Stephen Bayley
Stephen Bayley
Stephen Paul Bayleyis a British design critic, cultural critic, journalist and author...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionCritic
Date of Birth13 October 1951
cheerful enjoy enjoys finger relationship tail
We have a relationship of cheerful antagonism. I enjoy twisting his tail and he enjoys wagging his finger at me.
burnt busy economic given including industry inspired margaret obstruct quicker sentiment short trade ways
It is Margaret Thatcher's fault, ... Inspired by busy little demons, she slashed and burnt her way through the old order. Sentiment was given short shrift, as short as the trade unions: nothing including old-fashioned industry was to obstruct economic progress. Making things was slow. There were quicker ways to get rich...
architects designers ideas mainly mere tradition
'Where do architects and designers get their ideas?'' The answer, of course, is mainly from other architects and designers, so is it mere casuistry to distinguish between tradition and plagiarism?
architects architecture designers mainly mere tradition
''Where do architects and designers get their ideas?'' The answer, of course, is mainly from other architects and designers, so is it mere casuistry to distinguish between tradition and plagiarism?
achieve activities age dry epic experience free involve knew marx modern religious robbed shops sword win
In an age robbed of religious symbols, going to the shops replaces going to the church. We have a free choice, but at a price. We can win experience, but never achieve innocence. Marx knew that the epic activities of the modern world involve not lance and sword but dry goods.
both manners myth taste
Taste is more to do with manners than appearances. Taste is both myth and reality; it is not a style.
discovery achievement taste
I have put [the word] "discoveries" in inverted commas because scientific results, perhaps as much at least as artistic achievements, are a product of contemporary taste, driven by momentary appetites rather than eternal verities.
character planning failing
I have a character failing. I am quite incapable of identifying with anything whole-heartedly. Whatever I am doing, I am always planning to do something else. I would rather travel than arrive.
sex attitude simple
Everyone has taste, yet it is more of a taboo subject than sex or money. The reason for this is simple: claims about your attitudes to or achievements in the carnal and financial arenas can be disputed only by your lover and your financial advisers, whereas by making statements about your taste you expose body and soul to terrible scrutiny. Taste is a merciless betrayer of social and cultural attitudes. Thus, while anybody will tell you as much (and perhaps more than) you want to know about their triumphs in bed and at the bank, it is taste that gets people's nerves tingling.
art communication technology
As the twentieth century ends, commerce and culture are coming closer together. The distinction between life and art has been eroded by fifty years of enhanced communications, ever-improving reproduction technologies and increasing wealth.
You are what you pretend to be.
fashion expression needs
Fashion is the most intense expression of the phenomenon of neomania, which has grown ever since the birth of capitalism. Neomania assumes that purchasing the new is the same as acquiring value... If the purchase of a new garment coincides with the wearing out of an old one, then obviously there is no fashion. If a garment is worn beyond the moment of its natural replacement, there is pauperization. Fashion flourishes on surplus, when someone buys more than he or she needs.
artist boards condescending
Watteau is no less an artist for having painted a fascia board while Sainsbury's is no less effective a business for producing advertisements which entertain and educate instead of condescending and exploiting.
reality style taste
Taste is more to do with manners than appearances. Taste is both myth and reality; it is not a style.