> GILES CLARKE: SELECTED STORIES

Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
2 August 2019

Giles Clarke: Selected Stories - New York-based Getty Reportage photojournalist Giles Clarke, who grew up on the Island, returns to present a site specific exhibition of images curated from a global catalogue of projects exploring, primarily, humanitarian issue awareness in troubled regions.

Tonight we joined Giles Clarke, in conversation with Paul Armfield, for an artist talk, short film screening of the acclaimed ‘The Guardian Angel Of Guatemala’ followed by a Q&A session discussing his work. The eve was brought to an upbeat end with an auction of two signed works.

Honduras dump boy by Giles Clarke

Giles Clarke

Dave and Alex in the gallery

Intense and incredibly moving, the work of Giles Clarke is impossible to forget. Giles talked candidly about his experiences in these troubled parts of the world and the power of the human stories that he uncovers. Acting as the 'eyes of the world', Giles plays an important part in raising awareness and giving a voice to the victims of wrong.

10 out of 10

> A TRIP TO TATE BRITAIN

Tate Britain, London
6 April 2019

Tate Britain -  The oldest of the four Tate's, this Gallery is brimming with the best of British art... It's time for another culture catch up!

We just can't stay away from this wonderful Gallery. Always in out top 5, a visit to this national treasure is a superb way to soak up new art, old art and everything in between. This visit we enjoy two showstopper events and the Tate Britain commission by Mike Nelson in the main entrance hall.

Starry night over the Rhone 1888

First up:
Van Gogh in Britain - This major exhibition brings together over 50 works by Vincent van Gogh to reveal how he was inspired by Britain and how he inspired British artists... A very interesting show... lovely to see one of the iconic Sunflowers paintings and the spectacular 'Starry night over the Rhone'. A real crowd-pleaser... perhaps a little too much of a pleaser, it was rammed to the rafters!

 Eastbourne 1970's

Londonderry 1971

 

Next:
Don McCullin - A comprehensive retrospective of the legendary British photographer, This exhibition showcases some of the most impactful photographs captured over the last 60 years. It included many of his iconic war photographs – including images from Vietnam, Northern Ireland and more recently Syria. But it also focused on the work he did at home in England, recording scenes of poverty and working class life in London’s East End and the industrial north, as well as meditative landscapes of his beloved Somerset, where he lives.​ A truly stunning collection. left us speechless and deeply moved. Absolutely brilliant!

8 and 10 out of 10

> REVOLUTION: RUSSIAN ART 1917-1932

Royal Academy, London
1st April 2017

Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932 -  One hundred years on from the Russian Revolution, this powerful exhibition explores one of the most momentous periods in modern world history through the lens of its groundbreaking art.

Taking inspiration from a remarkable exhibition shown in Russia just before Stalin’s clampdown, this show marks the historic centenary by focusing on the 15-year period between 1917 and 1932 when possibilities initially seemed limitless and Russian art flourished across every medium. The show surveys the entire artistic landscape of post-Revolutionary Russia. Renowned artists including Kandinsky, Malevich, Chagall and Rodchenko were among those to live through the fateful events of 1917, which ended centuries of Tsarist rule and shook Russian society to its foundations.

Boris Kustodiev, The Bolshevik - 1920

Installation view 

Kazimir Malevich, Black Square - 1929 

 

It was fascinating to see photography, sculpture and film making by pioneers such as Eisenstein, and evocative propaganda posters from what was a golden era for graphic design. The human experience was brought to life with a full-scale recreation of an apartment designed for communal living, and with everyday objects ranging from ration coupons and textiles to brilliantly original Soviet porcelain.

A great show by the Royal Academy... As always though, the sheer numbers of culture hungry visitors made it very difficult to navigate the packed gallery spaces... At times, it was impossible to view the works on show!

8 out of 10.

> A BREAK IN SUNNY FRANCE

Arles, France
11th - 16th August 2016

Arles - We head to southern France to explore this gem of a City. Fantastic Roman remains, amazing contempory art scene and a super chilled vibe... This is the perfect destination for a long weekend away.

France has so much to offer, we head south to Arles... and enjoy getting to know this vibrant City. The weather was kind as we explored the culture, foody bits and the many sites of architectural interest. We were also lucky to be in the City during Les Rencontres d'Arles 2016. This annual summer photography festival, founded in 1970 by the Arles photographer Lucien Clergue, the writer Michel Tournier and the historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette, is simply epic... and a must see for any keen photographer. Housed in diverse locations of historic interest across the City, this is a show that has something for everyone... it runs from July through to September. The Guardian has a great review here.

Thursday 11th - Travelled from the Island to King's Cross St. Pancras and caught the 15:31 Eurostar to Paris. (Picked up Dave's watch from the Storytellers)... We enjoyed our on-board meal and complimentary drinks. We start our break with 1 night in Paris staying at a super little apart Hotel - 1er Étage Marais is half hotel - half apartment... a very cool experience situated in the streets behind the Pompidou. We pop around the corner to do the Pompidou before it closes. A small local bistro satisfies our desire for food and nosh.

