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Thursday July 12, 2018
Culture overload
Today I spent the day in London with a rather punishing schedule of art and culture.
First to the V&A - I have a membership there that I am not planning to renew so had to pack everything in before the end of July - specifically "Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up" (followed by lunch in the members room).
It is a stunning exhibition - full of her personal belongings - rather grisly medical supports - as well as her photography and art. Even having read about it in the past, I was staggered by how ill she was throughout her life and the disabilities and pain she must have had to endure; I'm sure if it were me I would have simply given up. I was particularly enamoured of the huge display case full of the ethnic costumes she always chose to wear - made me want to rethink my wardrobe immediately. I felt I should have stayed much longer but it was a hot day and a bit too crowded which never makes it much fun.
Then it was on to the Tate to see "Aftermath: Art in the Wake of World War One" (followed by tea in the members room). I have to say I enjoyed the overall experience at the Tate better as it was far less crowded (rather a glum subject for mass appeal) with its cool spacious and airy rooms. Most of the items on display were poignant if not utterly grim but I did think the floating angel [Ernst Barlach, 1927] was really lovely - the original was deemed to be degenerate by the Nazis , and melted down, but Barlach kept the mould, from which this version was made.
One personal point of interest for me was that coincidentally while on the 52 bus (sitting in traffic bound for Hyde Park Corner) I was somehow drawn to observe a war memorial which turned out to be dedicated to the First World War casualties of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. The side closest to me included a rather compelling sculpture of a soldier leaning with his arms outstretched, and to my surprise that specific bronze "the driver" (a smaller version) by Charles Sargeant Jagger was on display as part of Aftermath. [Also on display was Jagger's bronze relief "No Man's Land"].
There are four life-size bronze figures around the outside of the memorial (an officer, a driver, a shell-carrier, and - controversially at the time - a fallen soldier); I was able to observe 3 of them fairly closely from the bus. The memorial is famous for its realist contrast with other First World War memorials, and attracted much public debate. Here a picture of the area in 1925 with a view of the memorial:
And finally we found that they still had the Big Screen up in Trafalgar Square with a live feed from the Royal Opera House - Don Giovanni - so we stayed to watch that in the evening; it was an interesting experience, with everyone able to randomly walk around and talk, plus the police sirens and general noise of London.
I was expecting to run into protesters (Trump's visit) but I guess they are saving themselves as he'd only just landed.
Posted by Christina at 7:31 AM. Category: Art and Culture
