Autumn in the City

grey or green

In the Sun!

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Am enjoying the sun we missed out on over the last two month. Have a lovely day!

Royal Court

Went to see the Faith Machine by Alexi Kaye Campbell at the Royal Court. To put it in one sentence, it's about ideologies, believes and faith and the loss of it, religion, consumerism, capitalism and love. Sounds a lot, which it was  (the play even brushed Alzheimer), but although 2 1/2 hours long, there was hardly any length, some very good dialogues, some very good monologues, some stereotyping (intentional?!) and it was thought provoking and entertaining.

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The theatre is dedicated to new and innovative work by British and foreign writers. Risky is what they like and the audience can also easily take a risk with ticket prices not more than 10£ on a Monday. And all this right in the middle of Sloane Square, the epicentre of Posh London. Fantastic.

London Buildings

found here

For inspiration and when you cannot get out of the house or the office as often as you would like!

found here

Life on Earth, Mars and more

Too much is going on in this city. Do you know that today is not only the first day of Autumn but also European Researcher Night, which the Natural History Museum is celebrating from 16.00-23.00. You can meet scientists, go behind the scene and much more.

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Very fitting then, that earlier the people at Cern have announced that they have detected particles appearing to break the speed of light. Let the mind boggle!

And have a lovely weekend!

Cinnamon

I just came across an article that claims that cinnamon buns will be the new cupcakes here in London!! Well, I am all for it, not being a fan of rainbow icing at all. It's is not quite so colourful, but I think the smell (and taste) will make up for it (especially when eaten warm)!

Joy the baker

Since I am slowly getting into my autumn baking mood, this amazing looking cinnamon pull-apart bread will be on my to-do list this weekend. I mean, I think I can actually smell it already ....

Floating Walkway

Earlier in the year I was slightly obsessed with swimming swimming pools (look here and here).

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It now seems that we will get a pool on the Thames after all!! Incorporated into a floating walkway. Fully funded, it now awaits planning permission - dare we hope? And will it be finished in time for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and/or the Olympics?

Degas

Last weekend we went to see the exhibition "Degas and the Ballet - picturing movement" at the Royal Academy of Art.

The kids wanted to see little Marie. They had read about her but were slightly disappointed that she seemed rather small. Their curiosity had been fired by the book 'Degas and the little dancer' which very nicely brings to life the background story of the sculpture, the artist and indeed the little model.

both via

The exhibition documents Degas' interest in the human figure in movement and sets this in context with the photography and film of the time. It is this aspect which makes the exhibition really worthwhile in my opinion. Without the link to film and photo it would have been a few ballet dancers too many assembled in one room. 

People

The time to make your mind up about people is never. 

(The Philadelphia Story)

Benjamin Phillips

London

Visual Note

greyorgreen

Timber Wave 

by Amanda Levete Architects

London Design Festival at the V&A
main entrance

The Weekend!

Check out other people's houses and buildings usually closed to the public at open house  this weekend (their fab app seems really helpful to find your way around)

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incl. Guardian article

London fashion week starts today, dress up for the weekend, but whatever you do, enjoy!

the Satorialist

Perspectives

The London Design Festival at the V&A will start this Saturday (till the 25.9.) One of their commissions though can be seen at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate its 300th anniversary. It is an optical installation at the bottom of the Geometric Staircase, a christal lens on a stainless steel top, reflecting Christopher Wren's amazing staircase, the visual effect will be heightened by a mirror in the ceiling - designed by minimalist architect and designer John Pawson.

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P.S And for Harry Potter fans: in the film "The Prisoners of Azkaban" this staircase lead to Professor Trelawny's classroom.

London Art Book Fair

For your diary:

The London Art Book Fair will take place from the 23rd to the 25th of September at the Whitechapel Gallery. The fair is devoted to international art publishing, presenting works of artist publishers, galleries, magazines, rare book dealers and colleges together with talks and events.

found here

So, apart from browsing you can also meet photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, signing copies of his new book or watch parts of The Wanderer by Laure Prouvost, which sounds very intriguing (both on Saturday).

