‘The Great War In Portraits'

A few days ago I went to the National Portrait Gallery to see one of my favourite paintings on display ‘self portrait as soldier’ by Kirchner. I knew the painting was going to be displayed in the new ‘Great War’ exhibition (free entry) and was excited to see this painting up close, as I had no idea of its size. This is always interesting when one has gazed so fondly at a reproduced image but never considered how it would be up close. I first consciously came across this painting in sixth form when I was looking at German Expressionism and was captured by the crude, haunting expression of Kirchner’s portrait. The severed hand suggesting lack of creativity and ability to paint against the blacked out eyes suggests deadness; a feeling all too prevalent with War. I love the expressionists visible brush strokes, flat bold colours and exaggerated characters.

I could’ve stood in front of the Kirchner painting for hours actually, I felt so connected to it. It was smaller than I was expecting (of course) but the paintwork was exactly as I imagined and the cigarette still felt so camp and reckless that there was still that drollness present.

Some other things of interest done recently:

Played Laser Quest, had a vegetarian breakfast at Carnaby streets ‘The Diner’, watched ‘Legends of The Fall’ (Amazing movie) and ‘Last of the Mohicans’.

Also, I am part of an ensemble of the production ‘Dialogues of the Carmelites’ which will be on at the royal Opera House. I have been attending rehearsals every Monday and last week we had a talk by Director Kasper Holten, which was completely inspiring.

book quote

I found this quote quite sad but insightful

 This illustration I did was based on a photo taken of me in Canada

A Woodland Meal

Last Friday I prepared a 3-course meal for my mum and Jack. The theme ‘Woodland’ inspired the look of the food and table. I didn’t have a budget or much time as it was just a fun little meal but the two of them loved it and were impressed by how much my cooking has improved!

 I bought some fresh lavender and this scented the entire room.

 Vegetarian cooking is usually very inspired by nature so the forest, fresh, natural aspects were already in the colours and ingredients. I LOVE sweet potato so made patties that were then fried and put in a toasted bun with avocado and garlic hummus. The desert was a wild blueberry tart, which contained mascarpone cheese and gingernut biscuits! I found the recipe here  http://www.versesfrommykitchen.com/2013/07/blueberry-mascarpone-tartlets.html

 and it was very easy to follow. Sadly my tart was quite hard to cut and instead of perfectly formed slices, I presented a heap of blueberries, cream and crumbly base on the gold plates. Fortunately though the tart tasted lovely and this is really the result that’s important!

 These are images of Woodland themed parties that I found on pinterest.

 

'Stoker' 2013

STOKER

I watched 'Stoker' last night, I hadn’t heard much about it but had been interested in the poster and usually enjoy Nicole Kidman films. The director of photography was Chung-hoon Chung and I’d loved his work on the movie ‘I’m a cyborg but that’s ok’. The look of ‘Stoker’ was very striking from the start. A colour palette was quickly established with a vintage, polaroid feel that used a lot of rich mustard colours and greens. The look reflected nature and suited the moody far-off personality of the main character India. The film was  very beautiful, I did feel quite disconnected to the characters at times but it felt fitting to India and Charlies strange nature which makes them unreadable. It makes us feel more like spectator to their ‘secret connection’ and strengthens the gifts and secrets they share. One thing I really enjoyed was how Charlie an India were connected visually. The scenes where India lies on her bed making ‘snow angel’ movements is echoed in young Charlie when he lies on top of the sandpit (after burying something). I was apprehensive Charlie would be revealed as some kind of alternate personality for india and felt this would’ve been too similar to other films, even though this is still a possibility, the fact it is subtle is more fitting. 

 I found some intresting posters for the film on pinterest. This black one based on India's shoe collection is a favourite. I really like how her progression into womanhood is shown through shoes and emphasizes the strange period of being a hormonal teenager girl.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS

THE WATERLOO VAULTS

Saturday 1^st February 2014 (my review)

When scrolling through ‘Time Out’ and London’s upcoming attractions, I was caught by a new production of ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ to be staged in The Vaults. The Vaults, promised to be a mysterious underground venue housed under Waterloo and this seemed a perfect setting for Hunter S Thompson’s outlandish drug- fuelled adventure. I was expecting to be scared and I thrilled in this expectancy, so booked tickets.

Unfortunately, the production did not scare me at all. I wasn’t freaked out in the slightest. The most scared I was throughout the night was the walk to the venue, (through waterloo tunnels filled with teens doing graffiti and ominous looking cars).  The crazy drug hallucinations that Id been eagerly awaiting were tepid and repetitive. The lighting was rather bland and though it changed throughout, it felt too constant and dreamy even. I had hoped for kaleidoscope style lighting that would’ve made me sick with dizziness and echoed the nausea induced by the drugs, or darkness in times of uncertainty to evoke fear and heightened senses. None of this was given to me.

Nothing experimental was given to me; I was practically watching the movie again because the characters were so similar. I can’t remember if the movie had a nude man?? But the stage show did, I guess that was unexpected… and it did work but a naked Gonzo was not enough for me.

The actors were all good, though I didn’t feel anything new was brought to the Gonzo or Raoul characters. The chorus was necessary; I would’ve lost focus if they hadn’t been flitting on and off the stage throughout. I’m not sure if I liked the whole lizard-acting the chorus did several times to represent Raoul’s hallucinations. I was impressed by one of the girls rapidly flickering tongue but after seeing it several times I wanted it put away.

Acting like lizards didn’t portray to me the severity or scale of the drug use sited in this story, I didn’t feel the drugs were threatening or overpowering I just felt they were a nuisance and I think the whole experience of this book was neglected.

Before seeing the show, my friend Kyrill and I had lots of ideas of how each drug would be represented and how with each binge, the pace would quicken and madness thicken, but nothing like this happened.

I think London has produced enough fascinating and experimental pieces for this play to be better, there’s no real excuse.

Though the play was disappointing I didn’t feel completely cheated as inside, the venue was actually very nice and in the foyer were several Ralph Steadman illustrations done for ‘fear and loathing in Las Vegas’. The framed illustrations were hung in a room filled with sand and a taco stand and this room was quite enjoyable. The drawings themselves were wonderfully bizarre, with the characters distorted with drugs and Ralphs distinctive inky scrawls. Seeing these drawings and having a few drinks with good company was enough to make my Saturday night enjoyable.

 

The Coven: The Next Supreme?

Ahhh Only 2 more episodes of American Horror Story: Coven are left, and the question everyone is asking 'Who will be the next supreme!??' Ive seen Pro Spalding votes on Facebook but somehow I doubt he will be the supreme. This is a cheesy sign Ive made showing my enthusiasm for the t.v show, any excuse to dress up as a witch and use photoshop

Me in 2014

I needed some new passport photos and jumped at the chance as I seriously enjoy photo-booths. I was unaware that I couldve had 4 different poses in my photos and got 4 identical ones instead. this was disappointing... but it gives me a reason to return to the booth! Me in 2014

Woman in the Forest

WOMAN IN THE FOREST

Dried leaves crunch under heavy foot,

Forest smells lure wanderers in

Honeysuckle, lavender

The woman, oh gatherer

For nighttime brings moonlight and magic begin

This is a photo I took and poem I'd been thinking of for a while