4 - 6 August 2019
Sunday 4th - We drive up to Greenwich and park up just outside our first rented property, we are staying with Carl and Annette. A quick freshen up and we are soon off to catch the train into central London. First up, The Royal Academy. Here we enjoy 3 shows.
Helene Schjerfbeck self portrait, black background 1915
Félix Vallotton sunset Villerville 1917
RA Summer Exhibition 2019
Helene Schjerfbeck: this is the first major exhibition of one of Finland's best kept secrets. Over 60 portraits, landscapes and still life studies help to give us a career wide overview of this wonderful artists' creative output. Next up, Félix Vallotton - Painter of disquiet: the prolific Swiss painter and print maker. Through more than 80 paintings and exquisite prints, this exhibition reveals Vallotton’s extraordinary body of work, including compelling portraits, dreamlike landscapes and satirical prints distilled into pure blocks of black and white. We have just enough energy left to enjoy the 2019 Summer Exhibition: the annual freeform art explosion that covers every single surface in the major gallery space. Always fun, always surprising and always a complete riot! This year, acclaimed British painter Jock McFadyen RA takes the mantle from Grayson Perry to co-ordinate the 251st Summer Exhibition. Over 1,500 works are on display, most of them for the first time. Highlights include an animal-themed ‘menagerie’ in the Central Hall, with works by artists including Polly Morgan, Charles Avery, Banksy and Mat Collishaw. Artist sisters Jane and Louise Wilson RA have curated two galleries, one of which showcases work exploring light and time. Further artists exhibiting include Jeremy Deller, Marcus Harvey, Tracey Emin RA, Frank Bowling RA, Antony Gormley RA and Honorary Academicians Anselm Kiefer, James Turrell and Wim Wenders. We head home to Greenwich and enjoy an eve of fab food and great company.
Olafur Eliasson Beauty 1993
Takis radar 1960
Natalia Goncharova The Phoenix 1911
Monday 5th - We are up early to cram as much into this day as humanly possible. First, we head to Tate Modern to enjoy another 3 shows. Olafur Eliasson in real life: Some artworks introduce natural phenomena such as rainbows to the gallery space. Others use reflections and shadows to play with the way we perceive and interact with the world. Many works result from the artist’s research into complex geometry, motion patterns, and his interest in colour theory. All but one of the works have never been seen in the UK before. Next, Takis: This the largest exhibition of Takis's work ever held in the UK, bringing together over 70 works. Throughout his career he produced antennae-like sculptures called Signals, and musical devices using magnets, electricity and viewer participation to generate resonant and random sounds. Lastly, Natalia Goncharova: This multi-talented artist found acclaim early in her career. Aged just 32 she established herself as the leader of the Russian avant-garde with a major exhibition in Moscow in 1913. She then moved to France where she designed costumes and backdrops for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes. She lived in Paris for the rest of her life, becoming a key figure in the city’s cutting-edge art scene. Her bold and innovative body of work influenced and transcended the art movements of the 20th century. We explore her diverse sources and inspirations, from Russian folk art and textiles to the latest trends in modernism and beyond.
The day is not done yet! We are now off to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to enjoy a sunny afternoon relaxing in the beautiful grounds. We are also here to take a look at the beautiful glass art of Dale Chihuly. A selection of his dazzling sculptures transform the Gardens and glasshouses into a contemporary outdoor gallery space. A spectacular and very memorable creative partnership. Early eve we head to north London to meet baby Alba, and to catch up with Amy and Robert.
Dale Chihuly at Kew
Tuesday 6th - We breakfast early in Greenwich, say our goodbyes to Carl & Annette and head south. We are off to RHS Wisley. This 240 ache site is one of five Gardens run by the RHS. We LOVE visiting Wisley and spend a very happy few hours exploring before heading home to our Isle later in the afternoon.
The beauty of Wisley
10 out of 10
