I can’t explain the appeal of paint – it just gets me and I stand there gawping, jaw agape, occasionally uttering “ooohh” before remembering where I am (usually a public place). Paintings by Jake Wood-Evans have been known to have that effect on me. His show at Unit Gallery was filled with lush classically-inspired oil paintings. Yes, […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Rail Mail, riding the train under London’s streets
The experience of riding in the Rail Mail train at the London Postal Museum is a joy for any age (unless of course you suffer from claustrophobia). From the excitement of seeing the little train arrive to getting in (it’s a pretty tight squeeze for two adults side by side as these carriages were designed for mailbags, […]
Waterlicht at Lumiere London
Created by Daan Roosegaarde and first displayed in the Netherlands, Waterlicht , shown at the recent Lumiere festival, imagines the water level a flood could reach if we don’t take active responsibility for our environment. It’s a dream-like installation with the water line above our heads.
Cheerful decorations for a dull winter’s day
Given the grim winter weather this week I thought I’d share these festive images. OK, so Christmas is over but the festive decorations at Le Printemps department store in Paris were so charming that they merit being seen even after the event. Come on, who wouldn’t smile at the idea of meerkats in space? The […]
Rachel Whiteread at Tate Britain
I’ve long been an admirer of Rachel Whiteread’s work which can be seen at Tate Britain for another couple of weeks. Best known for her large scale sculpture projects, one of my favourites includes this one, Untitled (One Hundred Spaces) 1995, laid out in the Duveen Galleries I almost expect to see the elements vibrate with the […]
Marlborough House, London
Another discovery for me during Open House was Marlborough House on Pall Mall. Well I say on but pedestrians actually go through a little gateway and down an alley before coming to this splendid entrance below. No photography was permitted inside as it is the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Nations and the seat of the […]
Natural Selection exhibition by Artangel
Artist Andy Holden and his father Peter Holden share a fascination with birds. Peter is a bird expert, running the RSPB’s Young Ornithologists’ Club amongst other activities. Father and son worked on Natural Selection, an exhibition staged by Artangel which was a combination of education and art. There was much more to it than this […]
Olafur Eliasson room at the Monochrome exhibition, National Gallery
Olafur Eliasson shows us in the last part of Monochrome, Painting in Black & White at the National Gallery, that monochrome doesn’t automatically mean only black & white. After a fascinating exhibition of more traditional interpretations, including some staggeringly convincing trompe l’oeil painting, you walk into a bright yellow room and everything becomes tones of that […]
Everything at Once exhibition at 180 Strand , London
The Lisson Gallery & The Vinyl Factory held Everything at Once at Store Studios recently to mark its anniversary with this exhibition. Of the 24 artists included I’ll mention 2: Richard Long with Pelopennese Line, a temporary mural made directly on the wall.Al Arabia Al Madfuna III by Wael Shawky had me transfixed; here are a […]
Makers seen at Made London
Artists and designers have and always will be, inspired by nature. These two makers, seen at Made London, are a case in point. Bridget Bailey’s exquisite interpretation of bird eggs made from textiles and feathers caught my eye, quite a change from her earlier insects and moths (see a previous post) as did the work […]