Monday 3 December 2012

Causing a scene for Christmas

December is here, which means time to get in the Christmas spirit. I personally do not go mad over the holiday with decorations or any kind of religious connections, but I do exploit it as a time of giving and receiving. That is why when I came across this video, it really got me in the festive mood. 
The group "Improv Everywhere" is a based in New York City and is a "prank collective that causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places." It was created in 2001 and has executed over 100 "missions" involving thousands and thousands of "undercover agents". I think the idea is marvelous and never fails to put a smile on my face. I think I've seen them all... Brilliant stuff. 

Monday 15 October 2012

And it was all Bronze

I visited the Bronze exhibition at the Royal Academy this weekend- a much anticipated trip. I took someone who isn't as keen on art as I am, one of those "what's the point?"-people. However, they did enjoy themselves! Or they were just being polite... Nah, it was a great exhibition.

The vast collection of solely bronze work brought together 150 items from numerous cultures and time periods, spanning 5000 years from antiquity to the present day. Many of the works had never been shown in the UK until this eclectic and fresh exhibition. Bronze has been used as an artistic medium in different ways for thousands of years,  a section of the exhibition explained the complex processes involved in making bronze. Although my least favourite room, it has to be said, purely because it was the busiest room!

The items were arranged thematically into Human Figure, Animals, Groups, Objects, Reliefs, Gods, Heads and Busts. I thought this was an effective way of presenting the work as it showed the relationship between objects, and how a similar theme has been represented throughout time and in various cultures. 


Pieces ranged from a Louise Bourgeois Spider IV to a Thracian Portrait of King Seuthes III.


Louise Bourgeois, Spider IV, 1996
4th century BCE, Thracian, Portrait of King Seuthes 

A few rooms had dark walls and were dimly lit in order for spot lights to highlight the individual works. This created a beautifully eerie feel and made Louise Bourgeois' Spider IV particularly stand out. The white background in the image above does not do the sculpture any kind of justice near to the way it was presented in the exhibition. 

One might feel a slight resemblance to a museum of artifacts, but that is just a word used to describe an object with historical and cultural value, and these pieces all happen to have just that- plus artistic merit and a craftsman's touch. 
strongly encourage a trip to this exhibition. 
It is a rare opportunity, and one that should not be overlooked. 

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Reading Festival was epic

Had such an amazing time at Reading Festival 2012.
It didn't live up to last year and it didn't exceed last year either because they were different. No comparison.
The line-up this year, I thought, was better than last year. But this isn't necessarily good because it meant that acts clashed and I couldn't go to all of the ones I wanted ! Unhappy face.
But here are some new artists I came across, or just ones that were/are super great and didn't share with you on my pre-Reading post:


And here's a top comedian for y'all too:

Happy listening

Is is best for an ex to become somebody that you used to know?...

Just wanted to share this.

It is something that has crossed my mind a lot and even after discovering the post by A CUP OF JO I am still stuck. 


Do you stay friends with an ex or not? Do you even try to stay in contact, even if it's a "Hi, how are things?" every now again?


Do you even bother or is the best thing to just let them go and both get on with your lives without them?
If someone has been such a big part of your life so so long it's obviously going to be hard to let them go so easily, so is no contact better than some or a lot of contact?
ARGH!
When life hands you this problem, what do you do?

This song popped into my head.

Is is best for an ex to become somebody that you used to know?...

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Baby love

Incase you didn't know, like a stereotypical female, I love babies. 
I see a baby and my womb starts throbbing with a want for a child... 
I know I am no where near ready to have a child of my own, but I just can't help my utter adoration for children!
However, when you are in a restaurant, or on a bus, or just anywhere, and there is a screaming child, like most people, I would think, my fondness decreases.
People say that children are only cute if they are your own, that is probably true. But if I find children this adorable now, can you imagine what I'll be like when I actually (hopefully) have my own?!

Anyway, I have rambled about this because the most hilarious and completely amazingly cute book of photographs as been brought to my attention by the blogger A CUP OF JO. (Please check out her post and her blog and enjoy.)

In regards to the book by Rachel Hulin, the idea began when she explored what it would look like if she cropped her husband out of photos of him lifting up their son.
A wonderful result.
Highly amusing and delightful.

