Sham 69 - Brixton Electric

The Brixton Fridge has re-opened as the Brixton Electric and we went along to see the original Sham 69 line-up back together again wondering if they could still cut it after all this time. It didn't take long to realise they could, Jimmy Pursey prowling the stage and Dave Parsons on guitar as if it was 1977 again. All the old favourites got a run out, including raucous versions of 'Borstal Breakout', 'If The Kids Are United' and 'Hurry Up Harry' as well as newer songs 'Stockwell' and the amusing 'Asbo Sports Day'. The audience seemed to be mostly made up of 45-55 year olds wishing they were teenagers again, enjoying the nostalgia-fest.

An evening of one act plays - Network Theatre, Waterloo

To the Network Theatre in Waterloo, situated in a railway arch so you hear the trains rumbling overhead, to see Kunst Critique contributor Sue Catten tread the boards. She plays the daughter in Trevaunance Cove and delivers a monologue that by common consent was the highlight of the night, holding the audiences attention throughout.

The plays were as follows:

Trevaunance Cove by David Gray

A man and woman meet by chance on a dramatic Cornish cliff top in 1940. With the Nazis just across the channel set ready to invade, she optimistically suggests they meet again in ten years’ time at the same place. She promises him that the world of the future will be safer, happier and free. Many decades later their daughter is drawn to the same spot. 

A play which looks at the emotional power of a landscape and the human propensity to invent stories and romanticise memories. 

Psych101 by Andy Furmage

In a psychologist's treatment room, a routine session is not all that it seems to be. Over the course of the session a battle of wits develops with both psychologist (Paula) and patient (Sarah) battling for control. Paula and Sarah play cat and mouse with the truth through a series of flashbacks, until the final shocking revelation that Paula is sleeping with Sarah's husband.

The Gold Diggers of 2035 by David Gray and cast

A deadly virus has wiped out most of the population. Those that have survived have been left without the use of their left hands – except a now demonised minority who cannot use their right hands. Everyone is still traumatised, confused about what has happened and about where the world is going –  even viewing an old film of two-handed people is shocking and controversial. Then a special visitor drops in and kick-starts the healing process.

A blackly comic and atmospheric science fiction story which looks at how groups can be victimised and questions the accepted notions of beauty.

Aldgate East tube station

One of my favourite underground stations (and kicking off the new occasional Kunst Critique series 'My favourite London Underground stations') although it's hard to explain why. It's shabby and the yellow hue given off by the tiles reminds me of the inside of the smoking carriges back when smoking was still permitted on the underground (it seems amazing now and the smoking cars were truly disgusting). I like the view from the entrance/exit at both ends of the station looking down on the platforms, although possibly the best thing about it is it's only yards from the Whitechapel Gallery and Freedom Books, the anarchist bookshop.

Wilhelm Sasnal - Whitechapel Gallery

The show features works by the Polish artist frojm the last ten years. The first room displays Sasnal's works from 2005-11, and then you work your way backwards to his earlier paintings. He often produces paintings in a minimalist graphic style but also in an abstract or pop style, this exhibition showcases Sasnal's versatility and wide-ranging ability and is well worth a visit (especially as it's free).

Midnight in Paris‏, dir Woody Allen

Midnight in Paris opens with an homage to Paris with a jazz soundtrack in much the same way as Manhattan opened with scenes of New York and the Gershwin soundtrack.
The main character Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a would be novelist, in Paris with his finance & mother & father -in-law to be (the father-in-law is a right wing republican which enables Allen to get in possibly the first attack in a movie on the tea party). He travels back in time at night & meets characters from 1920's Paris, which leads to an amusing line before he realises what has happened when he can't believe the coincidence of meeting someone called F Scott Fitzgerald who has a wife named Zelda. He proceeds to meet all the arty types of 20's Paris including Hemingway, who is last seen drunk & trying to find someone to fight him, Gertrude Stein, Cole Porter, Picasso & Salvador Dali who is fixated on talking about the horn of a rhino.
Pender then travels back further in time to the 1890's and belle époque Paris & meets Toulouse-Lautrec. However he then realises that all this searching for a golden past just the allure of nostalgia & he should accept the present for what it is and create his own life.
I took a while to warm to Owen Wilson in the 'Woody Allen' role, I think possibly because the role was so similar to the ones Allen used to play but Wilson just isn't as funny.
The film was charming, beautiful and amusing, Allen's best, or, at least to me, most enjoyable for a long time.

