Barbican, EC2, London

Sorry, no pictures yet of Madrid. We got home relatively late last night and I just wanted to crawl into my bed. So instead, here's a few old pictures of the Barbican. One of my favourite spaces in London - it is an art, dance, theatre, culture and conference building just off the 'City'. It also has residences and business space mingled in.

In the spring, they hosted an incredible art exhibit on birds and their relationship with music. In a big open room (with a few nooks and crannies), little white birds had free rein to fly around and, by chance, make music by perching on the cymbals or guitars (all wired to speakers). The best part was that birds had started to nest in the guitars and had water in the cymbals.

Images via Liam and I.

another day, another saatchi exhibit

today marks the start of a new saatchi exhibit. It's so new that the gallery still hasn't updated their website yet!!

L2 and I have been super good with Saatchi and attended all the exhibits. 1. It's free, 2. it's interesting, 3. it's the perfect balance of art and time. Often you feel overwhelmed in museums or galleries (at least I do) about if you can do it all and what you'll be missing. However, you can get around Saatchi in about an hour and feel completely cultured.

The summer exhibit is on the americas (previously had one on China and the Middle East). When we go, I'll blog more about what craziness it's decided to exhibit this season.

Bye bye ronald

As I said - part of the v-day plans last weekend were heading to the South London Gallery to watch the statue of Ronald McDonald 'drown'. As odd as it sounds - it was actually a pretty cool piece of installation art.
The artists completely recreated a McDonald's with Ronald McDonald and little Happy Meal toys. As always - the description from the South London Gallery is far better than anything I could do. However it's the first time that I've understood installation art as I didn't read the write-up until after and still got the general themes. Man did I feel smug!

a bit of culture and dining overload

so the weekend was one of excess. My last sha-bang with creams, cheese and most pasta, chocolate, pizza - most italian food actually.

I was in charge of Valentine's this year. L2 said he had something planned the following week and it was up to me. I thought we should celebrate in true london fashion - (so loads of culture.) Breakfast was cherries and french toast (delicious and mandatory as I can't cook pancakes to save my life) - then off to the Saatchi Gallery to view the new contemporary Middle East exhibit. It was just as amazing as 'China now' - and artists from Iraq, Iran and Syria were very prominent but I loved Kader Attia's Ghost exhibit. The empty void within these shells evoked a powerful emotion in the room. It's always hard to explain structural art but if you're in London head down there!

Then headed to Taschen (an amazing book store that will be blogged about later) and then then finally made it down the South London Gallery to view this avant garde piece that has Ronald McDonald statue drown. (again this will have to have a seperate post!)
Dinner was at the local 'pizza metro' where they serve you on a giant board with all your pizza intermingled with your date (or group!). The food was spectacular but I do hate Valentine's service. It took eons for our wine, our pizza and our bill! Let me go home!

Sunday L2 and I were unbelievable lazy but made some macroni and cheese (homemade mom recipe) for my last night with cheese and I bought this amazing owl necklace at local shop. I also saw By Malene Birger shoes but at £250 - I could only drool. (I can't access the site right now but I'll try to get them up!)