<<< o >>>(not especially) nice 34 comments + add yours
chromasia.com

I was hoping to find a bit of time while I was away to take a few shots, but it didn't really happen, and all I've come back with is a few shots taken in my hotel room (of which this was one), and some on the train (none of which are worth posting).

As for this one: UK visitors will recognise these biscuits but will probably be as bemused as everyone else as to why a hotel would have one of these on the wall of each of its several hundred bedrooms – plastic extruded biscuits, mounted in a frame. Come back Andy Warhol, all is forgiven ;-)

8.18am on 16/6/05

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400

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DxO Optics Pro

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comment by Jerry McGaghey at 10:05 PM (GMT) on 16 June, 2005

This is "nice."

comment by bmoll at 10:31 PM (GMT) on 16 June, 2005

Interesting :) It's >nice< to learn something about foreign customs. I live out of UK.

comment by Aegir at 11:00 PM (GMT) on 16 June, 2005

The very definition of corporate art - derivative and uninspiring. A reasonable enough photo, but I'm thinking if it's hotel art that you're not too fond of, why didn't you post a wider shot showing the whole hotel room context?

So maybe I'm glad that even you run out of photos to post. ;)

comment by nogger at 11:19 PM (GMT) on 16 June, 2005

Weird.

comment by Ivan Marcin at 11:21 PM (GMT) on 16 June, 2005

Nice


;)

comment by juan at 12:16 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

it's looks like a phone.

comment by Fellow Eskimo at 01:04 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Im with nogger, weird.

comment by Skauce at 01:05 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

WTF is a biscuit?

comment by Andy Cogbill at 03:44 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Taking a picture of art and calling it your own is, I think, the very definition of anti-art. The only original part of this photo is the distracting glare on the frame. Come on, Dave, you're capable of so much more. Don't go the way of Daily Dose of Imagery.

comment by Jeremy Parker at 04:44 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Not being from the UK, I have no idea what these "biscuits" are. Are the edible? If so, why are they framed?

Confused.

comment by matt at 04:52 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

I like the almost imperceptible reflection in the pad, and the variation of color on the chrome surrounding it.

comment by Adam Capps at 05:08 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

I don't know about this shot Dave. Is this a simple poke at the irony of this art? If so, it's rather hilarious. I know there are not many hours in the day, but if you get a chance (and don't care to help me out a little) maybe you could critique a couple photos for me. I just got a couple shots posted on http://cappspreception.blogspot.com/. Appreciate any help. Take luck.

comment by angelofthewaters at 05:29 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Nice. Very detailed

comment by Navin Harish at 06:53 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Although I fail to understand what they are doing on a wall but I do recognise these sugar sprinkled biscuits as they are still made in India, coincidently by a company called "Britannia".

comment by Chris at 08:16 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

We used to sell these biscuits in our corner shop when I was a child. They were always pronounced after the name of the French city 'Nice' in my day (at least in Yorkshire).

comment by Bruce at 08:56 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

I for one am glad you choose to share this intriguing oddity with us, looks like something you expect to find on the NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown.com website rather than a hotel wall.

comment by SteveO at 09:29 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Framed biscuits, what will they think of next? 100 iron statues distributed all along a certain beach in the North West. Who knows.

comment by canon-craig at 09:46 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

To all who don't understand what we Brits call biscuits- you guys call them 'cookies' (the kind you eat, not the internet kind!).
Great shot david. I'm a Rich Tea man myself.

comment by Simon at 10:08 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Does taking a shot of someone else’s art to discuss whether or not it is artistic, in itself constitute art? How self-referential is this? I think the artist of the original is probably being more creative than the taking of the photograph, so it seems a bit unfair to mock them - especially as it is a fairly obvious (and reasonably amusing) visual pun on what constitutes a “nice” bit of art…

…but I like the photograph…

…so I am confused as to where I stand on this one…

comment by Kay at 10:22 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Nice Nice Nice
Nice Nice Nice
Nice Nice Nice!

....I couldn't resist it.

comment by Little sister at 11:10 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

You can buy them here too (in Australia), but I'd rather look at them than eat them myself :-)

comment by StuartR at 11:45 AM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Well I think we're all being a bit unfair on the Nice biscuit. I like a Nice biscuit from time to time, although I confess a preference to the Bourbon Cream.

comment by Daivd S at 02:47 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

"Is a stright picture of art, art?" is a question I too struggle with. I try and "add" something, which is easier with sculptures (like the colours in the back of Angel on red ) but is much tougher with grafitti (which I still post from time to time).

My excuse is "Hey, I post a picture every day, sometimes they are artistic, sometimes they fall under the category of 'photo-journalism' - here is what I saw today."

But enough about me -- I'd find this shot more interesting if the composition was different - maybe the frame taking up 1/4 of the shot, with lots of blank wall, or the light coming from below, with a strong shadow from the frame.

Either way, thanks for the photo!

comment by Adrian at 03:00 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

The more I see it, the less I see them as biscuits. It's like cotton or something. The reflections on the glass distract me a bit.

comment by Jen at 03:38 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

I agree that some blank wall might improve the composition of the shot BUT I still think that it looks nice (sorry, sorry) with only the frame because sometimes it's difficult to get something like this without making it look off-center or strange.

My initial thoughts were that I liked this. I even think the "art" itself is interesting. Maybe not genius but simple and I love simplicity.

comment by frisky? at 04:42 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

this is so cool!

comment by The Plankmeister at 06:55 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Hmmm. Not convinced. Nothing grabs my attention. In relation to your others shots, this is definitely at the bottom end of the scale.

comment by John Washington at 08:09 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

I used to be able to eat a full packet of these with one cup of tea and I used to 'dunk' them in the tea to make them soggy.

I too would like to know your philosophy behind recording this shot. If I had took it I would be classing it as journalism or documenting /recording a scene.

comment by flygirl at 09:25 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

That's funny, why would they really put them in a frame and on the wall, hmmmm... But it's a great idea and you framed it very nicely. BTW How do they taste? Nice???

comment by djn1 at 09:56 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

Thanks everyone: and no, this wasn't a great shot – more of a documentary effort in the absence of anything better to put up.

comment by Nitsa at 10:01 PM (GMT) on 17 June, 2005

it really doesn't matter what it is

comment by J.P. at 03:18 PM (GMT) on 19 June, 2005

nice :-)

comment by fujurdragonblanco at 06:26 PM (GMT) on 28 June, 2005

let me guess what is it: a passcode keyboard?
let me guess the passcode: nice, nice, nice, nice, nice, nice, nice.

comment by Erica at 08:14 AM (GMT) on 12 July, 2005

I recognise these biscuits and I'm from Oz! They truly are nice! I like this shot - just for reminding me of the biscuits. Must pick some up to enjoy with a cuppa coffee on the way home :)