Tea Time in Wonderland

Posts Tagged ‘art’

Is September making you feel blue? Well, fight it, plan a heavy week-end out and pretend the holidays are still on!

- First, get yourself  a free bacon roll today to get in the mood…

- Stop @ Soho square -  Buxton has a pop up there and gives away bottles and water. You can even sit in a deckchair and relax…

- Don’t forget to do your food shopping @ the Real Food Market on Southbank…

- Looking for the perfect shoe? Have a look at Vivienne Westwood’s creations @ Selfridge’s…

- A new conception of theatre with Theatre Souk…

- Morris dancers invade London this week-end -  head for Southbank for an amazing free gig!

- Fight death penalty @ St Martin-in-the-field…

- For a lighter note, cross the street and enjoy the Liberty festival on Trafalgar: music, workshops for kids and a circus show!

- You will feel like writing on the walls with the Nothing is forever exhibition…

- Follow the art trail!

- Forget Portobello market -  there’s a whole film festival going on there with a pop up cinema until September 19th: classic movies and even premieres! Even better it is all free…

- Get your bike out of the garage -  Sunday, the city’s heart is yours with the Skyride! The map’s right here.

- Rediscover Little Venice…

- Look up and gaze at the stars @ Greenwich…

- The Globe has designed a Thames inspired menu…

You will find me in Jermyn street, turned into a garden party on Saturday… and at the Royal opera House, turning into a forest this week-end and there will be free muscical events (get your free ticket from the website!). What is your tip for the week-end?

Think you’ve seen it all in matter of art? Contemporary, classical, street art, shocking, moving, fun even?

Think again. Artists always find a new way to amaze you.

Strolling through Selfridge’s, I found a new gem in their wonder room. Keira Rathbone created her magic with the music her vintage typewriter. Her hands dance around, clic, clic, clic, a mesmerising sound, glossy ref varnish on white lacker, a rock’n'roll rythm, the clear sound of ink on the paper. Letters, signs come to life, add in volume, depth, unroll and paint with incredible precision and detail…

It may have taken 7 years to master this art but how skillful to charm letters this way… Follow her Facebook page to know where to see her next time!

Keira Rathbone, typewriter artist & live art performer

Fancy a sweet day? The Future Gallery and the Tate and Lyle present this week-end a full-calory exhibition (how ironic -  the brand having announced recently they were selling their sugar department to a US firm!)

Artists and bakers have teamed up to presend these amazing creations. Sugar sculotures that look like elegant china, reindeer in sugar and marzipan… All are edible and it is almost a torture not to be allowed to bite in… But maybe you will be lucky as when we stopped by, visitors were offered letter shaped biscuits!

Last day is tomorrow, Sunday, hurry! It will be open from 10.00 to 18.00.

The Future Gallery
Mad Artists’ Tea Party /  Cake Britain
5 Great Newport St London, WC2H 7HY
Until August 29 2010

Starving? Go and have a cupcake at Ella’s @ Covent Garden nearby!

Trafalgar Square is noticeable from quite a distance. Just find Nelson (usually topped by a few pigeons) and on’t lose sight of the hat. The square is marqued in each corner by 4 columns,  of which are dedicated to military statues. The last one originally remained empty, by lack of funds.

But London explodes with creativity and could not let this opportunity pass – something had to be done, and why not alternate works of art? Last summer, the British could register to spend a whole hour on top. We had the chance to admire, ignore, applaude or hate artists, manifestants, even naked people…

Since then, a boat in a bottle has settled there. Urban life is busy-busy and you have to always keep on the move, my friend. One just cannot stop there and although it has only been a few month, well, it’s time to think of a replacement. sign of the times.

Army style? This one fits quite well with the theme of the square – medals and all.

Greedy? Yes, this is a giant Battenberg. Given that the cake was created for Queen Victoria’s wedding, this represents a crumbling past… but also the tough foundation of our modern civilisation. Tough choice!

