Friday, 28 August 2015
New York: The Waldorf Astoria
I spent two nights here and I felt totally out of my depth but totally in awe of all the intricate detail in every ornament and decor in the hotel - I loved it. Everything had been carefully created with the best craftsmen, tools and materials.
New York: American Museum of Natural History
The first thing I fell in love with at this museum was the quotes on the huge walls on the inside at reception:
London: the Saatchi Gallery
I visited the Saatchi Gallery this summer with a friend, the artwork there was probably some of the most disturbing I've seen exhibited there - which is saying a lot! I found the death exhibition really creepy and disturbing - which was obviously the point... confronting head on our feelings/views/taboos about death. There was also some weird sloth creature in a jar which had scratch marks on the inside insinuating a long attempted and failed escape strategy on its behalf. Ew. I was not a fan. However I like that it did cause a strong reaction in me - my friend on the other hand absolutely loved it and plans on basing her own art project on the rituals around death etc. :)
The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art, opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 in order to exhibit his collection to the public. It has occupied different premises, first in North London, then the South Bank by the River Thames, and finally in Chelsea, its current location. Saatchi's collection—and hence the gallery's shows—has had distinct phases, starting with US artists and minimalism, moving to the Damien Hirst-led Young British Artists, followed by shows purely of painting, and then returning to contemporary art from America in USA Today at the Royal Academy in London. A 2008 exhibition of contemporary Chinese art formed the inaugural exhibition in the new venue for the gallery at the Duke of York's HQ.
The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art, opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 in order to exhibit his collection to the public. It has occupied different premises, first in North London, then the South Bank by the River Thames, and finally in Chelsea, its current location. Saatchi's collection—and hence the gallery's shows—has had distinct phases, starting with US artists and minimalism, moving to the Damien Hirst-led Young British Artists, followed by shows purely of painting, and then returning to contemporary art from America in USA Today at the Royal Academy in London. A 2008 exhibition of contemporary Chinese art formed the inaugural exhibition in the new venue for the gallery at the Duke of York's HQ.
The gallery has been an influence on art in Britain since its opening. It has also had a history of media controversy, which it has actively courted, and has earned extremes of critical reaction. Many artists shown at the gallery are unknown not only to the general public but also to the commercial art world; showing at the gallery has provided a springboard to launch careers.
In 2010, it was announced that the gallery would be given to the British public, becoming the Museum of Contemporary Art for London.
I picked up a few irresistible books from the gift shop:
London: Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Exhibition
I fell in love with Alexander McQueen even more during this exhibition. I absolutely loved the quotes and themes behind his collections and his work really drove my inspiration into my dissertation topic looking into evolution and our innate reactions to animals in art.
I think the topic of nature and evolution in todays world is actually something we keep trying to distance and seperate ourselves from when it actually infact drives everything we do.
London: Weird Interactive Shop
We saw this shop down a really quiet road and couldn't resist the temptation to go in. What was inside noone could have imagined....
My friend Ruth Spencer Jolly described it as 'a bizarre amusement arcade full of hand built machines with an original and eccentric marriage of social commentary, art and low-brow addictive slot devices.' Which I think sums it up perfectly.
To check out these wild inventions for yourself follow the link below:
http://www.novelty-automation.com/
My friend Ruth Spencer Jolly described it as 'a bizarre amusement arcade full of hand built machines with an original and eccentric marriage of social commentary, art and low-brow addictive slot devices.' Which I think sums it up perfectly.
To check out these wild inventions for yourself follow the link below:
http://www.novelty-automation.com/
London: The Hunterian
During a trip to London recently I visited the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons.
I found this visit incredibly influential and inspirational on my dissertation topic of evolution and our innate reactions to animals in art. I was shocked by the fetuses in jars but so so intrigued and the similarities between the jarred animals was amazing to see in this context. The two men who worked there were really kind and talked to my friend and I about the museum in detail, showing us their favourite pieces and giving us a brief history of the collection. Unfortunately we had to catch a train so had to leave, but it was so interesting and somewhere I would definitely go back to even though most of it made me cringe and squeemish - this reaction was almost part of the intrigue... the effect looking at this stuff has on us! So natural yet so unnatural to us.
The Hunterian Museum boasts unrivalled collections of human and non-human anatomical and pathological specimens, models, instruments, painting and sculptures that reveal the art and science of surgery from the 17th century to the present day. Read on to find out about the individual collections’ history, highlights and unique treasures.
The Hunterian Collection
I found this visit incredibly influential and inspirational on my dissertation topic of evolution and our innate reactions to animals in art. I was shocked by the fetuses in jars but so so intrigued and the similarities between the jarred animals was amazing to see in this context. The two men who worked there were really kind and talked to my friend and I about the museum in detail, showing us their favourite pieces and giving us a brief history of the collection. Unfortunately we had to catch a train so had to leave, but it was so interesting and somewhere I would definitely go back to even though most of it made me cringe and squeemish - this reaction was almost part of the intrigue... the effect looking at this stuff has on us! So natural yet so unnatural to us.
The Hunterian Museum boasts unrivalled collections of human and non-human anatomical and pathological specimens, models, instruments, painting and sculptures that reveal the art and science of surgery from the 17th century to the present day. Read on to find out about the individual collections’ history, highlights and unique treasures.