Widnes Future Flower Sculpture

Following an international design competition in 2010, won by architects Tonkin Liu, the Widnes Future Flower is constructed of 120 galvanised steel petals around a central stem, standing 14m high and 3m in diameter.

3 mini wind turbines power 60 LED lights which reflect off the petals, with the intensity and colour determined by the wind speed and direction.

It stands between the river Mersey and the Sankey canal on a 300 acre site blighted by former chemical works but now reclaimed and remediated as a nature reserve.

It represents the combination of industry and nature on the same site, and the successful transformation of one of the many such areas in this part of the country.

The flower rises quite dramatically out of the mud flats and reed beds and, on a sunny day, makes a good mid-point on a stroll from the award-winning Catalyst Museum, through Spike Island park and upstream along the Mersey.

Unfortunately, on a bad day, it can all be just a bit too grey and, whilst in theory the lights are a lovely idea, in practice you don’t want to be in an isolated spot in Widnes, between a river and a canal, at night.

 

No one knows about Persian Cats (2009), director Bahman Ghobadi

The film portrays a surprisingly vibrant youth culture in Tehran. It is
filmed in documentary style, without government permission and hand-held
cameras. The storyline is very simple: With the help of their manager
Nadar, two young indie rockers Negar and Ashkan look for passports,
visas and band members to play at a London concert. As part of their
quest, we are shown the full breadth of the music scene in Teheran, from
rap to indie rock. The bands portrayed, who all play themselves, produce
an excellent soundtrack. Although police oppression and poverty lurk in
the background, this is basically a very optimistic film, carried by the
courage, energy, creative power and liberal attitudes of the
protagonists.

Liza S

Degas and the Ballet: Picturing Movement

Royal Academy – until 11^th December 2011 

I’m not entirely sure how well he captures the “movement” bit, I don’t know who can, but you can’t complain about misrepresentation on the “ballet” bit – there are dancers everywhere in this huge exhibition.

Degas did produce some quite stunningly beautiful paintings and sculptures, and you have to believe that almost all of them are here. For a show of this size, such a narrow focus might be a risk, but it kept my interest throughout.

There are many lesser-known pieces, brought from all over the world, and some fascinating insights into the techniques that Degas employed in an attempt to capture the movement of dance.

Actually, I don’t think he really did represent the energy of the dance itself, but I still think his work is lovely and well known pieces are around every corner.

If there is a criticism it is exactly that – Degas is so well known that it could be a little like an Athena shop (just showing my age). Personal preference would be for a little more biographical background – and maybe more passion. I’m assuming the guy had his share of trials and tribulations but maybe “angry ballet” pictures didn’t sell.

I would recommend the show without reserve, but I’ll be back for “Degas – the crack years” just to balance the sweetness.

Mark

Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

There was only one catch, and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.

Catch -22 is 50 years old this year. It should have been called Catch-18 but the publishers asked Heller to change the number to avoid confusion with another war novel out that year, Mila 18 by Leon Uris. Heller suggested Catch-11 but because Rat Pack film Ocean's 11 was still in cinema's that wouldn't do either. Catch-17 was Heller's next offer. But no, that could confused with Staleg 17, which was also about American airmen in the Second World War. Catch-14? The publisher thought 14 wasn't a 'funny number'. They eventually settled on Catch-22, Heller liked the repetition of '2' because it gave a sense of deja vu, rather like events in his novel.

Catch-22 might have been fifth choice, but that didn't stop it entering the English language to describe any absurd choice or no-win situation. Neither did it stop it becoming a classic.

The above is adapted from a piece in Shortlist magazine whici I enjoyed. If the information is correct I'm possibly guilty of plagiarism, if it is incorrect I'm more likely to get away with it but what's better - it's a catch-22 situation.

