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The Tree of Life: Animism and the Earth Spirit

In the Middle Ages, when everyone trusted in god, they also believed that nature was alive. The existence of “Mother Earth” proposed by Aristotle, as interpreted by St Thomas Aquinas, was taught in universities. Animals and plants were believed to have souls, the Latin word for soul being “anima”. The scientific revolution starting in the […]

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Mourning Rituals and Digital Memorials in the Era of Coronavirus

With their elaborate mourning rituals and overt memorialisation of death, the Victorians embraced the concept of a better life in heaven. Death was not a tragedy, but to die and not be properly mourned was a deep fear. Funerals and events attached to the burying, immortalising, and remembering of the dead took on enormous importance. […]

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You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970 at the V&A

The V&A’s new show is much more than just an exhibition – it’s an emotional journey, and a truly mind-blowing experience. Give yourself at least half a day to see this, as there is so much to take in, including news stories, sociology, fashion, films, music, art, design and material culture. The history of this […]

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Seasonal Summer Sparkle: Bubbles of Iridescence

Everyone seems rather down. Perhaps we are in need of some seasonal cheer to counteract the debilitating post-Brexit doldrums? In Britain, the most popular way of pepping up summer events is with strawberries and champagne: So let’s look at the bubbles appearing everywhere from kitchens to catwalks. Suspended bubble lamps of the type popularized by Tom Dixon have been in vogue […]

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Biophilic Style at Clerkenwell Design Week 2016

In Visuology Issue 2, we featured Outside In living, drawing attention to the growing desire to be at one with nature. Carpet tile maker, Interface, has researched the global impact of biophilic design in the workplace. Workers in office environments with natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight, report a 15% higher level of wellbeing, […]

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Fibre Footwear in Fashion: Sustainable Straw Shoes

Espadrilles and shoes with woven natural fibre soles have been in and out of fashion for nearly a hundred years and are currently having a major revival. The biggest grass shoe of the moment has to be Egg’s beetlecrusher, made from natural rush. The designer price may preclude a rush to newly relocated Dover Street […]

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Peacocks in Textiles, Interiors and Decorative Art: Colour, Ostentation and Allegory

Peacocks are known to be aggressive. A London boxing gym is even named after the pugnacious bird. But peacocks are nothing to be scared of – they have appeared in art and fashion throughout the ages. In China, peacocks are a manifestation of the mythical phoenix and linked to fame, luck, divinity, rank power and beauty: […]

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Body Shape: Food, Fetishism and Fashion

No one bats an eyelid if you mention bums, boobs, or any other ‘b’ words describing ‘sexualized’ parts of the anatomy today. It was different in Victorian times, which is why the word bustle was invented. Victorians were as obsessed with their bodies as we are now. Women wore bustles with corsets to fill out the rump […]

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Visuology Magazine: The Food of Life Issue

Visuology Magazine – The Food of Life Issue – is out now. We’ve given the magazine a makeover for Issue 4, with a redesign by our new Art Director, Harriet Bedder. This issue also sees contributions from new Trend Features Editor, Sally Angharad, and Assistant Features Editor, Bronte Naylor-Jones. The restyled magazine is divided into four sections: collecting, making, giving and […]

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