Japan at Kew

We saw a lot of Japanese influence at Kew on Saturday. Blossom, bamboo, an original wooden silk-making building, pagoda, carp pool and landscaped garden.

Am wondering if this could be the smallest (or only) paddy field in the UK.....?

Reflect

Spent an evening back in my favourite place, the V&A, which was the most packed I've ever seen it.  We actually managed to find quiet areas, away from the crowds,  such as the Renaissance rooms and we sat by the pool in the courtyard, surrounded by reflections.

He told me how his art and business are quickly developing. So exciting to hear about things moving forward. Especially creative ideas. We loved the Yamamoto exhibition (again!). 

I was able to reflect by the water at Kew Gardens the next day: I love these lilies on the still surface of the dark water.

Yohji Yamamoto

I wandered in to the V&A, after collecting my visa in Chinatown this morning and happened to arrive on the first day of the Yamamoto exhibition. There is a background of disbelief and sadness as we hear about the terrible devastation in Japan caused by the recent massive earthquake. But even so, it is still good to celebrate the great people that come from Japan, one of whom is Yohji Yamamoto. I loved looking at the incredible range of clothes Yamamoto has designed over the years. Apparently he remains a monument of calm in the turmoil of rehearsals. He stays in the present, says he doesn't think about the future, but loves to dwell on the past for inspiration for his creations.

Our thoughts are very much with the nation of Japan right now as everyone works together to help with the enormous search and rescue operation in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The Butterfly Lovers

Listening to The Butterfly Lovers the violin concertos written by Gang Chen and Zhanhao He in 1959. Although derived from the opera in Shanghai it fuses with Western musical traditions too.  This opera, old paintings,such as this one from the 1500's, and the stunning embroidery of butterflies from the Empress's clothes collection are capturing my attention at the moment..... fluid movement and lines, and some Eastern and Western synthesis too.

Dali

Looking forward to being back in Dali in just over a month's time........

Visa will be ready on Weds:)
Getting excited about my April trip to China.

South London Art Map

 Claire Hart Design in the February exhibition in Vanguard Court; part of South London Art Map

Exhibition in Vanguard Court

 The artists in Vanguard Court reclaimed a huge old studio space in the courtyard and this is where our work was displayed last weekend. Perfect space! The exhibition was part of South London Art Map, whose launch was at Tate Modern earlier in the week.

No. 67 at the South London Gallery

We love the South London Gallery Cafe.  Leaving my studio to catch up with my sister (whose studio is nearby in Peckham), we relaxed in the calming sage-coloured surroundings and copper top tables in the cosy front lounge area of number 67. The back room of the cafe,with doors opening to the Fox Garden, is high-ceilinged, light and airy.

Custard tarts and frothy coffees served in jet black cups and saucers went down very nicely too.

Kathleen and Ninian

My dad has posted over an interesting mix of old family photos and this one is my favourite for the story behind it, for its perfect composition, with the little girl looking straight into the lens and the way she is so at ease with her uncle - this photo is nearly 100 years old.

It dates from 1917 and shows my Dad's mum, Kathleen Williams, outside her home in Eglantine Avenue, Belfast.  She is with her beloved Uncle Ninian who had emigrated to Australia a few years earlier and had joined the army. He was posted back to Europe and came home to Belfast on leave to see his family. No-one knew it would be the last time they would see him and so the photo captures a very special moment. He was killed in battle in France the following year, near the end of the First World War.

China through the looking glass

It's fun wandering around the V&A on a Friday night. I even saw the Forbidden City clothes exhibition for the fourth time....I can never see it enough, and notice new things every time I return. But we mostly loved looking at the huge variety of beautiful objects, catching up over a drink after work and soaking up the buzzing atmosphere.

It still holds the number one spot as my favourite museum in London.

Waves, clouds, butterflies



The Emperor's summer court robe



....and plenty of cranes and dragons too.

After the travel, snow, celebrations and parties of Christmas and New Year, I've been enjoying time on my own to sketch, photograph and explore in the V&A  - I like it so much I've been twice already this new year.

The V&A is exhibiting an exquisite collection of Royal robes from the Forbidden City - costumes made from stunning fabric with hand embroidered designs: an incredible display of talent, reflecting the enormous wealth of the Qing dynasty. My favourite was a deep midnight blue overcoat for the Empress with the most stunningly designed cranes in flight, among the clouds. Worth a third visit and I'm sure I'll notice new things I didn't see on the first two trips.

One Chinese opinion of Britain

'I do not forget the lonely remoteness of your island, cut off from the world

by intervening wastes of sea'.

A quote from the Qianlong Emperor of China on meeting a delegation of British Envoys in 1793. They had spared no expense in making the best possible impression on the court, in order to open the doors to trade in the East.

The answer to trade with the tiny country situated on the edge of the globe was of course a definite no.

(from 'The High Road to China')