Tate Modern Turbine Hall

The current occupant of the Turbine Hall is Abraham Cruzvillegas, Empty Lots.

What a waste of a great space.

It was more interesting when still a power station




 

Christmas day

One solution: revolution

Early evening in Traflagar Square at the million mask march

At Weiwei at the Royal Academy

There is no way I can do this fantastic exhibition justice with just a few snap shots. It has to been seen and seen with an audio guide. Without an explanation the mysterious work is incomprehensible. Great, brave art with a provocative political message.

Welcome to London

Albert McKenzie VC

St Pauls at dusk

Friday night on the South Bank

The South Bank is buzzing on a Friday night and full of all types of music.

A man playing a saw

A man playing guitar watched over by Frank Dobson's larger than life size figures entitled 'London Pride'

And even a DJ set for those people who are too lazy to go to a nightclub

The only thing missing is Bob Blackman playing the tray

Marc Quinn

Marc Quinn at the White Cube in Bermondsey. A series of sculptures titled 'Frozen Waves', all in stainless steel, including the arch of a wave that is 7m long

White Cube, Bermondsey

Theaster Gates 'Freedom of Assembly' at the White Cube in Bermondsey Street.

Lord's Cricket Ground

Lord’s the ‘Home of Cricket’ has been located in St John’s Wood Road since 1816. A group of wealthy ‘gentlemen’ created a cricket club back in 1752, known as the White Conduit Club that, due to various changes of address, became the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). It now owns this prime piece of London real estate or sporting shrine as it is regarded by cricket fans.

The Lord’s Media centre was completed in 1999 and designed by Future Systems. It became the first all-aluminium building, supported by its own outer skin (Monocoque) in the world.

On this warm summer evening Middlesex played Hampshire in the ‘Nat West Blast’, hence the flames and general razz ma tazz. Not sure what the good members of the White Conduit Club would have made of it but it certainly brings in the punters.

The Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts

The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, where even the staircase is a work of art (Jim Lambie - Zobop)

The exhibition is co-ordinated by Michael Craig-Martin who, to be honest, steals the show with outstanding work in each room (see the watch on the walls of the magenta room).

The Summer Exhibition has become a victim of it's own success. Even on a 'members' day it is far too crowded. It has the feel of a village feat with everyone jostling for position, trying to get a glimpse of the work.

All the art is for sale. Some bought for it's artistic quality, some just for the signature on the border and a few because it resembles their dog. Dog's sell well (lots of red 'sold' dots).

The Summer Exhibition is a great opportunity for amateur artists to exhibit their work on the same walls as the great and the good. It signifies the start of summer and is best viewed with a glass of Pimm's in hand.

Julian Opie at the Alan Cristea Gallery

Walking in the Rain, London, 2015

The excellent Julian Opie at the Alan Cristea Gallery in Cork Street. This body of work is so good that the Guardian described it as "what genius looks like"

Tourist with beard

Walking in London

Inflated Star and Wooden Star

"Inflated Star and Wooden Star" by Frank Stella is currently on display in the Annenberg Courtyard of the Royal Academy.

It's all up in the air

Green Park

Royal Baby watch

The paparazzi and TV stations have started to camp down in front of Buckingham Palace in anticipation of the imminent Royal birth.  Despite having no idea when the birth is expected, other than mid to late April, the TV stations are in place and actually have their anchor men on site waiting for the announcement to be made. 

But can any of them play jazz flute as good as the legendary Ron Burgundy? 

New Tube for London

Bermondsey bomb

A Second World War bomb, measuring 1.5 metres (5ft) with a tail fin, has been uncovered by workmen in Bermondsey. The following quote is from today’s Guardian.

"The bomb was found on the old site of the Southwark Irish Pensioners Centre. Southwark ward councillor Lucas Green tweeted: “Seems our OAPs are hard as nails, drinking tea on top of a 1,000lb bomb for 70 years.”

The Fourth Plinth - Gift Horse by Hans Haacke

The new art work on the fourth plinth is a skeletal horse by Hans Haacke. It’s intended to make a sardonic reference to the equestrian statue of William IV, by Sir Francis Chantrey, that sits on top of the north eastern plinth.  The statues act as a nice set of bookends either side of the square.

The work includes an electronic ribbon displaying stock market data to depict the link between power, money and history. Personally I would prefer a statue to the men and women that have protested and held rallies in the square over many years.  Could be that a permanent reminder of the poll tax riots would be too much for Boris Johnson to stomach?