The Hunterian Collection
The Hunterian's history
In 1799 the UK government purchased the collection of the surgeon and anatomist John Hunter FRS (1728-1793). It was placed in the care of the Company (later the Royal College) of Surgeons. Hunter's collection of around 15,000 specimens and preparations formed the nucleus of one of the greatest museums of comparative anatomy, pathology, osteology and natural history in the world.
The Hunterian today
The Hunterian Collection today contains approximately 3,500 specimens and preparations from John Hunter's original collection. The collection still includes many of Hunter's most famous specimens, including those showing his successful ligation of the femoral artery for popliteal aneurysm and his experiments on collateral circulation. Other specimens demonstrate Hunter's extensive and varied researches on subjects such as bone growth, transplantation and freemartins.
Many specimens are associated with other significant figures, such as Joseph Banks, who supplied Hunter with many items; King George III and Queen Charlotte, for whom Hunter prepared a selection of specimens for the royal collection at Kew; and Edward Jenner. Also included in the collection is the skeleton of Charles Byrne, the 'Irish Giant'.
The College's Museum Collection also contains about 2,500 specimens acquired after 1799. Many specimens were prepared or collected by the conservators of the museum, such as Richard Owen, John Quekett, William Flower and Arthur Keith.
Other items that are part of this collection and on display in the museum are a set of four anatomical tables prepared for the diarist John Evelyn in Padua in 1646, as well as scientific and surgical instruments belonging to Joseph Lister, one of the pioneers of antiseptic surgery.
Also on show are wax anatomical models prepared by Joseph Towne in the nineteenth century and corrosion casts made by David Tompsett in the 1950s.
New York: Bike the Big Apple
Probably one of my favourite days in New York was the Bike the Big Apple tour, where we traveled round exploring and learning about the different boroughs on our bikes in a small group.
'This special tour starts with a ride through the historic Lower East Side. Once the most densely populated neighborhood in the world(!), it is now a very “in” section with a thriving nightlife, as well as an authentic Soviet era, larger than life, statue of Lenin!
Leaving Manhattan, we dive into the delights offered by the borough of Brooklyn as we pedal over the new Williamsburg Bridge bike path. We enter the "hip," artistic neighborhood of Williamsburg and head to one of the Big Apple's truly underground micro-brewery. Here you can sample its artisinal beers and ale, or stout on tap. (Only our riders aged 21 and older will be allowed to drink. Those under 21 will be forced to thirstily watch!)
Only a short ride away, yet centuries back in time, we pass a Hassidic "shtetl," like that made famous in Fiddler On The Roof. Here the orthodox Jewish population still tries to live as it did before the Holocaust. On this, the Jewish Sabbath, all the businesses are closed as the synagogue becomes the focal point of existence.
As if travelling through time, we pass by the Brooklyn Navy Yard. With almost 200 years of ship building history, this served as the birthplace place of scores of famous ships, from the Fulton Steam Frigate and USS Maine to the USS Constellation and Missouri!
Just a short pedal later, we complete our return to the 21st century, as we enter the now-posh neighborhood of Fort Greene. In its center, we find the pride and joy of the neighborhood, built upon a crypt, holding the remains of Americans who suffered the atrocities of war. From Fort Greene, we enter Dumbo, another fascinating "in" neighborhood of Brooklyn. Here, you’ll experience a classic "only-in-the-Big-Apple" panorama! (see photo below) We head to Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop, run by a pastry chef extraordinaire. Here you can sample his pithiviers, featured recently in The New York Times- or get high on other chocolate delights.
We finally pedal over the Brooklyn Bridge, also on its own bike path. The high here is not merely provided by the altitude, but also by the incredible views of the New York skyline and harbor.'
Leaving Manhattan, we dive into the delights offered by the borough of Brooklyn as we pedal over the new Williamsburg Bridge bike path. We enter the "hip," artistic neighborhood of Williamsburg and head to one of the Big Apple's truly underground micro-brewery. Here you can sample its artisinal beers and ale, or stout on tap. (Only our riders aged 21 and older will be allowed to drink. Those under 21 will be forced to thirstily watch!)
Only a short ride away, yet centuries back in time, we pass a Hassidic "shtetl," like that made famous in Fiddler On The Roof. Here the orthodox Jewish population still tries to live as it did before the Holocaust. On this, the Jewish Sabbath, all the businesses are closed as the synagogue becomes the focal point of existence.
As if travelling through time, we pass by the Brooklyn Navy Yard. With almost 200 years of ship building history, this served as the birthplace place of scores of famous ships, from the Fulton Steam Frigate and USS Maine to the USS Constellation and Missouri!
Just a short pedal later, we complete our return to the 21st century, as we enter the now-posh neighborhood of Fort Greene. In its center, we find the pride and joy of the neighborhood, built upon a crypt, holding the remains of Americans who suffered the atrocities of war. From Fort Greene, we enter Dumbo, another fascinating "in" neighborhood of Brooklyn. Here, you’ll experience a classic "only-in-the-Big-Apple" panorama! (see photo below) We head to Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop, run by a pastry chef extraordinaire. Here you can sample his pithiviers, featured recently in The New York Times- or get high on other chocolate delights.
We finally pedal over the Brooklyn Bridge, also on its own bike path. The high here is not merely provided by the altitude, but also by the incredible views of the New York skyline and harbor.'
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