Gold: Power and Allure

Last week I went to the private view of an exhibition I have been eagerly awaiting for many months 

This astonishing exhibition at The Goldsmiths' Company showcases the story of gold in Britain, with treasures dating back as far as 2,500 BC. There is so much to see and in my case, gawp at, but with free admission there's no pressure to take it all in at once.

The entrance at exhibition were quite literally paved in gold for the private view.

They really knew what they were doing back in the day, and I was amazed at how contemporary some of the oldest pieces on display looked. Topshop, eat your heart out:

 

Loved the beautiful Torcs, or, 'neck-rings' as Wikipedia so elegantly describes them. 

 

Happily for me, there were so many amazing rings... This one was a definite favourite. I wish I could remember more facts and interesting things to relay here, but I was entirely bowled over by the exhibition. And of course, that had nothing to do with sisterly pride...

Well done, George. 

Beaded Breakfast

Last week Tessa and Rosa took me to see the new Liza Lou exhibition at White Cube, Hoxton Square. Tessa had done a good job getting me interested in Liza Lou's work prior to the visit. It was a bit disappointing as what was exhibited differed such a lot to her earlier work, some of which I think is incredible - a beaded kitchen!!  Instead it was a lot more reserved:

Untitled #8, 2011

Untitled #1, 2011-12

Zulu Love Letter No.2, 2011-12

I do actually quite like these particular pieces and enjoyed seeing them at the show, but wasn't blown away by the exhibition at all. The intensity of her earlier works such as 'Kitchen' (below) had eased and the beads no longer seemed to make the statement that they could rival paint, but instead simply mimicked it.

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, and I generally love anything breakfast related... This probably explains why Liza Lou's 'Kitchen' is such a hit with me, it comes complete with fried eggs

 

Kitchen, 1995 

For anyone who wants to know a bit more, here is an enjoyable read in the form of W Magazine's feature on Lou a few years back. And just for good measure, here is another beaded post from Bethnal Green Road last summer.

Gilbert and George

Last night I paid a visit to Rosa's current place of work to see the Gilbert and George Private View.

(As a security guard wouldn't leave my side until she had seen me delete a photo I took in the bookshop, I should probably admit that the above image is courtesy of White Cube...) It was a little down in the dumps for my liking, but maybe with a bit more effort I would feel differently. I loved that Gilbert and George were at the Bermondsey gallery, looking dapper in those infamous suits of theirs, like this

However, sadly a long day of work and the repetitive use of words like THIEF SCANDAL DEATH etc made me feel a bit like I just wanted to be this little guy

 

Gilbert and George's massive display of work in White Cube galleries across London and in Hong Kong probably deserve another trip and more enthusiasm on my part, at a time when I don't feel the urge to cower in the corner. I may have to repeat my visit. For more PV reportings from the same place along with loads of illegal photos I took (whoops), have a look at a post from last December.