The Progress of Civilisation

As a museum professional/geek I obviously have my favourites in London. And while most of the time I can name those really obscure and wonderful collections that no-one has heard of and everyone is interested in, without fail my heart always comes back to the British Museum. This is a wonderful museum, just the architecture itself is interesting enough let alone the treasures that it holds inside. The best thing about this museum is that no matter how many times you've been and how many things you've seen, there's always more yet to discover. Kind of like London really.

For me this happens often as I find myself back in the Parthenon galleries every visit. These beautiful marble pieces are exquisite. I love looking at them and we're so lucky to have them here. Note that I haven't called them the Elgin Marbles. Their residence here in the UK is much contested with even the Greek's building the Acropolis Museum equipped with their own Parthenon Gallery (complete with digital versions of the pieces here) to counteract the age-old argument that they were unable to care for the pieces.

Now I'm not completely sure that they got here in the most legitimate way possible (sorry BM...) however I also don't believe that they should go back to Greece (sorry Acropolis...). But let's face it, if they went back it would be the start of a worldwide scramble to gain back pieces in foreign collections. All countries have worldwide collections, the British Museum just happens to have one of the best, hence it garners so much attention. But rather than get embroiled in the politics of right and wrong one should remember the main point which is this: the collection is one of the best in the world, and it's here on our doorstep. If you haven't yet, go and have a look, it's truly amazing.

Let it snow

After something like an eighteen year absence of snow, we once again (for the a third year) had some snow in London. I like the snow, I think if it's going to be that cold, it may as well snow. At least that way we get something pretty to look at. Seeing the snowmen created is always fun. I don't like the inevitable slush that you get by the end of the day and even worse the the icy roads the day after.

But I do enjoy the way that the snow, just like the sunshine in London, brings everyone out in collective happiness for that one day. We are Londoners after all, and we're not really known for our friendliness... So just for that I say, let it snow.

A Sound Choice in Fashion

I have already proclaimed my love of museums and my current delight is the British Music Experience. Yesterday they proved how amazing their public events are in both quality and educational value with the launch of the new student series, Sound Choice. Their very clued up/well connected public programmer Rebecca Ellis managed to get big names in the fashion world - including Wayne Hemingway and stylist Miss Jacqueline White - to talk to aspiring fashionistas. It didn't stop there, with a panel consisting of fashion creative Siobhan Lyons, fashion journalist Adam Welch, MTV music director Virginia Monaghan and creative producer Pigalle Tavakkoli.

This event proved two things. First, how amazing this museum is (if I haven't already said it enough). Second, how amazing museums are in general. This venue is working beyond the constraints of the stuffy institution with dead, irrelevant objects. It's bringing its collection to life by looking at a contemporary subject and using the collection as a platform to inform where inspiration comes from. For the BME it's important to explain the ideal behind the punk aesthetic, and what was happening in the UK at the time to influence it. The influence of culture in art is everywhere at the moment. It's no secret that these last two seasons in particular have taken inspiration from the amazing art around the world with collections like Rodarte, Jil Sander and Donna Karen to name a few... and where is all this art and culture held? Where is it stored? Why, museums and galleries of course.

Running on full power

One of my favourite things to do on a weekend is to wake up early enough to catch brunch at The Wapping Project. Now considering that it's served until 12:00pm I'm quite ashamed to admit that I've missed it a few times... This beautiful building is a historic hydraulic power station that hasn't been gutted out to make way for a shiny new restaurant, but rather the restaurant has moulded itself around the contours of the building seamlessly evolving into a chic and modern establishment.

Now normally this would equal a stuffy, overpriced, uppity kind of place, but here lies the beauty of The Wapping Project. The first thing you notice is the relaxed feeling, jeans, trainers, kids, all are welcome and a familiar part of a visit (although yes for dinner a little effort is usually required and duly made, it's quite smart). As well as a feast for your mouth your experience will provide you with a feast for the eyes, the building is beautiful and you often see people snapping away trying to capture it. If that's not enough they also regularly host amazing exhibitions including the recent Yohji Yamamoto exhibition and a cinema during the hot summer months. This is my favourite place in London without a doubt.

Portugalia

I'm back in the UK having survived our "holiday" to Portugal. We drove there via Spain taking the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, this way Paco was able to join us. The family has a place in a little village called Condeixa a Velha where the house quite like the inhabitants of the village have seen better days... Let's just say that the designated allowance of electricity for the village meant that we were only able to have two appliances switched on at any given time. 

The internet was definitely not even an option. When we passed an area with wifi, I'm ashamed to say that we all behaved like teenagers glued to our electronic devices as though there was no world around us. Instagram was my friend, giving me my much needed dose of the outside world. So here is my holiday via Instagram.