Yayoi Kusama

Now we are members of the Tate Modern Galleries we are making sure our investment works in our favour. Earlier this week we visited an exhibition by Yayoi Kusama. Yayoi was born in Japan in 1940 and became a major figure in the New York avant-garde with key works in pop, minimalism and peformance.

This exhibition gave us the ability to see her life journey with her obsessive need to create dense patterns she created in trance like states and in particlular polka dots.

She also had an obsession will phallic shapes and created many installations representing the male form.

Her work covered over 60 years and her depression, suicidal tendancies and final journey in to a psychiatric hospital where she is still living today.

Her work touched me in a way that no other artist has. Her work reflected her heart, soul, obsessions and pain. Her work is her.........she is her work...there is no division. She currently has the title of highest paid living female artist with one of her pieces selling for 5.1 Million.

One of my favorites was an installation called the Mirror Infinity Room. It provides the perception of infinite space and light.........you feel insignificant yet free...hard to explain......incredible!

Without a doubt, this was one of the most touching exhibitions I have seen......

 

Hirst Hurts

Damien Hirst is an artist and entrepreneur very well know in England although recognized worldwide. He was born out of the eighties and was promoted heavily by Saatchi & Saatchi - a union that apparently is still open to debate on 'who made who'.

To be honest, I was not really compelled to visit this exhibit currently showing at the Tate Modern. Andy however felt we should see it and so we settled in this immense queue to buy our ticket. After waiting a while we asked one of the attendants the price of becoming a member and made the decision to join. This gave us the ability to bypass any queues and move straight in to the exhibit.

His work primarily represents life and death. His most famous works include a cow cut in two halves and a shark, all preserved in formaldehyde. 

I was not shocked or impressed but was however disturbed at the death toll he clearly instigated with his works of butterly art.

His work screams for attention at the pure magnitude of his installations. I do however, feel we can appreciate butterflies perfectly well without being accessories to this cull.

The one piece of work that I felt deserved some attention was a skull encrusted with  8601 flawless diamonds called  "For the Love of God".  Value is estimated at 350 Million! Hmm, I can think of better ways to spend .....

The Shame of Aintree

Horse racing is a relatively big sport in the UK and one of the biggest races of the year is the Grand National run at the Aintree racetrack. Owners spend years grooming their horses for this brutal race of 30 deep jumps and it is not uncommon for horses to fall. This year two horses were killed in the event and I am completly incensed that these beautiful animals are put at risk to this degree. Their magnificent forms supported by what can only be described as spindly legs forced to run in this large group is inviting injury and loss.

How can a civilized country do this. We would never entertain a sport using humans if there was this level of risk.  These horses have supported us in wars and in times of peace we are using them in this unecessary sport. Wake up People!!!

ANY NEWS OF THE ICEBERG

This past week has been laden with TV segments on the Titanic, remembering the 100 year anniversary since the 1523 lives were lost in those icy waters 375 miles south of Newfoundland.

When a story is repeated so many times you become somewhat indifferent and fail to imagine the impact these losses made to the families, friends and loved ones. Today, the Dean of Bocking Church, Phillip Need bought this story home with this touching poem. Thank you Phillip and we can't wait for you to marry up in less than 6 weeks.

ANY NEWS OF THE ICEBERG?
by
Les Barker
On a cold rainy night on a Liverpool quayside
In the years before the great war
The world was in shock at the loss of Titanic,
So proud had they been days before:
Relatives gathered for news of their loved ones,
To read through the list of the dead,
When into the throng came a sad eyed old polar bear:
And to the clerk at the counter he said:

Have you got any news of the iceberg?
My family were on it you see:
Have you got any news of the iceberg?
They mean the whole world to me.

My wife and my children were coming from Greenland,
To be by my side in the zoo:
Belinda's my wife, and the eldest's called Bernard:
And Billy, well, he's only two.
I know on the ship there were hundreds of people,
And I know that the iceberg's not yours:
The polar bear's eyes held the start of his teardrops:
He covered his face with his paws.

Have you got any news of the iceberg?
My family were on it you see:
Have you got any news of the iceberg?
They mean the whole world to me.

It's been over a year since I last saw my children,
I left home to build a career:
I've worked very hard, I'm a star in the circus:
It's all been for nothing I fear.
There's my face on the poster: we're in town this week:
My children were meeting me here:
Everyone watched as he struggled to speak,
As his paw brushed away one more tear:

Have you got any news of the iceberg?
My family were on it you see:
Have you got any news of the iceberg?
They mean the whole world to me.

By now all the people had gathered beside him,
His grief was one they could share:
The people around him, in silence and sadness
Listened to the sad polar bear
I wanted my children to see me performing:
And Belinda, she would have been proud..
At last lost for words, and his tears flowing freely,
The question was asked by the crowd:

Have you got any news of the iceberg?
My family were on it you see:
Have you got any news of the iceberg?
They mean the whole world to me.

Easter 2012

This is the last event before the wedding. This is so quiet compared to Easter's past with Easter baskets, egg painting, egg hunts and big family dinners. It is always hard having these holidays without the children even though they would probably be doing their own thing even if I was there.

Luckily I saw Charlotte and Tom last weekend mid weekend through a marathon business trip to Arizona and Boston . I spent the best part of two days in the air and paid for it with aches and pains in every joint. The kids were wonderful and are now well on their own paths. Tom is doing so well with his music and it consumes most of his time. Charlotte on the other hand is consumed with her new boyfriend Ian. He is lovely and I could not be happier she's picked someone as solid, fun and caring as Andy is.....and that is HER comparison although I completely agree.

It was hard to leave the children and head to Boston but it was cushioned by seeing my wonderful friends Michelle and Jorge and spending an early evening in The North End at an authentic Italian restaurant. The bonus was the 'nutter' chasing Michelle down the road to give her his phone number. Can't get enough of that stuff!!!!!

So here I am back at home with Andy and the only flying I have planned down is flying towards our wedding. We have our routines now and life is good......today we will have a nice lunch and watch Arsenal play Manchester City. If we have time we will plant  Evening Primrose and enjoy watching it grow with our Lavendar, Sage, Hydrangeas, Potatos and Onions. Yes, we are well and truly settled!

Happy Easter!