Freize at Regent's Park and Nalla Design

Great to see Vicki Young of Nalla’s design featured in Saturday The Times .  I really enjoyed working with Nalla on the recent Christmas campaign for Greene King IPA.

 

Also went to Frieze & Frieze Masters; enjoyed both events for their diverse approach.

Loved the Petersham Nurseries input at Frieze.  Regents Park is such a great venue.

 

Having been to the House of Illustration at Kings Cross last week, a really interesting cross-section of art in different disciplines, particularly E.H. Shepard's illustrations.

 

Looking forward to Goya and silver point drawings at the National and British Museum.

 

Melvyn Bragg’s Radio 4 programme on Hans Holbein The Younger was really insightful.  I think Holbein’s pencil and chalk drawings are so powerful and contemporary, almost like being in the presence of the sitters.  Drawing is difficult but underpins so much.

 

 

Banksy to Ai Weiwei

Banksy's Dismaland has just closed!

I was intrigued to see it and glad I did - it was worth the 4 hour drive there and back again…

I went with friends and we had such a good time. Despite its name and intentions of the staff to prevent it, there were many laugh out loud moments, as well as impressive ones, looking at the art and amazing installations on show. A lot of skill and investment had gone into the whole production. Tickets sold out as soon as they hit the internet; I'd have gone back.

The wood from the structures is going to Calais to make shelters for refugees!

I saw Ai Weiwei at the RA - also thought-provoking like Jeff Koons, I also saw at the Whitney, New York, 2014 - a great technician and ideas person. I wondered how hands-on he is or is concept all? - particularly his exhibits showing stages of his incarceration, and his marble field of blades of grass. I'd love to see his studios and where he stores his vast pieces before they go on tour.

Looking forward to the silver paint drawings at the British Museum. Talking of drawing, really enjoyed studying the Maclise Waterloo Cartoon at the RA. Amazing draftsman on an awesome scale! The kind of skill that in its classic style is out of fashion at the moment but, despite its stylistic approach, worthy of a visit.

Saw Bridget Riley at Bexhill recently; another great influence on interior design and graphics.

Looking forward to seeing the film The Lobster and A Bigger Splash. Enjoyed Dear Lupin at the theatre.

Glad to see the Armada portrait back at Woburn Abbey; one of my favourite iconistic pictures of Elizabeth I - all those Pearls divers risked their lives for!

 

Alexander McQueen

Great exhibition, apparently the best attended of almost any other exhibition at the V&A and was just as brilliant as the Isabella Blow exhibition at Somerset house recently. The creative ideas adopted to present his pieces were inspired.

Pleasure & Pain

Really enjoyed the ‘Pleasure & pain’ shoe exhibition at the V&A, as well as talking to the curator about her ideas for presenting the exhibition – a must for all shoe lovers!

Summer Exhibition

Loved the turquoise blue and pink backgrounds to the artworks and also thought the hanging of the pictures appeared to give the impression of more space.

Another Year at the RA Summer Exhibition

This year the variety and invention creates a more dynamic content. 
Away from the bling of the Grayson Perry tapestries, which provide a running text on the woes of modern society, there are many works to appreciate.  The overwhelming presence of work by already established RA members restricts the imprint displayed by the public and diminishes the exhibition as a result.  So many RAs use their time-worn formulaic work to recycle year on year, whilst new talent embraces challenge and fights to get through the sometimes baffling selection of criteria.
I enjoyed the mix and will go again.

David Bowie to George Bellows

Saw the Bowie exhibition on Thursday - very comprehensive collection of his work from the early beginnings.  His influence on the arts can be seen when looking at the collection of photos and memorabilia from other areas of the arts he has inspired.  It felt like being at a Bowie concert - there's so much music and film performance.

Really enjoyed the George Bellows at the Royal Academy, particularly his early work.  I felt that in later years he concentrated more on the comfortable side of art - paintings of wealthy families.  I left the exhibition wishing the last part had been as exciting and painterly as the first part.

Evening at Sadlers Wells

The Tanztheater wuppertal Pina Bousch, performing Vollmond; elements reminded me of the impact of water at Fuezerberouta I saw at the Round House in Camden very recently. I loved the fluidity of the lines, the draping of cloth and the humour. Some of the content was difficult to translate but the athleticism of the performers was enthralling. The music was extremely varied and at times totally abstract but also melodic and vaguely familiar. The effect of the water thrown in the air against a black back drop was like diamonds on velvet, brilliant.

The theatre was packed and I am definitely going back for the Flamenco in March - having just seen Manet at the RA, I.m reminded how black as a tone always elevates everything in contrast to it.

Manet at the RA

Enjoyed the Manet at the RA on Sunday 17th Feb - followed by afternoon tea at Selfridges.  Loved the display at Jonathan Adler and Anthropologie - two of my favourite brands.  I enjoyed the Manet's where black anchors the composition, often set against whites or skin tones.  The influence of photography, as in his sister-in-law's portrait, is obvious and often divided his work into two camps.  For me, I don't think his skills as a draughtsman were his forte but his use of colour, tone and texture is always rewarding. 

I also had time last week to call in at the Portrait Gallery to see The Lost Prince.  The wonderful miniature by William Larkin never fails to exhilarate the senses - his delicate portrayal of ruffled lace!  I felt Kate Middleton's portrait was a lost opportunity; more befitting a L'Oreal advert, technical but not inspired.