Saturday 11 August 2012

Reading Festival 2012

12 Days and 11 Hours until Reading Festival!!
I am so excited! Why wouldn't I be?!
I went last year- best time of my life.
Slightly afraid that in my mind this year will be trying to beat the awesomeness of the previous year, but I think the line-up this year is better so we'll see...
Obviously there have been changes since last year, new school and all, new friends, new beginnings, bla bla blaa
This means this year will be way different from last year Meaning no comparison. #Yes.
Anyway, here are some artists I can't wait to see! :

 See you there! 

Wednesday 1 August 2012

The Magic Button

We all go through tough times. Life is difficult. If life was easy then it wouldn't be fun, there would be no sense of achievement or reward because everything wouldn't be much of a struggle.

I myself am having a rough patch. I know it will pass eventually that doesn't make things any better. A friend told me to check out a website that would make everything okay. At first I thought my friend was taking the piss. I was curious, but knew that one website wasn't going too solve my problem. I took a peak anyway.

This simple website made me smile. It may have even made me chuckle a bit. It did brighten my mood for a minute or two. And I guess with most difficult situations they can only improve with time, but with the right distractions and sources for smiles, the process can be made a tad easier.

If only things could be solved with the click of a button, the world would be a much simpler place. But is that what you want?...

Sunday 22 July 2012

The Olympic Games: to be a fan, or not to be a fan...

So, as the whole world knows, the Olympics is coming to London.
Joy.
I understand that it is a great privilege as it is has been going on for yeeeaars, but it has caused such a hassle that I can't help question if all the fuss it worth it.

Because that's what it is, fuss. New venues built especially for it that may not even be used afterwards? What's the point of spending so much? They are impressive constructions but there is no doubt that the money could have been spent elsewhere and made a real difference.

After all the cuts and whatnot, was this the best time?
Then again, would it have been a good time for any country? Greece? Syria? France? Even America?
No one could have predicted the future, but surely some people with some authority saw it coming?
Who knows. The public are always kept in the dark, eh?

Nevertheless, there are of course stupidly awful Olympic songs to get people in the mood. Like Muse's attempt to create a 2012 summer banger - but failing - and producing a Queen-sounding anthem, only suited to be played in a red square in the USSR... Never mind Bellamy, not sure there'll be a next time to have better luck in. Sorry mate.

But life goes on and so do the games.
The torch is supposed to go by the park near my house in a few days so hopefully that will be exciting and finally get me in the mood. I do want to like the Olympics, and I did before they came to LND. I dunno, maybe I'm just being a scrooge, as my dad says.
Lemme ave it papa!


Monday 16 July 2012

When I grow up...

When I grow up
I want to be famous
I want people to know my name
and have it resonate within their hearts
so much so that they will name children, streets, buildings, bridges after me
I will be in every topic of conversations
"Mama" and "dada" will no longer be a child's first words
but my "oof"

When I grow up
I want to be an artist
The next Gillian AyresLee Krasner or Philip Sutton
Not Freud or Van Gogh,
all creators of visual splendor but some less tragic than others...

When I grow up
I want to be a designer
Fashion
Dior, Prada, Erdem and Stella McCartney will want me
Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, Alexa Chung will wear me
Girls will covert my clothing
From the moment they first gaze in Vogue
Or maybe
Interior
Making a space you
Making your space you
Making your space me
colour, monochrome
vibrant, nutral
cushions (pillows?), walls, curtains, windows, stairs, cabinets, beds, decor, fabric
Fabric
pattern, print
Design...

When I grow up
I want to be a doctor
Save lives
Cure diseases
Help humanity
Cancer who?
Faint at the first drip drop of blood
injections, immunisations
screaming scared children
"Where's my mummy?"

When I grow up
I want to be happy
I want to be loyal
I want to be laughing so hard I cry floods and tie my stomach into knots
I want to be inspired
I want to be productive
I want to be kind and caring
I want to be carefree
I want to be creative
I want to be knowledgeable
I want to be fun
and have fun
I want to be spontaneous
I want to smile
I want to be loved
I want to be me.

