Tagged: museum
Tomorrow is today
If, at any point, you are considering an exhibition to see in London between now and the beginning of next year, you must go to see the installation Tomorrow at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The V&A is my favourite museum. Containing items of design, architecture, sculpture, costume and furniture from around the world, I love visiting it regularly, looking for new areas: I try only a couple of rooms at a time; any more would be too much beauty to take in.
On one such visit, I saw a number of small hoardings, pointing out that “Tomorrow” was taking place in a certain area of the museum: “Tomorrow?” I wondered, “What could that be?” Off I went to find out.
It was an installation, by Scandinavian artist duo Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, and was spread over several of the V&A former textile galleries. The artists, using various objects from the museum’s wide collection, transformed the galleries into an elaborate South Kensington apartment. Therein, they told a story.
How? By making this apartment belong to a fictional architect called Norman Swann, looking back in anger on his life. Visitors to the exhibition, with the use of a screenplay picked up at the entrance, could walk through this apartment reading scenes set in the dining area, bedroom, kitchen and study. One would walk through the exhibition making a film about Mr. Swann in one’s own head. The effect was mesmerising.
One isn’t allowed to take photographs in the exhibition and that’s fine: having photos taken while one walks through this installation would be incredibly disturbing. (The photos included here are scanned from the screenplay that you pick up at the start of the installation.) Also I don’t think that one needs to: the exhibits, the screenplay, actors therein and one’s own imagination makes Tomorrow completely memorable.
Along with the Dalston House and the Sultan’s Elephant, I must admit that I’m a big fan of art installations. I wonder what else is or will be out there to experience?
Left to right
I am a big fan of taking photo walks. Getting lost somewhere new or familiar and taking a lot of photos with my camera is a great way to get to know an area; a good walk enhanced.
Occasionally, I may pass an area by car, bus or tube; a little too fast to take a considered photo. On buying a new camera recently, I decided to break it in by photographing one or two of these particular areas that I’d seen across London on something of an epic photo walk, which took me from west to east London.
I started near Westbourne Park, home of the Trellick Tower, designed by architect Erno Goldfinger. I’d heard a lot about this building; its prized flats and its grade II listed status, but I’d only seen it from afar.
Approaching the tube station nearby, I glanced across the road at the bus depot. I’d always been a big fan of large, cavernous spaces (possibly a hangover from seeing Ken Adams magnificent set designs, especially in the Bond movies). After asking permission from a couple of Transport for London operatives standing nearby (“No problem, mate: do what you want…”) I took an image.
Getting off at Edgware Road, I walked to a nearby park in the Paddington area. Despite an old friend living here for some years, I had hardly explored the area. Intrigued by a green expanse north of the A501 road, I walked to Paddington Green conservation area, where I was entranced by the entrance to the local Church of St. Mary. Nestled among the leaves, the bright sunlight dappled pleasantly over it.
Next, I wanted to look at some big ceilings. I had photographed Lord Foster‘s glass-roofed Great Court before, but I wanted to see how my camera’s 50mm lens would take it.
I also took this view of the columns at the entrance on my way out. I’ve always loved this classical architecture; my early drawings as a preteen were full of them, maybe from being a fan of the Thames television logo, or from early, half-remembered family journeys around London as a child. I’ll be attempting more views on return visits.
A short bus ride took me to King’s Cross railway station; particularly to the semi-circular departures concourse designed by John McAslan. Magnificent stuff, which my lens couldn’t really take in entirely. This view from Wikipedia does it more justice: I’ll return there sometime and try photographing it again.
The last part of the journey took me from north central to east London. I stopped at Mile End, where its attractive park straddles a bridge over the A11 road. I had previously taken a view of the Canary Wharf development, framed by the undulating park, but this was with a zoom lens at its longest end: not do-able here. I had to settle for this different view: the financial oasis, framed by local buildings.
Journey’s end came at Blackwall, in particular, the junction of the A13 East India Dock Road and the A12 Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach. I find the hardened, industrial aspect to this area exciting and love photographing it. On a car journey, I remembered seeing an odd hoarding about lifestyles. Was it a trick of the light? No, it really was there: graffiti artist Banksy was up to his tricks again.
I quite liked juxtaposing it with a closer view of Canary Wharf: lavish lifestyles out of stock? Who’d have thought it?
Burning Details 
