5th October 2012

Feeling much better this evening after a couple of days of being unable to move my neck without shouting out in agony.  Very pleased and relieved to be feeling better.  Not taking my neck for granted any more.

Think it might have been brought on by a day of seeing too many fascinating exhibitions (which caused a lot of neck craning) so, now that I can comfortably sit at the computer again, I'd like to just briefly say what they were in case anybody else would like to go and see any of them.

Bruno Munari: My Futurist Past at the Estorick

I have liked Bruno Munari's work since a teacher friend lent me a book called "How to Draw the Sun". Everything about this artist's work and thought processes both delights and excites me.  He was a a Futurist (and also influenced by Dada and Surrealism) but with a very light touch and he understood the importance of keeping alive the childlike part of ourselves that wishes to explore and investigate and play.

Probably his most familiar works are the 'useless machines' - mobiles with clear, often geometric parts that move, creating new shapes, shadows and colours.  He also wrote and illustrated some children's books and a wonderful alphabet with alliterative (italian) words (made two versions of this - one as art and one as a children's book).  

Here's a link to a review of the show by Adrian Hamilton for the Independent which describes it very clearly.

And here are some pictures of some of his work (not all from the exhibition):

Bronze at The Royal Accademy

Had not planned to see this or expected to enjoy it very much but thought I might as well go along as a member.  But was delighted by it.  I always like exhibitions that are arranged visually and conceptually rather than historically and the rooms are arranged according to type - so gods in one room, figures, animals etc in their own spaces.  Not going to say more about it now except that it is worth definitely worth seeing and I will be going back. Here's a spider by Louise Bourgeois and a monkey by Picasso.

Lisbeth Zwerger at The Illustration Cupboard

I love Lisbeth Zwerger's work - and I was so pleased to see her prints of Grimm's tales (to co-incide with her new book) and was also lucky enough to meet her and get a couple of books signed.  Here is one of my favourite images:

Also I bumped into a very good friend there and met a couple of other lovely people - if you make a point of being in places you love you are likely to find like minded people (but it is still always a pleasant surprise!).