Berlin 3/5

The Jewish History Museum was fascinating in an enlightening yet sombre way. As well as the permanent exhibition on Jewish History, they had a temporary exhibition on Women & the Veil (running until 27th August). I felt that it was a brilliant exhitibion pointing out the current societal tugs between religions, secularism, sexism, politics and no shortage of double-standards in those fights. If you’re in Berlin, take a look.

I also popped into the Berlin Modern Art Gallery/Museum (Berlinische Galerie), which had a significant collection of photography that was interesting to see.

Berlin 2/5

I ended up having a thoroughly enjoyable Korean meal the 2nd night I was there, at Seoul Kitchen, near Warschauer Strasse. Afterwards, I walked back to Rosenthaler Platz (a good 5km), walking along the old wall (which has since been taken over by some stunning murals, and now known as the East Side Gallery).

Berlin 1/5

Last week, I took a break to Berlin - thoroughly amazing city. It felt like I had both gotten nothing done, and yet an also seen an awful lot. Having just tried to list everything I had seen & done, I’m going to go with “done a lot, seen a lot”. However, there is still a lot more to see and do - one day I’d like to go back.

Berlin’s infrastructural development was also fascinating. Trams, Buses, Taxis, Overground, Underground, bicycle lanes, multiple local, regional & international airports. To get to Berlin I took the international trains - Eurostar, then DB’s ICE link from Brussels via Frankfurt. Next time I do a trip to the European mainland, I think I’ll do the train again.

A selection of photos from the trip will be uploaded over the next few days. I didn’t actually get much photography in as I would have liked - combination of the hot & humid weather, and simply not being in the mood.

End of Year Show + Pride

Reasonably busy week.

Finished up show prep on the Monday, the private view is on Friday 16th. 

On Friday I popped up to London to visit two exhibitions currently on at the Barbican - The Japanese House & Into the Unknown, both of which are well worth the visit. The Japanese House exhibition is on until the 25th June, and Into the Unknown is on until the 1st September.

The Japanese House deals with Japan’s evolving domestic architecture post-WW2, covering the rejection of Western imposition, evolution of Metabolism & the rejection of that form as well. There are two 1:1 recreations present in the exhibition, one of which is a tea house by Terunobu Fujimori. It was quite satisfying being able to set foot in one of his structures after studying Yakisugi House.

On Saturday, we marched in Canterbury Pride. Maybe it is because its been 7 years, but that was a lot more fun than the last Pride I attended. Also helped that there was actual entertainment, live music & a maker’s fayre afterwards. 

I can’t wait till Berlin.

Project 02 - Folkestone Revisited

Did a quick follow up trip to Folkestone yesterday for four main reasons: 

1) To catalogue the demolition works, per my friends’ advice
2) To take note of the site’s solar access of an evening
3) To relive childhood memories of being battered by the elements
4) To hear a friend sing

And much to my chargrin, I may in fact have to take a rest day today, to ensure that I am fully functional next week. I am *tired*. Really tired. I know we “lost” an hours sleep last night due to the bureaucratic amusement that is DST, but still. 

Anyway. Folkestone yesterday was lovely - being bashed around by the winds (>30mph in some cases) by the Lighthouse was exhilarating. It was also useful to remind my self of the physical site itself (it always looks and feels different when you are down there in person, than from a photograph, or model). It was also useful to note exactly how solar access effects the site of an evening - as solar access is one of the key themes I’m running with in the project.

It was also lovely to hear Jeri play again - hadn’t heard her singing or guitar playing for a good while. Amazing.

Paris Trip 5/5

Paris Trip 4/5

The weather today was glorious. We spent the day walking around Paris - long day, but worth it. I was a little underwhelmed by the Pompidou Centre though. The garden at the Quai Branly Museum (Jean Nouvel) was also rather lovely - great use of glass baffles to provide an acoustic buffer from the road. 

I was also in far more of a people photography mood as well today. Second entry will show that.

Paris Trip 3/5

Paris Trip 2/5

Paris Trip 1/5

Day One of the Paris Trip.

Around 50 of us headed to Paris this morning (getting the 05:58 from Ebbsfleet - talk about an early start!) arriving at Gare du Nord around 09:20. We spent the day navigating around various interesting locales (Louvre, Centre for the Arab World, the Metro, Notre Dame) in what was a whistle-stop tour. 

One place though made an indelible impression - The Memorial to the Deported, or The Holocaust Memorial, next to Notre-Dame.

Everyone should visit at least one memorial to the Holocaust in their lifetime.

I couldn’t stop crying.