"Rather than look at an image of the artist’s making, viewers are now confronted by themselves, thereby questioning a long-held notion of painting transcending reality."
Other installations made up for it, like gauze stairs coming down from the ceiling:
At the V&A we saw the Power of Making exhibit, which had the delightful pencil lead alphabet on display, as well as a larger-than-life gorilla made of coat hangers.
We went to BBC Studios to be in the audience for a taping of Harry Hill's TV Burp.
(The links are the episode we saw, though I don't expect you to pick out my laugh.)
We were scared silly (or maybe I should say scared and then silly) in the London Dungeons. Not being sure where you're stepping or who will jump out at you from the darkness made both Laura and I antsy for the first half of the tour. The breaking point was when a bloody murderer made eye contact with Laura, menacingly marched straight up to her and, instead of grabbing her, politely said "Excuse me," before walking on by.
We were on the tour with a group of German teenagers, so many of the jokes were lost on them. At a trial reenactment, the judge said the defendant had been arrested for "tenderly loving a horse." Laura and I laughed loudly while the foreigners around us remained silent. Not awkward at all.
Laura, her sister Shelley and I ate at a posh Japanese restaurant where you bypassed the wait staff and ordered by using your table as a touch screen. We then saw a comedy show at the Criterion Theater - the Horne Section with special guests Beardyman and Tim Minchin, which I'm going to post more about on Wednesday.
I fell in love with the walkable streets of London, started to learn my way around the subway system, and got sniffed by a police dog in one of the international stations. I'm sure you understand why I kind of want to live there.
There is so much to see and do in London! And my reaction to the mirror artwork is the same as yours - BS.
ReplyDeleteCan we move there??? I actually chose the perfect time to read your your blog about London because today I just happen to be wearing a pocket watch and I've been listening to classical music all morning/afternoon.
ReplyDeleteAh man, miss you! Had such a good time. Although I am shocked you didn't post my favourite picture from the Tate :)
ReplyDeleteAlex - I need to go back and see more! Glad someone else agrees with me on that one.
ReplyDeleteKelbel - I will move with you just as soon as I too get a pocketwatch. See you in ten minutes.
Laurs - That picture would mean I'd have to change the classification of my blog to X-rated. Miss you too!