Feeling blue? Head for this one. hard to guess this outlines… a male dominated civilisation! Do read the comments on the website – no way some will have a French symbol there!

Ironic? A new style of hero on a horse…

Adventurer? This one’s called It’s never too late and you can’t go back and is meant to evoque glory, conquest and the fragility of the human life…

Musical? Magritte style, I have to warn you: ceci n’est pas un orgue. No, this is an ATM linked to an organ, which will play a variety of notes each time someone takes cash out or checks his account. Yes, you have read correctly and no, I have not been drinking.

So what will it be? I do bet on the elegant horse. What’s yyour favourite?

St Martin-in-the-Fields
Fourth Plinth Project
Trafalgar Square
London WC2N 4JJ
Until october 31, 2010
Free

Haunch of Venison is one of this weird and wonderful galleries who favour fantasy. Their shows always promise a travel through a new dimension, usually fun and colourful.

And this is so true right now. Have a look at this Portuguese artist’s work, Jana Vasconcelos. Inspired by Gloria Gaynor’s great hit I will survive, she present creatiosn that will really make you smile, like this chain of braids to guide the queues! Each sculpture alternates in identity, rainbow monsters with the softness of knitting and patchwork- kids will love those. But also object covered in laced crochet, you will find an elegant piano and an amazing bee along the way. My favourite remains this entirely dark room with a maze mad of fiberoptic flowers… As they are knee high, you feel as if you are being absorbed by the floor. Mesmerizing.

In paralel, do not miss Polly Morgan’s creations. I have been admiring her for years. This very skilled taxidermist knows how to erase the morbid side to create an almost Tim Burtonesque reality.

Haunch of venison
I will survive – Psychopomps
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET
Until September 25, 2010
Free

I’m back! Now, let’s see what’s new in the city…

- On Thursday, don’t miss this aquatic exhibition…

- …or enjoy a free curry!

- This way for a free musical @ Sadler’s Wells…

- A few dance steps @ the Tate Modern… (By the way, time Out has a 2 for 1 offer for the Exposed exhibition)

-… or an alternative village fete, maybe?

- Always a favourite: Notting Hill carnival!

- Feel nostalgic with this exhibition on Jimy Hendrix…

- I never tire of this yearly press pictures exhibition…

- Discover a few secret places in the National Theatre…

- Treat yourself to an afternoon tea with an Asian touch…

- So you think you know London?

- By the way, do you know the story of the Crystal Palace?

- Yes, pubs and opera can be in harmony, who would have thought so!

- Try to get a ticket for this fab underground dinner!

- Fed up with pop-up shops? Why not give this pop-up cinema a go? It used to be a petrol station.

- Get the kids to learn more abour bats!

- Be zen in a Japanese garden… (give this one a try too!)

You’ll find me… strolling through Chelsea Physics gardens… Testing this edible exhibition… Checking out the Natural History Museum’s 8m long knitted squid… Enjoying some retro glamour at the V&A late night… Where will YOU be?

Sci-fi addict? This is so for you: Bock’s surreal bugs.

Or are those aliens? Giant spiders escaped from Matrix? Eccentric parasites from Moebius? Nomad shops from the 5th Element?

Each pod shelters an ecclectic universes of its own. Here an Asian bazaar, lanterns, chopsticks, Chinese noodles. There, the back room of a charity shop, each scale offering a shirt. Over there, a giant version of 4 fixed on a black cab chassis… Everything is mixed: a collection of clocks, kitchen tools, CDs, kitsch glasses…

Entry is free, and the atmosphere joyful. The only risk is to have your kids compare their chaotic bedroom to a work of art!

Barbican
The Curve
Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS

Until Sept 12, 2010 – free

This is a real summer. I am amazed every single day by the lovely temperatures. Makes me feel like dancing and jumping around! Unfortunately,  when you are 3 weeks from giving birth, you look more like a whale, the elegance is gone. Soon snails will overcome me on the pavement. I’m counting on you to tell me about London gems!

