With some people already writing the obituary for East London, what better way to deal with the death of creativity than with an event that plays on Dorian Gray levels of condemned vanity? The setting is a National Trust Tudor mansion in the unlikely heart of Homerton in East London, and the idea is based on the 15th and 16th century European Vanitas art movement – a self-obsession with beauty, death, decay and debauchery. Think skulls and butterflies, not a million miles away from what Damien Hirst is currently showing at Tate Modern.

A clutch of contemporary artists living and working in Hackney were invited by the innovative Horsebox Gallery, a mobile, pop-up gallery-on-wheels concept, to instigate a takeover of the Tudor property, originally built in 1531 for Sir Ralph Sadleir.

Some of the most evocative art works come from Sophia Schorr-Kon, whose still-life photographs of tumble weave, rotting flowers and pig-headed humans were staged in an East London squat, capturing the fine line between narcissism and partying too hard. Eat, drink, wear tumble weave, then die.

Throughout the house, original Tudor-era artworks are side-by-side with their contemporary counterparts. At the centre is a banquet table, arranged by set designer Alice Hodge, around which diners gorged themselves on a five-course banquet during the opening week of the event.

Nearby is the cast of Iluá Hauck da Silva’s minute torso, which she cast after prolonged wear of a restricting corset. The visible indents and scarring are testement to the destructiveness of vanity. But then again, there’s no excuse for an elasticated waist at a 16th century dinner party.

Vanitas runs at Sutton House, London until May 1st 2012. See the original post at LOOKBOOKS.com.

Taking inspiration from throwaway materials and Frankenstein’s legendary monster, Dazed & Confused this month presents its ‘Franken-Fashion’ masks project… a unique creative collaboration with some of the world’s top designers, including such names as Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, Martin Margiela, Hussein Chalayan, Roberto Cavalli, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac and Riccardo Tisci.

Each of the 13 designers involved created a mask especially for Dazed, using scraps lying around the designers’ studios – look out for rubber gloves, leather offcuts and even an old lampshade! Modelled by the fabulous Guinevere van Seenus, shot by Daniel Jackson and styled by Dazed senior fashion editor Karen Langley, while more Franken-fashion comes from Richard Burbridge, Magnus Unnar, Mark Pillai and Max Farago.

Turning green on the Hackney streets, Dazed also meets Laura Mulleavy of fast-rising label Rodarte to talk horror chic, while talented British actress Rebecca Hall take a break from theatre to discuss Dorian Gray, Woody Allen and sex dolls. Dazed also freaks out with the next generation of psychedelic artists, cutting up internet graphics and 80s TV ads to create mind-bending new works that reflect our media-saturated age. Meanwhile, the scuzzy musicians at the heart of the underground lo-fi music scene get real about whether it’s a movement or just a bunch of people making noise – with Wavves, Blank Dogs, Times New Viking, Woods, Kurt Vile, A Grave With No Name and many more.

Elsewhere in October’s Dazed, notorious installation artist Nancy Kienholz, cult comedy duo Tim & Eric, the world’s first black supermodel Donyale Luna, the Slits’ Ari-Up, Brigitte Bardot dressed as a superhero, and the most snappily dressed 60s apocalypse cult you’ll ever see.

The Dazed & Confused October ‘Franken-Fashion’ special issue is on sale on Thursday September 17.

Written by Dazed & Confused