Expose & Disguise Exhibition, Bristol

Bristol Art Society's 'Expose and Disguise' Exhibition.

March 25-28th, Christmas Steps Gallery 

Throughout this year I have had the pleasure of being a member of Bristol's fabulous Art Society. For mere pennies we've all reaped the rewards of a whole year of life drawing classes, volunteering opportunities, drawing materials and experiences like the brilliant Street Art tour all whilst being surrounded by infectiously creative and inspiring people. 

To round off a year of inspiring work the Art Society are hosting a beautifully curated exhibition at Bristol's wonderfully intimate Christmas Steps gallery for you to come and visit for free all week. Last night was the opening party and with flowing wine, lollipops and groovy tunes, the place was packed. Afterwards we went for drinks at the elusive 'Redlight' speakeasy before the buzzing after-party at the Feminism society's 'Boobie Nights' event. 

It was a rainbow of a costume party with many reincarnations of Frida Kahlo wandering around! Other impressive costume efforts came from the host Becky Black's Salvador Dali/Lobster creation and Zoe Zietman's handmade interpretation of Andy Warhol's soup cans. Some of the boys also produced some Botticelli-inspired sweatshirts, which certainly captured the mood! 

The quality of the artwork was tremendous. I was so intrigued by the piece Masked by Hannah Jones, which explored the theme of people hiding behind their technology whilst demonstrating intricate brushwork to achieve the gentle illumination of boy'd face. Lylie Walter's portrait of her mother was also deeply moving. It captured a moment of pure joy and laughter with a delicate, subdued colour palette and simple brushstrokes. 

The short film 'Nudes' by Amelia Kerr and Matilda Lucy was an interesting interpretation of the modification of the human form, which takes place in society. The atmospheric music and simplicity of the monochrome film made it an eerily beautiful piece of work. 

I also adored one artist's series of tiny journals collaged together on a white board. They recorded her year abroad in Italy and could be opening to reveal intricate little illustrations of chapels as well as deeply personal musings from her travels. So intriguing. 

I also very proud to have my own oil painting named 'Contemplation' featuring in the exhibition.

 Afterwards, my supporters and I decided to venture out for a cocktail and went in search of one of Bristol's most elusive water holes - the secret 'Redlight' speakeasy. I cannot fully disclose the location, but if you wander around the bottom of Park Street for long enough you may stumble upon this red telephone box in a secluded alleyway. You dial the first 3 buttons and are asked what your intention is before giving the number of guests desiring to enter.  

If you're granted entry what you first thought was a flat wall suddenly opens to reveal a mysterious hostess who led us down the dark steps through a red velvet curtain into a low lit, atmospheric and rather old-worldly cocktail bar. It felt like a den of 1920s prohibition with waiters wearing vintage attire. 

The combination of plush velvet sofas, dim lamps and fabulous selection of somewhat expensive cocktails make it a rather seductive choice for your evening tipple. I would highly recommend anything with their fresh ginger syrup!

We then ventured to the After Party at 'Boobie Nights', Bristol Feminist society's fabulous night out at Basement 45. My gorgeous friend Sophia was DJing for the first time so we all boogied to her 'sex positive, gender-netural' tunes all night! The combination of Art exhibition opening, cocktails at a lost speakeasy and a feminist disco night really illustrates the range of eclectic experiences to be had in Bristol! 

Hedda Gabler, Bristol

Theatre Review of Hedda Gabler at Bristol's Alma Theatre.

Henrik Ibsen’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ focuses on the manipulations and cruelty of the protagonist Hedda whose aim in life – as a result of her odd, isolated upbringing - is to have, ‘some power over another human being’. This is to be gradually achieved as she weaves a web of misery and deceit around her perplexed companions, despite never leaving the comfort of her extravagant sitting room.  

The intimate set was exquisite, transporting the audience to 1890s Norway with the ornate furniture and sublime attention to detail in the costume design, three suspended frames, the perfectly constructed canapés and the blood-soaked hands in the final scene. The overall effect was incredibly visually appealing, as were the clever lighting changes taking us from day to night, the rather ominous music and the slick sound effects, notably the gunshot! 

Suffocating in her cage of domesticity, Olivia as Hedda took us on a journey through the development of her delectably sadistic behaviour as she continuously disproved her naïve husband’s better judgment of her. Every move she made contributed to the believability of her sadism when she provoked Eilert Lövborg's suicide for, ‘the sake of beauty’. With the delivery of every line, we were hypnotised by the cool hatred in her eyes and her carefully presented mannerisms, which embodied the growing insanity of her character. We were shown no volatility, but the unpredictability of her ruthlessness absorbed us as she struggled to control her own fate.

There was a subtle element of humour throughout the play from George’s constant referral to Hedda’s weight and his hilarious delivery of the perpetual phrase ‘Aunty Ju-Ju’, to the suave, but authoritative Judge’s incorporation of ‘Americanism’s’ and his saucy request for a peep hole in Hedda’s door. As the Judge’s character grew more familiar we were brought under his spell by his cool sarcasm and seductive drawl.

The male lead, George stole the show playing a man above his years with his consistently upheld mannerisms and physicality’s like his laborious rocking on his feet and his array of inquisitive, baffled expressions, which portrayed beautifully the eccentricities of this complex character. The episode when he worked himself into a state of hysterical excitement over the naming of his unborn child was spectacular. He leapt, tumbled and lunged at his wife in this tornado of emotion, throughout which she gave no reaction, thus illustrating the imbalance of their strange marriage.

As a result of the high-calibre acting the passions of the entangled characters were all exposed with necessary skill to evade the risk of the play becoming a monotonous sitting room tragedy. It was instead a thrilling experience for the audience, an animated, visually appealing, complex tale of manipulation, infatuation and malice.