- The free ping-pong tables project finally is launched tomorrow. Rush to St Pancras!

- You have until Friday to enjoy the food festival @ the Old Spitalfields market – cooking demonstration and free tasting, yummmy!

- On Friday, the Design Museum goes mad for recycling and green art. You can even try electric bikes. All this listening to a fab percussionist!

- Visit the parliament!

- Why not celebrate the 60ies @ Carnaby Street?

- Time to revise your Picasso knowledge…

- London parks are getting festive too!

- Add a pinch of poetry… and learn about Keats’ life right in the house and gardens where he used to live…

- Summer school holidays are on! Struggling to come up with ideas to keep the kids busy? You’re gonna love O2: mini golf, water games, trampolines…

- Or initiate them to opera with this version of Mr Fox -  only a few pounds.

- Did you know a few falcons actually nest on the Modern’s Tate chimney? Here is a chance to learn more!

- Sushi AND fusion food? Count me in!

- oh, and I’ll have cherry granita for desert…

- Speaking of ice-cream, Ben and Jerry’s launch their music and sweet treats festival this week-end @ Clapham…

- How could you resist a designers’ market?

- Follow Time Out to discover the oldest parts of London…

- Opera, art, walks, a pinch of madness with the in-transit festival….

- Too hot? I know what you need: a water tournament!

You’ll find me having a mocktail with friends @ Vista, a bar on a roof with a view on Trafalgar Square… I’ll also be following my friend Celine, a street-art specialist, to discover some more in London!

A few weeks ago ended the largest London safari. No more elephants to be hunted down and photographed, no more surprise behind the corners.

The streets look a bit sadder somehow, they had camouflaged themselves elegantly in this urban jungle, you would always meet one at least on your way.  An emptiness we had not quite anticipated, an absence where we had got so used to see them.

They have all gone to nice new homes, sold to fans with a golden wallet. they will look fab in a private garden or an ultra-modern lounge. We know we’ll see them again, one of those days, in the glossy pages of a decoration magazine…

But, oh, wait, there is one left! Just by the entrance of the Royal Chelsea Hospital, where they last met before being auctionned, the very last elephant is trying to look local…

The Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Rd
London SW3 4SR

Mondays to Saturdays 10.00-12.00 then 14.00-16.00
Sundays 14.00 to 16.00
Free

Isn’t it extraordinary to have a REAL summer for once? Better enjoy it while it lasts!

- Carnaval day on Southbank tomorrow!

- Love latin dances? Salsa, Cuban, columbian music? Go shake these calories out @ Hyde park for the World City Music Village Festival!

- Hey, it’s also the Big World Dance all over town on Saturday, with the final in Trafalgar square…

- The Hyde and Seek festival is back! It’s a fab occasions to play extraodinary games on Southbank. Bring all your friends!

- Did you have to tighten the belt on your fashion budget? Try the big swish this Saturday a giant clothes swap event!

- Why not learn graffiti art? Or a unicycle workshop?

- Stamp your week-end with something a little different. An old post-office in Hackney turns into an exhibition space: artists such as Tracy Emyn were inspired by parcel, letters, iconic stamps…

- Art is not your cup of tea? Try this show on coffee cups… Some have been decorated by Coppola, Fellini, Koons, Almodovar…

- Waterloo turned into a stage? Yes, with The Railway Children show (with a real train!)

- Missed the Royal Chelsea Flower show? Don’t worry -  Hampton Courts gets flowered similarly each summer…

- Add a pinch of urban nature…

- Can’t travel but feel like a change? Well, try Bastille Day @ Battersea Park this Sunday: French market, petanque, retro French music (with dancing and Lido girls)… Now, where have you put that beret of yours?

- Want more summer festivals? Music, shopping, nice food stalls? Try the Ealing one… or maybe Levisham? Even Islington joins in!

You’ll find me in a lavender field… and discovering the new Serpentine pavillion (by a French Architect, by the way)… How about you?