Wednesday 02. 12. 15 Just back from a week in London. Saw the Ai Weiwei show at the RA, The Calder at the Tate Modern and the Auerbach at the Tate Britain which was a disappointment. I think the highlights were the Peter Lanyon show at the Courtauld and The Celts at the British Museum. Also did a couple of London Walks, the London Eye and saw Maggie Smith in The Lady in the Van. A busy week!
Thursday 04. 12. 14 Just back from a week in London with Carole. I saw a brilliant Kiefer show at the RA – a very extensive retrospective featuring paintings, sculptures, installations, watercolours, books etc – best show I have seen in London since the big Hockney show at the RA. Also saw Polke at Tate Modern and the Turner at Tate Britain, the Constable at the V&A and a small Hambling show at the National gallery. Besides all this gallery going we met Marie-Pierre and Olivier for the weekend and had a a great time wandering around the parks and the streets. We even had time to check out the lego Santa Claus at Covent Gardens and of course the lights and to see the movie Mr Turner.
Tuesday 08. 04. 14 Another room with a view. This time my room at the Europa Hotel on Sussex Gardens.
Saturday 29. 03. 14 Got back this morning from a week in the UK. Did all the usual galleries plus the Viking show at the British Museum and Treasures at the British Library. Highlights were the Hockney print show at Dulwich and the Richard Hamilton show at the Tate Modern. Both excellent. Other highlights were a visit to Morgan and Oz in Hassocks. Morgan and I hadn’t seen each for ages when we worked together in another life and another country. I also visited Chris and Viv in Hemingstone where I played Newmarket with their grandchildren, Charlotte and Harry, at 8 in the morning before they went off to school!! The above photo shows some bones, a stone and a bit of pottery that I found mudlarking along the Thames just below Tate Modern.
Sunday 24. 11. 13 Christmas cards arrived this week after I got back from the UK so I think that I have finally addressed them all ready to send.
Tuesday 19. 11. 13 Just back from a week in the UK. Stayed in London at an interesting new hotel in the East end called Qbic located just off Whitechapel High Street near Brick Lane reasonable prices and quite funky. Did the usual galleries – particularly enjoyed the Australia show at the RA. Took the boat to Greenwich from Westminster, saw the Christmas windows on Oxford St. Rented a car for the weekend and tried to explore the Thames estuary but it is difficult to actually access the river. However went to the new Turner gallery at Margate which is a wonderful building right on the beach. A good show there of various Brit artists who worked en plein air – Constable, Cotman and of course Turner. Stayed overnight in Broadstairs and came back via Southend and Canvey Island. Brief but stimulating as always.
Saturday 23. 03. 13 Just back from a whirlwind trip to London. Highlights: Art of the Ice Age at the British Museum, Phantom Ride by Simon Starling at Tate Britain and George Bellows at the RA. Also explored the Tanks at the Tate Modern. Got caught in snow storm in Luton en route back today.
Tuesday 27. 11. 12 Just back from a weekend in London. Saw several shows including Richard Hamilton at the National, Death at the Wellcome, Bronzes at the RA and Contemporary Russian at Saatchi. The Bronzes and the Russian were both impressive.
Saturday 25. 02. 12 Just got back from my short trip to London where I met up with Polly, Maryann and Alan & Lea. Saw several expos, the first with Maryann was the Picasso and Modern British Art – an excellent well-curated show showing works of Duncan Grant, Francis Bacon, David Hockney etc. On Thursday went with Alan & Lea to see the Hockney show at the RA in the morning and the Freud at the NPG in the afternoon. The Hockney was luminous and spectacular in scope and size, perhaps the best show I have ever seen. The Freud was also good but I was disturbed by what seemed to be his exploitation of his models. He was such an aggressive painter exposing their vulnerability. On Friday we went south of the river to the new White Cube in Bermondsey. A Great exhibition space which showed off Keifer’s work brilliantly. Much food for thought.
Tuesday 01. 11. 11 Yesterday started a new white van painting and also did this monoprint of the Thames Barrier. Today did a small portrait of Poppy but scraped it all off as it wasn’t really working. Hopefully better luck tomorrow.