Thursday 12 July 2012

Considering our future

The future seems to be a hot topic of discussions lately. Maybe it is because this is the time in my life when I actually have to start considering my future. And with the future come a job, eventually. I have chosen my undergraduate degree course (History of Art), but apparently that isn't far enough ahead.
I know what my interests are but I don't know what I want?! I'm still only a buba in my family and yet I need to pick an occupation? Nahh
I have always been told to do what I love, so I have, up to this point. Is this the right thing to do, or should I follow a path that I know will be more stable?

We all get asked as children what we want to be when we're older. We all say completely irrational answers or ones that just will not ring true. Por ejemplo, year 2, age 7: I wanted too be a pop star (irrational), my best friend wanted to be a lion tamer (also irrational), and my other best friend wanted to be a pet shop owner (won't happen).  Looking back, all three of us, who are still in contact 10 years later (brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?), laugh at these suggestions. Hysterially.

I may not know what I want to be or what the future holds, but I am excited to find out. I want to finish my A-levels, go to university and graduate! I know I am not alone and I know that I do not have to know exactly what I want to do as a career just yet. But I also know that I don't want to go through life feeling unfulfilled...

As my aunt said, when I asked her how she knew what she wanted to be when she was older, "I'm 50 and I still don't know!"

This concerned me slightly, but did however put me at ease.
Moral is, you may never know, and that's okay.

I still sing, just not often to other people...
Maybe become a writer?

Not quite a lion but will a tiger do?

Wednesday 4 July 2012

The Last Concert

Tonight I had a reunion concert for the youth choir I used to be in.
I left at the beginning of this academic year because I just didn't have time.
We used to do quite a few concerts for various events and did actually travelled quite a bit. We would go abroad every october half term to sing in other countries. We've been to Paris, Budapest and even New York City.
This concert tonight was awfully fun.
And by that I mean awful, but fun.
We aren't the best youth choir around but we can always count on our parents to fill the audience...
Despite our below par singing we are like one big family, everybody has their own personality and role in the choir. I have missed them this past year and will continue missing them.
Farewell.

Budapest, view from the Danube at night
New York, Time square, consumerism central! 

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Paper cutting

My new found pastime, passion or project? 

My mum and I went on a paper cutting workshop lead by Suzy Taylor (Check her out she's amazing!).
It was great fun, a real girly activity for mothers and daughters to bond over. 
I didn't want it to end! 
It takes longer than you think with a lot more effort and concentration than you think. 
My neck, hand and eyes hurt after but no pain no gain! Right?
My mum was very pleased with herself after, which was nice, as she isn't the most creative person (but she is better at drawing than she gives herself credit for). She cut a nice and simple deep violet tree against a clashing red background. Was nice and striking. I have an underlining obsession with butterflies so of course what better medium to create such delicate beauty than paper cutting? I was quite pleased but wasn't quite finished.
Mum's paper cutting

My unfinished paper cutting


British Summer

I like the sun shine, but I also like the rain. 
I like the warmth stroking my cheeks while my fingertips stroke the soft sand.
Yet I also like the patter of droplets as I walk to the bus stop; as I wait for a bus, against the bus window as I travel to college, against the classroom windows as I wait for college to end, against my bedroom window as I dose off into tomorrow...
It is a shame that we either have already had a very brief summer here, at least, in London, or will not at all! I hope the sun does make an appearance maybe August/September, at least keep us on our toes.
However, while the sun deprives us of his glory, I am enjoying the rain it has to be said. 
I have finally found my anorak! Which my mum had taken (she says borrowed without asking), so now I have no fear of the rain and am eager to stroll around outside. 
I do fear that this cheap anorak may be my kryptonite. My mum better not take it again otherwise I am not leaving the house until the sun does come out. And who know how long that could be!
Reading Festival 2011, by our tent, it remained safe from rain and mud, thankfully!

Reading Festival 2011, (From left to right, Kate, Chloe, Me, Ellie) I looked far more drenched than I thought at the time... This year better not be the same, but it probably will yay


Wednesday 27 June 2012

I am going to start

I am going to start a blog.
I am going to try to start a blog.
I tried once and it was not very good.
This will hopefully be more successful.
Something that I will want to do and not feel I have to do.
I do not know where to start or how start, so this is just a pointless post for me to find a way to begin.
Okay, so here I go. 


Just saying hey and welcome
Me (left) and my friend (right) in Spain a few weeks ago for a break after exams