BIAD Obsessionistas - an exhibition of personal collections
5-16 December 2011
Obsessionistas curated an exhibition of personal collections from across the staff and student community at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.
On show were a broad range of items representing twenty five different collectors and their collections, including Japanese guitars, vintage hairdryers, Spirograph sets, English delftware, Mickey Mouse ties and deely boppers!
The eclectic and often curious objects on display offered an insight into how, in our world of homogeneous ‘me too’ lifestyles, products and global brands, individuality can at least in part be expressed through our particular obsessions and what we single out as important enough to collect.
The exhibition took place at the School of Jewellery, an award winning and visually inspirational building located within the heart of Birmingham's historic jewellery quarter. For further information contact [email protected]
BIAD Obsessionistas
5-16 December 2011
School of Jewellery, 82 - 86 Vittoria Street, Birmingham. B1 3PA (UK).
Click on image to pause slideshow
Exhibitor list
(Click on the links to read more about the collectors and their collections).
Professor Jivan Astfalck - Porcelain flower brooches
Chris Beckett - American Marvel & DC comics
Amy Blackwell - Letterboxes (documentary collection)
Bhavnesh Chamdal - Clothes tags
Mark Cowell - Japanese guitars
Professor Jack Cunningham - Chickens & geese
Ervin Fiellateau - Vans
Judith Genster - Wheelie bins (documentary collection)
John Hall - Holmegaard Carnaby glass
Lee Hewett - Bouncy balls
Terry Hunt - Pop up books
Dr Tom Jones - Ceramics
Marlene Little - Plastic grass
Chiu Kwong Man - Spirographs
Bob Manning - Mickey Mouse Ties & Vintage Christmas decorations
Jason Nicholson - Robert Welch designs
Caroline Norman - Cruets
Laura Pollard - Finnish ceramics & glass
Jo Pond - Brushes
Graham Powell - Wind-up toys & a documentary collection of ice creams
Helen Powell - Vintage hairdryers
Estelle Rigoudy - Barbies
Zoe Robertson - Brooches
Mark Smith - French die cast cycling figures
Richard Snell - Contemporary chairs
Andrew Thornton - Toy soldiers
The Private View
A private view party for BIAD Obsessionistas was held on Thursday 8 December. Around a hundred people attended despite the crazy weather conditions outside on what turned out to be one of the stormiest nights of the year! Introductory speeches were given by Professor Chris O’Neil, the Dean of Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, and by Graham Powell, co-founder of Obsessionistas.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to all the exhibitors, everyone at the School of Jewellery, the MA Product Design students for serving the drinks, Adam Fradgley of Exposure Photography for capturing such great images of the evening and of course all who came along for what turned out to be both an insightful and fun evening.
About Obsessionistas
Established by Graham and Helen Powell, Obsessionistas is a unique and continuously evolving website focusing on collectors and their collections. It features a wide range of intriguing personal collections, varying from the curious and fun to the uniquely significant and even those which have ultimately become museum collections. The objects themselves are accompanied by the often fascinating personal stories behind each collection.
Launched in April 2011 Obsessionistas has already attracted submissions from all over the world and recently featured exclusive insights into the personal collections of fashion designer Sir Paul Smith and Magnum photographer Martin Parr.