Commitment and dedication is something unquestionable to me. It defies critical sense. It generates the ugliest and the most beautiful faits. And fantastic tattoos too. Amaya is a dear friend and an icon in Lausanne. No wonder she ended up starting a friendship with her own icon, London’s own in-famous Pete Doherthy. And tattooed his signature on her forearm!

(Listen, i know the title is not properly written. It’s a “clin d’oeuil” to a song I love that’s called “deadicated”. It is totally unrelated but if anyone knows it, we shall be friends!)

The story of Agnès Sorel would make a good plot for a soap opera. Known by the sobriquet Dame de beauté, she was the first mistress of a French king to be officially recognized as such. It is said that she was an extremely beautiful woman, as well as very intelligent. She wielded considerable influence over the king and his policies, which earned her a number of powerful enemies at court. She gave birth to three daughters and, while pregnant with her fourth child, she joined Charles VII on a campaign against the English in 1450 in Jumièges, Normandy. Shortly afterwards, she fell ill and died of “flux of the stomach” according to the official account of events. Nevertheless, a lot of people believed she had been poisoned because of her sudden death and because of her numerous enemies…

Lately, the ESRF has gone back in time to study the reason behind her sudden death. Thanks to synchrotron light, pieces of Agnès Sorel’s hair and skin have been studied. (I just love that picture)

The evidence obtained makes it possible to suggest plausible causes of death. The way she died is not known yet, however, incredibly high levels of mercury have been found in her remains. This finding opens the door to numerous hypotheses. The results of this study were presented last year in Loches (France), where the corpse has been buried again following its exhumation last September for this research, and can also be found on ESRF’s website.

*George Payne Rainsford James wrote “Agnès Sorel”

I acquired a new piece. I am so happy! I don’t like to show off ;) but this one I’m really proud of. Thanx Rinz!

Rob.
Roberto Medeiros, whom I met as he was working outside, selling bahjis and pakoras at the Bricklane/Bethnal green corner, one freezing cold afternoon of the winter 2005.
He just sent me this.
What a nice surprise. I’m kinda moved actually.
Rob also lived in one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seen. A squat in an old early 20th century garage in Stockwell.

Crazy mf.

new tattoos by Jun Matsui

Am I the only person who never heard about Philippe Petit before? The only person who’d not seen Man On Wire? Why don’t people tell me about these things? Incredible. INCREDIBLE!!! (Annie Allix narrates).

I am not planning on turning this place into some kind of TUMBLR page, but seriously, if you wanna talk about beauty and grace, you can not sleep on this.