspiring little cartoon called Husa with an empowering but still sweet message, created by artist Camilla Engstrom.

Husa (which means housemaid in Spanish) is an adorable little round woman who is everything the fashion industry isn’t looking for, from her hairy armpits to plump belly. The little character is always found naked doing things that normal women do when there alone summing up the little weirdo inside us all.

Feminism is also a strong part of her character as it is the symbol is often drawn tattooed on her, with her main purpose to make women giggle, speak about taboo subjects and in turn feel more comfortable in their own skin. Along side feminism, sexuality takes front and centre stage as Husa proudly bares all including her genitals which people find uncomfortable to look at when it hasn’t been overly sexualized; even on a funny bright pink cartoon!

Monki x Camilla Engstrom

 Husa got a new found fame in a recent collaboration with Monki as she was splashed on T-Shirts as a reminder that you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Even on those days when you forget. She poses naked in Yoga Positons alongside happy-go-lucky quotes including ‘Stay Zen’ and ‘Love it’ with an over arching theme of let self love rule all!

STAY BODY CONFIDENT HUSA xxxxxx  

FINAL COLLECTION

This is my final line up with the branding it’s a fun vintage street style type of collection. I love the colours of it with all the different shades of pink part of me wishes I had used more pink and got rid of the purple altogether now, but that is one of the only things I would change. I think it works well because all the pieces are wearable on their own and it fits well together as a collection from my concept and and both the brands collaboration. One of favourite pieces is the Frida Kahlo printed pants as they are little more daring but could still be incorporated into your everyday wardrobe.

Thanks for following my journey on this project let me know what you think about my final product and I hope to be posting again sometime soon! Check out the full project at www.lucyhawksworth.co.uk