Here is the second in our new series of posters, which deals with sacrifice and martyrdom. Based around one of Faye’s early sketches, we completed the piece by adding the carving of the boars and the blind cherubs. Our next poster is in the planning stages and we will upload progress photographs to our Twitter and Facebook pages soon.

“As when some great painter dips his pencil in the gloom of earthquake and eclipse,”

Thomas De Quincey

The above quote, taken from De Quincey’s 1821 book Confessions of An English Opium Eater, is one the author lifted from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem entitled The Revolt of Islam. The phrase opens the fifth section of his book, The Pains of Opium, in which he describes in great detail the hellish visions brought on by his own addiction to laudanum. It was after reading this book that David and I begun our Narcosis series which explores a shadowy relationship depicted in art for centuries; that between Sleep, Death and the blood-red poppy.

The above drawings are two preliminary designs we completed ahead of the Narcosis series which we used to try new content and ways of structuring our images. Most of the motifs and themes running throughout the four later designs were taken directly from these two. For a limited time, we will be sending out these two prints with any two t-shirts purchased from out online store.

If you would like to read more about the use of opium throughout the 19th century, we highly recommend finding copies of Confessions of An English Opium Eater by Thomas De Quincey (1821) as well as Opium and the Romantic Imagination by Alethea Hayter (1968).

Recently, we visited Abney Park cemetery, in East London’s Stoke Newington, to take a series of photographs for The Mourning Press’s promotional material. Part of the shoot was focused around the enormous, gothic chapel, which lies empty at the heart of the cemetery and which forms an incredibly imposing view on damp, misty days.

Below, we have listed the names of the magnificent seven in the order in which they were established. Information can be found on their websites regarding opening times. We would recommend reading Necropolis: London and Its Dead by Catharine Arnold to really appreciate the history of these beautifully landscaped, inspiring cemeteries.

Kensal Green Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Tower Hamlets Cemetery

So, what have we been doing since the start of the year? As mentioned in our previous post, we are each working on a poster dealing with the theme of sacrifice and beheading. I wont give too much away as we will write a more detailed post on both when they are finished! As well as this we both run our market stall every weekend in the East Yard of Camden Lock Market. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to talk directly to our customers and take on board any feedback they have about out clothing.

This blog will be the place to find updates on all our new work, including in-depth discussions of our techniques and the themes that have inspired us. We will also be writing about exhibitions that we have visited and the books we are currently reading. Within the coming months we will also be posting about the trade shows, exhibitions and conventions at which we will be appearing, so check back regularly to see what’s coming up.

Thank you for reading and please come and find us on Twitter and Facebook. Happy Easter!

Each of the Narcosis designs will soon be available in our online shop both on a t-shirt, and as an A3 print.