Friday 12th - A muggy day in Paris that soon becomes hot and clear. We took a stroll through Paris before making our way to the train station to catch the 11:41 fast train to Arles. The four hour trip goes quickly... we zip through the beautiful countryside, the sky getting clearer as we head south.
We arrive in Arles on time and it's baking hot. A quick stroll through the beautiful streets and we are at our Airb&b rental. Julia greets us and we check out the fab apartment. After a quick freshen up we head out to explore. The terrace of our apartment is the perfect place to celebrate Dave's significant birthday in style. We watch the sunset and count the shooting stars in the wonderful starlit sky. Bliss!

Saturday 13th - It's a beautiful day in Arles, we breakfast in and prepare to explore the town. First stop the massive street market that sells everything from the latest polyester fashions to sachets of herbes de Provence. Next up a visit to the brilliant contemporary art gallery... The Musee Reattu which houses a good collection of Picasso portraits and other significant works by a collection of artists. Our hunger for art is further satisfied with a visit to the Foundation Vincent van Gogh. A really lovely collection of the painters works and an interesting temporary exhibition by the British artist Glenn Brown. Time to head back to the apartment to chill. Early eve we enjoy live music in the Voltaire district. A dinner of scrummy pizza ends the day perfectly.

Sunday 14th - A stunning day in Arles. We have a light breakfast and head out to explore Les Rencontres d'Arles. Our full day ticket allows us to visit all the varied sites on the programme. First off we visit the exciting new art space on the outskirts of the town. LUMA Arles will be an impressive multi space venue when finished and is already hosting some interesting shows... The stunning installation by William Kentridge - 'More Sweetly Play the Dance' left us both speechless, just beautiful. Youtube link here. Next we start our tour of the town based venues. We tick off nearly all the shows. We see funny, distressing, conceptual, vintage and documentary... Don McCullin, Charles Fréger and the Fabulous Failures are just a few of the memorable collections. Today has been amazing. We celebrate with a cold beer and discuss our creative adventure. We dine in tonight at the apartment and cook up a trad French style fish one-pot-bake... Lovely way to end the day.

Monday 15th - Another hot day. We breakfast early so we can catch the 10:00am bus to the beach at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. On the way we pass wild flamingos in the lagoons, black Bulls in the fields and white horses on the scrub land. Once we arrive at the cost, we notice that the bay is made up of many smaller horse shoe baylets, each surrounded by stone groins. We walk away from the bank holiday crowds and find a quieter bay to swim and take a bit of sun. Time for lunch!... Les Launes, a small restaurant overlooking the marina catches our eye... I try muscles for the first time, they were delicious. Dave had a starter of muscles with a delicious topping and fresh sea bass for main. My massive pan of muscles was superb, all mopped up with baguette. Pud was apple tart and a selection of local cheeses. All washed down with a fruity rose wine... Wonderful. We wander the streets after lunch to take in the sights and take another dip before boarding the 5:00pm bus back to Arles. A light meal back at base, up on the terrace before watching the night sky and counting shooting stars. We also met Raymond, a local kitty who came to say hello from across the roof tops.

Tuesday 16th - A little cloudy this morn but still muggy. Today we leave Arles to head home via Avignon. We catch the 10:00am and enjoy the 20 minute trip to Avignon. Once in the City we explore the older quarter and walk up to the Cathedral. Very impressive and a City worthy of further exploration. We catch the 12:17 bus to the airport and await the 15:20 flight back to Southampton. Avignon airport is small, very small. There are toilets, a seating area and a food and drink vending machine... that is it!...

We loved this trip away, everything was simply perfect!

10 out of 10.

> JULIA MARGARET CAMERON

Dimbola Lodge, Isle of Wight
25 August 2014

Dimbola Lodge - The Isle of Wight home of Julia Margaret Cameron, the celebrity image maker of her time... 

Dimbola Lodge was the home of the celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. It is now a Museum and Gallery dedicated to her life and work, which also showcases contemporary exhibitions from photographers around the globe.

Imagine this... It's a rainy Bank Holiday Monday, you have friends staying, you all like photography and an indoor culture fix is very much needed... What to do...?

Dimbola Lodge was the only option! During our visit we enjoyed a wonderful talk given by one of the enthusiastic volunteers. His name was John Evans and his forty minute conversation with us certainly helped to bring the photographic works, the Lodge and indeed the pioneering Julia to life. He was knowledgeable, passionate and fun... what a treat.

The two images below are 150 years old... They look so fresh, so now. Julia Margaret Cameron admired Renaissance art, you can see this in her work.  

 Ellen Terry photographed in 1864 by Julia Margaret Cameron

 

1867 "Iago, Study from an Italian" - Angelo Colarossi

Do go and visit this wonderful museum, it needs your support and it is well worth the £5 entry.

10 out of 10!

