David Shrigley's Brain Activity

I recently went to the Hayward Gallery to visit the David Shrigley exhibition, 'Brain Activity.'  This exhibition extends much further than the humourous, witty drawings he is best known for, with 240 works also including photographs, sculptures, paintings and animations.

I have always been a big fan of Shrigley’s random, dead-pan, scratchy doodles and there is a whole wall dedicated to these.  I also really enjoyed the animations and photographs on show  – yet more examples of his one liner humour which has you laughing out loud.

Shrigley’s sculptures (including a headless ostrich and a stuffed Jack Russell puppy holding a placard that says “I’m Dead”) seem less engaging and slightly more novelty.

Walking around the gallery you may question whether anything you are viewing is, or even should be, considered ‘art’ but what you certainly don’t question is how compelling and undeniably funny Shrigley’s work is.  I am particularly fond of the animation below...

'Brain Activity’ at The Hayward Gallery is on until May 13th 2012.

A Street Cat Named Bob

In 2007, recovering heroin addict, James Bowen returned to his sheltered accommodation in Tottenham to find a thin, mangy ginger tomcat on his doorstep.  Despite limited resources, James began to feed the cat and nurse him back to health.  After a fruitless search to find the cat’s owners, James decided to keep the cat he'd christened Bob.

Bob soon began following James across London to Covent Garden where James would spend all day busking for spare change.  To ensure Bob’s safety, James made a makeshift lead and purchased a travel card for the feline commuter… Yes, Bob enjoys daily tube rides, curled up on James’ shoulders.  Wrapped in a scarf, Bob now spends his days sitting faithfully by James, being petted by adoring strangers and listening to his owner sing.

The relationship lead to the final push James needed to end his drug dependency, “Bob came and asked me for help, and he needed me more than I needed to abuse my own body.”

Alongside the busking, James has a new job as a Big Issue seller and amazingly, received a book deal - the brilliantly titled, heart warming tale, ‘A Street Cat Named Bob.’

“We’re two injured souls looking for someone we can trust — and we trust each other.”

'A Street Cat Named Bob' by James Bowen, £6.99

The Great Gatsby - Dapper and Flapper

Like pondering over which came first between the chicken or the egg (I'm still undecided) it is also pretty tricky to pinpoint which came first when discussing the current trend for 1920s fashion and the announcement of Baz Luhrmann’s re-make of The Great Gatsby.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920s novel, The Great Gatsby's most recent film adaptation stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Toby Maguire and Carey Mulligan.  With several film stills recently released of Leo looking dapper and Carey looking flapper, I am craving all things fringed and flirty.  Luckily London's high streets are filled with drop-waisted flapper dresses, beaded chiffon gowns, glittery headbands and long, lustrous strings of pearls.  

(Below) Apparently I am not the only one embracing this deliciously decadent style...  Georgia May Jagger, Fearne Cotton, Kate Bosworth, Marion Cotillard, Drew Barrymore and Elizabeth Olsen have all stepped out looking flappalicious.

Tiffany & Co have created sparkling, one-of-a-kind diamond jewellery for Carey Mulligan (left) to wear in the film, and it has been revealed that fashionista Ashley Olsen has generously loaned some of her own dresses to the movie’s wardrobe department from her vintage archive.

Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' is released at cinemas this December

Instagram

Have you downloaded Instagram yet?  Snap a photo, or upload an existing one from your phone’s gallery, enhance it with eleven possible effects and instantly share it on Instagram and any other of your social networks. You can also follow your friends or other creative people from around the world and ‘like’ or comment on their pictures.

Easy. Peasy. 

Along with 15 million other users, this free App is fast becoming my new obsession.

Amongst others, I'm enjoying following the boutiques Colette and Diani, drummer Tennessee Thomas, DJ/Presenter Izzy Lawrence and my favourite style bloggers Emily Schuman (Cupcakes and Cashmere) and Alix Blancourt (Cherry Blossom Girl.)

Above:  Follow my Instagram at thelondonchatter

Best of London - Awsa Bergstrom

Awsa. Pronounced with the same vowel as ‘Awesome.’ This is no coincidence. They are one and the same.

In the past the Scandinavian singer/songwriter Awsa Bergstrom has sung backing vocals for Stevie Wonder, Madonna, P Diddy, Elton, and more recently the amazing Emeli Sandé, but soon after Nick Cave asked her to ‘tone it down in the background,’ Awsa realized it was time to step up and take centre stage herself. 

Currently living in West London, and now with a band of merry musicians in tow, Awsa’s soulful electro pop rock has all those who have watched her perform (including me, several times) simply floored. This girl can SING.

I forsee BIG things ahead for Awesome Awsa. 

Awsa's hobby is Parkour (just too cool... seriously...) and with this city providing her with a playground for her Free Running who better to ask about their London favourites?

Cocktail - A good Margarita with Stephen Fry at Paramount Restaurant, which I think has one of the best views of London.

Date Night – With Superman Henry Cavill and a bottle/cup of whatever, walking along the Thames at night where anyone can dream big, followed by dinner at the OXO Tower. 

Sunday Brunch - Hopefully still with Henry Cavill... at mine!  I make the best Sunday Brunch. Alternatively, Smith of Smithfields, which reminds me of a New York loft.

Boutique - Scared of them. The entire concept means you have to have time and taste.

High Street Store - Topshop - It has everything a lazy girl could need.

London’s Best Kept Secret - Heygate Estate, Elephant and Castle. Perfect pearl for Parkour.

Your London Icon - Vivienne Westwood, for being THE definition of 'doing her own thing,' for having a boyfriend 25 years younger than her and looking at Graham Norton like he spoke Alien when he asked her if she "found inspiration in magazines..."

Above: 'If I Could Let Go,' 2010

Left:  You can hear Awsa Bergstrom singing live at her next London gig THIS Friday, 30th March at The Notting Hill Arts Club.

Doors open at 8pm and Awsa will perform at 9.15pm. 

Tickets £8.00 on the door.

www.awsamusic.com
@awsamusic

Columbia Road Flower Market

Every Sunday since the 1980’s, Columbia Road, in London’s East End, transforms itself into a beautiful and bustling flower market...

Jessica and I went along to experience the heavenly scents and intense colours of this magical oasis on the sunniest of Spring days last weekend.  We were instantly surrounded by an oasis of flora and fauna; plants, flowers, seedlings, herbs and fruit trees from all over the world emitting powerful perfumes (jasmine, orange, lily, pine, rose, etc) alongside endless, energetic chatter and chants from the sellers.

The street, and its surrounding maze of small alleys, are lined with cake shops, cafes, pubs, vintage clothes shops, small art galleries and an eclectic menagerie of buskers who enthrall the punters mingling amongst the flower stalls. 

One band I watched (left) had an adorable dog tied up to their guitar case… It nonchalantly basked in the sunshine, soaking up the relaxing atmosphere, whilst its owners loudly and zealously entertained us all with some actual Sunday blues.

This market is other worldly... A thoroughly recommended Sunday stroll, coffee in hand.


Columbia Road Flower Market

Every Sunday, 8am - 2pm