No one likes to think about death. In Western society we bury our dead as soon as we can. There they remain, out of sight, but not out of mind. In Turkey and Tibet however, where the ground is too hard to break up, Zoroastrian burial rites survive. The dead are left out on stone slabs…
Category: review
Fright wing: ‘The Horror Show’, Somerset House, London
Emergency! Emergency! I made it to this show unforgivably late in the run, and at the time of writing it only has a week remaining. If you’re in or near London and can find the time, I would recommend it purely for the heady, intense experience it offers. Failing that, I hope you find the…
‘Return to Latvia’ by Marina Jarre. A profoundly moving memoir.
The late Italian writer, Marina Jarre (1925-2016) is virtually unknown in the UK. Two of her books Distant Fathers and Return to Latvia have been published by Vessel Press and translated into English by American writer Ann Goldstein. I have read both books and am now eagerly awaiting book number three. For those of you who have read, Distant…
Picture This: French Artist, France Mitrofanoff presents ‘The Journey’ for ArtMuseLondon
The forest is up ahead. I stride across the clearing of bright sunlight and plunge into the dark undergrowth. Brushing away the leaves of tender green and earthy brown, I rediscover the path running diagonally through the vegetation. The flowers and grasses bend to the wind. The wind follows the sweeping movement of my paintbrush….
France Mitrofanoff présente ‘En Chemin’ pour ArtMuseLondon
Là-bas au bout du chemin de terre, c’est la forêt. Une clairière baignée de lumière; la pénombre des arbres révèle des verts tendres alternant avec des bruns profonds. Au centre, la diagonale sombre du chemin. Le vent incline les tiges qui se prêtent aux mouvements libres de mon pinceau chargé de couleurs; quittant la clairière,…
Les Talens Lyriques Deliver a Mesmeric Performance of Schubert’s Early Symphonies under Christophe Rousset’s Baton
In the public mind, Schubert’s most popular works are to be found in his piano sonatas, his chamber music and his lieder. What is often forgotten is Schubert’s contribution to symphonic repertoire (bar the Unfinished Symphony). Schubert’s introduction to orchestral writing came early and was largely due to opportunity and circumstance. As a young man,…
Invisible Threads: An Illuminating Photography Show at the St Albans Museum+Gallery
The St Albans Museum + Gallery presents Invisible Threads in which time, memory, personal and public histories are explored by twelve photographers. Rosemary Cooper’s hand printed black and white prints focus on the hearth and family. A man’s coat hanging on the back of a chair conveys absence whereas hope comes in the form of…
Picture This : Photographer Bunshri Chandaria Charts Alzheimer Loss in an Art Book ‘Silent Voice’
“I was your childhood friend. You gave me your daughter.” These are words of my late mother-in-law, Ramaba placed next to a saree image in the artist book, Silent Voice. Ramaba’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis alarmed me. She was the epitome of beauty but a disconnect between her and the world had set in. She was unable to communicate…
The St Albans Museum+Gallery Presents ‘Drawing in the Dark’ – Henry Moore’s miners
Henry Spencer Moore (1898-1986) is probably one of Britain’s most celebrated sculptors of the 20th century. He is best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which have appeared in museums, galleries and parks throughout the world. At Tate Britain Moore has several rooms given over to his sculptural works and many will have seen…
Retrospecstive 2022: Adrian Ainsworth’s 25 recordings of the year
I enjoyed so many great releases during the last year that merely the act of looking back, replaying some key choices, has taken quite some (pleasurable) time. I hope the 25 I eventually settled on include some new discoveries for you, and that you enjoy them as much as I have. The main list is…
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