>ASTRONOMY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Royal Observatory, Greenwich London
27 January 2013

Astronomy Photographer of the Year - Now in its fifth year, the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition and exhibition continues to showcase some incredible images from amateur astrophotographers all around the world, showcasing beautiful objects from within our solar system and far into deep space.

The snow has been washed away, it's a bright, blustery Sunday morning, and it's time to take a stroll in Greenwich Park. While enjoying our walk, we noticed posters at the Royal Observatory for the Astronomy Photographer of the Year show. We popped in and really enjoyed the small exhibition. Amazing images captured by some truly incredible amateur astrophotographers. My 3 favourite images are shown. Out of this world!

Origins of Life on Earth, by Thomas Sullivan (USA, aged 13)

The Milky Way View from the Piton de l'Eau, Reunion Island,

by Luc Perrot (Reunion Island)

8 out of 10!

>ANSEL ADAMS

National Maritime Museum, London
29 December 2012

Photography from the Mountains to the Sea - Ansel Adams is the most popular and arguably the most influential photographer in American history. His photographic landscapes are beautiful, raw and powerful. Nature in all her wonderful glory!

We have just enjoyed this  amazingly beautiful exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. The underground gallery space is perfect for this retrospective... dark, moody and magnificent! Small early studies are shown against ground-breaking photographic murals, each almost three meters in height. This is a rich collection of works that brings together Adams's most powerful and striking pictures of water in all its forms, from awe-inspiring images of epic seascapes, dramatic rapids and geysers, to crashing waterfalls, placid ponds, raging rivers and beautiful ice-locked landscapes.

Half Dome, Merced River, Winter

Ansel Adams (1902 – 1984) was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white nature photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park.

With Fred Archer, Adams developed the Zone System as a way to determine proper exposure and adjust the contrast of the final print. The resulting clarity and depth characterized his photographs and the work of those to whom he taught the system. Adams primarily used large-format cameras despite their size, weight, setup time, and film cost, because their high resolution helped ensure sharpness in his images.

Yosemite Valley clearing Storm

8 out of 10!

>EDVARD MUNCH: THE MODERN EYE

Tate Modern, London
14 October 2012

Edvard Munch - an uneasy collection of staring faces, huddled groups and depressing self portraits. Worth seeing, but nothing to SCREAM about!

Edvard Munch uses colour in bold, joyous bands and loops. His compositions are less colourful in their subject matter! The scream was missing, but many of the 'other' favourites made it into the selection. Room after room of mysterious groups of people, huddled as if to hide something horrible. Faces look out from domestic scenes - you have walked in uninvited and surprised them. It's not all doom and gloom... His naive day-glo figures have a strange etherial quality, and he certainly knew how to capture drama, emotion and moments of sorrow. Good show as always form the team at Tate Modern. (Above - Self-portrait by a window 1940)

The yellow log 1911 - 1912

The Women on the bridge 1934 - 1940

7 out of 10!




Whilst at the Tate, we also enjoyed the recently opened William Klein + Daido Moriyama show. This is really worth a visit and was certainly very refreshing after wading through the work of Mr Munch!

You can explore modern urban life in New York and Tokyo through the photographs of William Klein and Daido Moriyama. This is the first exhibition to look at the relationship between the work of influential photographer and filmmaker Klein, and that of Moriyama, the most celebrated photographer to emerge from the Japanese Provoke movement of the 1960s.

William Klein - painted contact

Daido Moriyama - stray dog

10 out of 10!




And... to round off our trip to Tate Modern... How could we pass up an opportunity to go snoop around the newest and most talked about gallery space in town...? THE TANKS: ART IN ACTION - 15 weeks of performance art and live events.

The 3 huge concrete industrial cylinders previously held oil that fuelled the turbines of the former power station, but have lain empty since the building was decommissioned in 1981 and later converted into a gallery. Architects Herzog & de Meuron have created new spaces for art and performance... the resulting space is striking, disorientating and out of this world!

10 out of 10!

>150 YEARS OF INDIAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Whitechapel Gallery
20 March 2010

Rainy days in Lahore, Mohammad Arif Ali

www.whitechapelgallery.org

This landmark exhibition gives an inside view of how modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been shaped through the lens of their photographers.

'Where three dreams cross' is a fascinating exhibition arranged over five themes with works selected from the last 150 years. The Portrait shows the evolution of self-representation, The Family explores close bonds and relationships through early hand-painted and contemporary portraits, The Body Politic charts political moments, movements and campaigns, The Performance focuses on the golden age of Bollywood, circus performers and artistic practices. finally, The Street looks at the built environment, and explores social documentary and street photography.

Whilst exploring this gem of a Gallery, we stumbled across this wonderful installation created by Turner Prize-shortlisted artist Goshka Macuga. She has produced a tapestry copy of Picasso's 'Guernica'. The work has been specially brought to London from the headquarters of the United Nations in New York and forms the central backdrop to 'The Bloomberg Commission'. Very impressive it is too.

'Guernica' - after Picasso, Goshka Macuga

7 out of 10