So, a few days ago I promised you an update on my trip to London. Well I had a wonderful time! At first glance taking close on 2 full days out of family life seems purely selfish, however by the time I arrived at the first museum I could officially term it a research trip!
I squeezed in visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Royal Acadamey of Arts and the Tate Britain. My favorite has to be the V&A, the whole experience was magical. I felt like I had slipped in at the back door entering from the subway tunnel, almost like I shouldn't be there. I was like an excited child not knowing which way to turn. I made some great discoveries, got lost in the medieval section and saw some jaw dropping replica structures. There was one picture that I remember clearly; Rosalba Carriera's, The Syracusan Woman. I turned round and she seemed to be almost chastising me for moving throught the exhibitions so fast. Therefore, I have made a promise to myself to re-visit the V&A at some point to do it justice. The David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Acadamey of Arts was also a highlight.
The one thing that I love about London is the amazing variety of characters that are all around all the time. Does anyone else try to guess what peoples lives are like? I find it a very entertaining activity to guess the occupation of people on the tube or train in particular. Try it some time and see what you come up with. I can't help but try to attach a story to everything, people, places, pictures or sculptures. The only thing that struck me on this trip was how sad all the subjects of the paintings or sculptures are. I hope when future generations visit museums and look at 21st century art they don't get the impression that our generation were perpetually moping, life may be difficult at times but I would not say we are unhappy...are we?
PS the research was great and I have come away with loads of fantastic ideas :-D
Love that you're taking time for yourself, I mean, to do research. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd never thought about what future generations would think of us by looking at our art, but I'm with you now that I you point it out -- I hope they see the variety of emotions we experience, so they can see they are very much still like us (hopefully?).