Josiah McElheny: The Past Was A Mirage I Had Left Far Behind

The Bloomberg Commission: Whitechapel Gallery

Josiah McElheny has transformed what was previously the reading room of the former Whitechapel Library into a hall of mirrors. Seven large-scale mirrors are arranged as multiple reflective screens for displaying abstract films which are programmed to change throughout the year.  The sculptures reflect and refract the projected film selection, saturating the whole gallery in images and light. Refracted, distorted and multiplied, the images are visually very striking.

Barry Miles - London Calling:A Countercultural History of London since 1945

A well written and evocative account of the London counter-culture since the Second World War written by someone who was 'there'. Miles was the manager of Indica bookshop in the sixties and has written extensively on a number of related subjects especially the Beat Generation poets. He explores, among many other things, the jazz bars of the fifties and the teddy boys and the Angry Young Men, Francis Bacon and the legendary Colony Club, the 1960's and the Summer of Love, the rise of punk and the early days of the YBA's. Highly recommended if you have an interest in cultural history.

Suresh Dutt‏ - Drawing Cube (Blue)

I really like this 10ft blue painted steel sculpture situated in Montgomery Square, Canary Wharf. Winner of the 2010 Royal British Society of Sculptors competition for up-and-coming sculptors it explores concepts of space and perspective and seems to revolve as you walk around it. It brightens my day everytime I see it which is a tough ask as it is on my walk to work from the station.

Wilton's Music Hall, London E1

The oldest surviving Grand Music Hall in the world, Wilton's is an extraordinary building with a complex history.  The subject of a long campaign to save the hall, it lays on a wide-ranging and eclectic programme, including comedy, music, drama and cabaret - see http://www.wiltons.org.uk/listings.html.  The Mahogany Bar is open every weeknight whether a show is scheduled or not, and although food isn't served customers are welcome to order a takeaway for delivery direct to the music hall!  The Lebanese menu looked very good, and on some Mondays there is free, live music laid on too - see http://www.wiltons.org.uk/listings/mondaymusic.html.

Guided tours to the hall are £6 every Monday at 6pm.

SB

Johnny English Reborn

Rowen Atkinson's spoof on James Bond returns; it has been geting poor reviews from the critics but doing great numbers at the box office. You can see why it's reviews haven't been great as it isn't a great piece of art, it doesn't challenge perceptions or push boundaries but I suspect that the great British public who have been turning up in such large numbers enjoy it and that, surely, is the bottom line - it is funny. At times its merely amusing rather than laugh out loud but it is also has its very funny parts in a Clouseau-esc way, such as in the granny bashing scenes. The film also makes a wry comment on Britain's declining place in the world and the shift in power to the east with the renaming of MI-7 to 'Toshiba MI-7'.

The Stone Space, E11

Leytonstone has a new art gallery:

The Stone Space
6 Church Lane
Leytonstone
E11 1HG

http://www.thestonespace.com

Melange Chocolate 3 year Birthday party - 15 October 2011

A fantastic sounding event this coming weekend with music & chocolate (& other food) on the bill. What more could you want?

http://www.themelange.com/

       MELANGE CHOCOLATE IS TURNING 3 AND IT'S CHOCOLATE WEEK

Join us for "Afro & Chocolat", bringing together music and food from the cocoa producing countries of Africa - and of course treats from our own chocolate specialities.

African countries account for the production and export of more than 80% of the world’s chocolate consumption. We are building bridges between producing and consuming communities.

Expect a special moment which will stimulate your ears, taste-buds and mind.

See you there,

Isabelle

On Saturday 15th October from 2 to 11 pm,
at Melange Chocolate shop,
184 Bellenden Road, London SE15 4BW
(Peckham Rye station)

FREE ENTRY & GOODIES.

Government Art Collection - Whitechapel Gallery

Selected by Cornelia Parker
Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain (16 September - 4 December 2011)

The second display of the Government Art Collection at Whitechapel Gallery, the first 'At Work' was reviewed on this site on 2nd September, is curated by artist Cornelia Parker. The title of the show 'Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain' is a mnemonic used to recall the key colours of the spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) and Parker has arranged the works by colour which I thought worked beatifically. The exhibition is in only one room but there are over 70 works included, I liked many of them very much e.g Patrick Caulfield, Gillian Wearing, Graham Crowley (all pictured) but it is as a whole that this exhibition really hit me, just standing in the middle of the room looking at the walls of colour.