"Laure Prouvost's The Wanderer will develop from a fictional story in which a character undergoes a series of increasingly bizarre and mysterious experiences. As he tries to hold onto reality, it seems to melt from under him. Mixing everyday footage with staged interludes, the plot will constantly be undermined by disparate audio/visual elements and misunderstandings. "The Wanderer" is based on a work by artist Rory Macbeth, who has translated a Kafka novella from German into English without any knowledge of the German language and without a dictionary." (found here)

Linguists and experimental art lovers should equally enjoy this.

found here

Espresso

Ever since my husband introduced me to the sculptor Anish Kapoor I have been fascinated by his work. Kapoor has lived and worked in London since the 70's. His work very much engages with its surroundings, what we perceive is not always what is there, darkness and light play a big part, the surfaces of the material he uses are often inviting and prohibiting at the same time. Does his approach work with much smaller objects? I would love to find out - and they are, compared to his other work, even affordable and do fit into our house (do you know what it is yet?).

found here

In the meantime you can enjoy a Kapoor sculpture at Aviva Square, Great St Helen's and Undershaft in London till 29. January 2012.

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100 Years Style in 100 sec. - East London

The Weekend!

It's the weekend soon! we have survived our first week back at school - but still trying to sort out clubs and pick-ups and putting names to faces, trying not to introduce myself to the same people to often ....

London is  celebrating with a free end-of-summer festival around town and gearing up to London Fashion week. If you want to get into the mood, there is a college pop up shop in the West End, selling designs by London College of Fashion graduates. And if you want to dare summer one more time, you could go and enjoy Romeo and Juliet at Regents Park. Whatever you do, have a lovely weekend!

Tree-Athlon

at Ham House

by Hans Chu

Apart from that I love the title of this event - I think it is inspired - the focus of the 'Trees for Cities' charity is something I think we take for granted, but rapidly are loosing: trees in the city. In their own words,  Trees for Cities "is an independent charity which inspires people to plant and love trees worldwide ... involving local residents, schools and community groups helps ensure the sustainability of these green spaces."

I moved from Switzerland to London 12 years ago, straight to the East -End, to Bow. Apart from having major difficulties finding a latte at the time (that all changed), I really missed the trees, the seasons they are telling. I am now lucky to live in a very green part of London (and now missing the groovy Coffee shops - well, you can't have it all ).

If you feel a bit like me and want to help, check out the Tree-Athlon in Battersea Park on 17 September. You can run 5k, plant a tree, listen to music. It sounds like a really nice idea which we will check out

Monument

Looking for a new fitness regime? Have you been up Monument yet. If you work in the City you could use your lunch hour to run up the 345 steps. No shower up top but a lovely view. How is that for an incentive?

Sir Christopher Wren's Monument is the tallest isolated stone column in the world, commemorating the Great Fire of 1666. It is 202ft high and 202ft from Pudding Lane where the fire is thought to have started.

 

found here

Floral Art

I would love to bottle some summer

Bottle Flower

Makoto Azuma

via spoon-tamago

This bottel flower is by Makoto Azuma - quite disturbing though, since the flowers are stunning to look at but dead! 

Apart from his floral artwork Azuma also has a conceptual flower shop (if you can call it that ), Jardin des Fleurs, in Tokyo. After looking at some of his work I went to find some inspirational florists in London and came across Jane Packer - very upmarket. Wild at Heart is another well known London institution. But overall I am not very successful coming up with nice flower shops I have to admit. Any suggestions? I will go and find some more around town to lighten up the coming months.

But for a Do It Yourself approach there is always Columbia Road where on Sunday the street turns into a huge flower market. And it is one of a few streets in the UK with nearly only independent shops (check it out here.) Quite tempting!

On the other side of town you can get inspired at Petersham Nurseries near Richmond Park - or just enjoy their cooking or lovely brunch at weekends.

Have a great weekend!

Nearly there

Welcome back! 

I hope you all had a really nice summer and did see the sun from time to time, relaxed, recharged and are ready to tackle everyday life and London with renewed drive and curiosity. 

Well, after 5 weeks away we are nearly there. The kids will go back to school next week, a new school run will need to be put into place and it will be a while till we found our rhythm but I will try to keep the summer spirit for a bit longer!

(Although, I do love autumn!!)

Hans Chu

Marlow