Sensing Spaces, Royal Academy

Sensing Spaces: Architecture Re-Imagined at the Royal Academy

25th January - 6th April

"Seven architectural practices from six countries and four continents. 23, 000 square feet. 72 days. One monumental exhibition"

On saturday morning I dived into the Royal Academy, waved my pass and weaved through the hoards of buzzing tourists into the main hall. I was stopped in my tracks by the incredible sight ahead of me. The different structures, colours, scents, lighting and diverse range of architectural interpretations of the title were overwhelming. Suddenly, rooms we have been used to housing a modest array of small works were inhabited by vast, interactive structures as if we were living within a scene from Alice in Wonderland. My favourite piece was Kengo Kuma's dark room of beautifully lit intricate patterns of bamboo, but there were a few others that caught my eye...

Diébédo Francis Kéré's installation was perhaps the most interactive, inviting the audience to help 'build' the structure by pushing colourful straws into its walls. It makes the point that we should interact with the space around us and his thought process is best described by his own words...

"I believe it is important to involve people in the process of building so they have an investment in what is developed. Through thinking and working together people find that the built object becomes part of a bonding experience".

The Irish group Grafton Architects produced an installation, which hang from the ceiling creating a solemn atmosphere as it cast a grey filter over the room's light. However, it also had a calming effect on the audience, many of which had chosen solitary corners to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the feeling of serenity that came with the darkness. 

Despite the fact that Pezo von Ellrichshausen seems to have captured people's imagination, I was not so convinced. Yes, it is amazing to climb a staircase and touch the ornate mouldings of the Royal Academies ceilings, but in my opinion it was more of a jungle-gym for parents to leave their children than a work of art. 

Finally, I also loved the library created by the Architect Li Xiaodong who examines the concept of space within his native Chinese context. It was a wonderful experience wandering through the labyrinth of hazel branches in his metaphorical forest and stumbling upon little nooks to sit and read for a moment. Eventually the audience emerges into the zen garden with a floor of pebbles, which many audience members chose to lie down on to feel the texture against their skin. 

Shoreditch

Columbia Road Flower Market and Shoreditch Street Art.

There is no better way to feel the presence of Spring than wandering through Columbia Road, Shoreditch’s Sunday flower market on the hottest afternoon in March. There was a strong scent of Jasmine drifting through the still air as the sun emerged from behind the last cloud - our skin suddenly seemed to glow! The folk music was also so lovely. As we weaved our way through the slow-moving swarm of bearded hipsters and stray yummy-mummys, we were easily seduced by flower sellers thursting scented roses into our midst. I bought a huge, cheerful fuchsia Azaelia plant to bring back to Bristol on the evening train. I later plonked the 2ft plant pot in the middle of the train’s shared table much to the astonishment of my fellow passengers when they eventually rose from their screens to investigate the aroma!

After indulging in sheets of artisan writing paper in the sweet little stationery shops lining Columbia Road we embarked on a search for East London’s best street art. My favourite find was the oddly moving image of Christ’s Madonna gazing down at a Banksy-esque stencilled soldier. As a painter myself, it was incredibly inspiring to watch a talented young artist up on his ladder, working on his graffiti against a factory wall.

We ate the most fabulous brunch at Andina, which is a super healthy Peruvian kitchen serving everything from purple quinoa, maca and goldenberry porridge to beetroot and chilli Bloody Marys! One final duck into the Box for a peek at all of the funky - but sadly painfully over-priced - boutiques and concept shops and we were back on the road West.

 When you walk along the streets of Shoreditch past funky little barber shops, vegan cafes and vintage emporiums, there is an atmosphere, which seems to pulsate with creative energy. I feel very envious of the lifestyle, despite the fun I have back in the bohemian streets of Banksy’s birthplace - Bristol's Stokes Croft. 

The Wallace Collection, London

The Wallace Collection, London. 

It has been a while since I’ve had that sweet shop feeling, but walking into London’s Wallace Collection  (free of charge) was a moment of pure joy! Given that I have always had such a romantic taste in Art I could not believe I had never been inside this treasure trove. 

The Wallace collection is a national museum inside a historic townhouse in Manchester Square. Across twenty-five rooms are a collection of French 18th century painting, furniture and porcelain as well as a few Old Masters. They line walls decorated with velvety wallpaper’s with colours like a deliciously bright emerald, deep fuschia and lemon yellow.  

We were utterly overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of flourishing Rococo paintings. Rococo was not only a movement of the decorative arts, but also a lifestyle, which influenced painting, architecture, literature, furniture design, theatre and even social conduct. It illustrated European art’s movement from the grandeur of the church to frivolity and the pursuit of pleasure, known as ‘la fete gal ante’. People began to spend long days frolicking around the lush gardens of aristocrat's estates and attending lavish all night balls. 

The decadence of the porcelain and artwork was dizzying, so thankfully visitors are allowed to sink into the well-placed red velvet sofa’s to look at the paintings.  As we wandered around we were especially captivated by Jean Honore Fragonard’s works, especially my beloved L'escarpollette (Lady on a swing) - the 18^th century vision of immorality - which defined the Rococo period’s pursuit of pleasure and sensuality. Fragonard (1732-1806) was a French painter who worked in Paris during the Rococo period and was famous for his erotic and hedonistic works, of which L’escarpollette is the most famous.

It is this hedonism reflected in the works of the featured artists like Francois Boucher, which makes the experience of exploring the Wallace collection so visually appealing. I would highly recommend it for an afternoon of culture, without the back-breaking scale of a tour of the National Gallery! There is also a gorgeous restaurant for a traditional English tea out in the atrium and a wonderfully cosy library in the basement for students like myself to collect their thoughts and work on dissertations in peace!