 

We Are East - Leytonstone pop-up cinema

'We Are East' featured the following eight short films all of which have an East London flavour:

Lucia Ashmore, ‘ERIC’S SECRETS‘
Monro and Menon, ‘NO WAY THROUGH‘
Lisa Muten, ‘EAST‘
Gareth Polmeer, ‘MID-TERRACE‘
Rayna Nadeem, ‘DEADLIFE‘
James Norton, ‘BORDERLANDS‘
John Smith, ‘BLIGHT‘
Bamforth & Nadeem – Dekko Productions, ‘A13:ROAD MOVIE‘

I particulary enjoyed 'Blight' which was about the building of the M11 link road through Leyton & Leytonstone which entailed the demolition of houses and the eviction of the residents. The film features the half demolished houses & interviews with residents which have been cut with music which works really well, the overall effect is quite beautiful.

Another stand out was 'No Way Through' which is a very powerful film about an injured woman who is being driven to an ambulence but can't get though check points manned by soldiers and a wall. This then turns out to represent the daily travails of Palestinians.

'Eric's Secrets' features an old boy called Eric talking about his life, which is very interesting; 'Mid-Terrace' was very short (50 seconds) about a terrace house which doesn't sound like much but when it ended I wanted to see it again. 'A13-Road Movie' is a lovely film about the characters and area around the A13 as it makes its way from East London to Shoeburyness in Essex and 'Deadlife' is by the same film-maker, this time a documentary about the life of a cemetry which again is very interesting and is surprisingly amusing at times.

All in all a most enjoyable evening as always at Leytonstone cinema.
 

Juliet Schubart - The Last Ten Years

Gallery 27, Cork Street, London W1

Covering her work of the last 10 years (as the title suggests) much of Schubart's work is abstract although often informed by the landscape around her (so not truly abstract I suppose). She has incorporated gold in a number of works to striking effect although as she ruefully told us it's possibly the wrong time to do so with the price of gold nowadays. She also explained about all the different shades of gold available, there I was thinking gold is gold. I found many of the abstract oils really striking although talking to someone else at the exhibition he was really taken with the drawings which shows the broadness of her appeal.

                                        

Rothko in Britain - Whitechapel Gallery

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Mark Rothko's first solo show in Britain, held at the Whitechapel Gallery, this small exhibition features the original photographs from the archives and letters from the artist alongside his painting 'Light Red over Black'. It's always good to see a Rothko although to me he got better the darker his palette became until he had reduced it to just black and grey. 

An interesting point from the photos of the orginal exhibition is the amount of elderly women that seemingly attended. Maybe the photographer had a bias towards taking pictures of a few old ladies that attended but it did make me wonder if all the locals stumbled in off the street after bingo, 'ere what's all this rubbish Ethel', 'gawd knows Glad, a child could've done it'.

Leytonstone pop-up cinema, E11

Leytonstone pop-up cinema is showing a number of independent short films tomorrow (Wednesday 5th October) with an East London flavour.

Starting time 7.45pm at Leytonstone Library
Entrance £5 (£4 concessions)

http://www.leytonstonefilmclub.com/

The Inbetweeners movie

The boys decide to celebrate the finish of their exams and the end of school with a lads holiday to Malia in Crete with predictable results. Like the TV series it is crude & moronic, much like most 18 year old boys really, and very funny. The deep, philosophical message is enjoy your life because you only get one chance at it or as Neil astutely puts it 'I used to be religious until I realised that God is just dog spelt backwards'. Richard Dawkins eat your heart out!

Red Lion Pubs

Just back from a trip to the London Wetland Centre. We nipped into The Red Lion in Barnes (below left) afterwards and then travelled back home and went in Leytonstone's Red Lion (right). This made us think of a new project - visit each Red Lion in the UK which seemed like a good idea in the pub but is going to be a bit of a toughie as Wikipedia says there are over 600 of them. Any recommendations or offers of help would be gratefully received.