During my stay, I was constantly looking out for the remains of the antique era. I was never disappointed, they are everywhere and mostly integrated to the contemporary architecture. In 5 days, I was hooked.

Rome has an impressive range of beautiful monuments such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Forum, the Farnese Palace, St Peter (although technically part of the Vatican). I could go on and on, but it is true Rome is not only about sightseeing. To make the most of one’s trip, enjoying the different aspects of the city is a must, Gastronomy clearly being a huge part.

Running around the streets of Rome, you may don’t know where to go in between your visits to rest and indulge yourself.

Here are a few suggestions for a day out:

Lunch – Pizza Forum, 34 Via S. Giovanni in Laterano.

Although the place’s design is not its best advocate, the food is really good and price-friendly. Perfect for a little lunch after visiting the Forum, Colloseum and Constantin’s arch (which are basically located right off the restaurant’s street.) This is where I tasted amazing Gnocchi al pomodoro.

Coffee and shopping – Fleur, 46 Via Bocca di Leone.

This little cafe boutique is located just 2 minutes from the magnificent Piazza di Spagna. It is definitely worth sitting down and have a delightful Italian coffee. They come with local treats and the place looks gorgeous!

Dinner – Blanco, 21 Via della Croce.

The very trendy and all white bar/restaurant is excellent, and serves amazing cocktails. This is where I tasted the gnochetti with Gorgonzola and asparagus. Its location is very convenient, since it is minutes away from the beautiful piazza del Popolo, and the nice places to go out.

St Christopher’s PLace

Not far from there, you will find the Wallace Collection on Manchester Square. It displays the wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. If you are passionate about artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Hals and Velázquez, I suggest you make a run for it!

However, if you are just looking to have the nicest walk on a saturday afternoon, the area’s arquitecture is well preserved and offers charming sights. I really enjoy wondering around Marylebone lane, Wigmore street and  Thayer Street, sometimes ending my walk way up at Regent’s Park.

The best way to enjoy the Baker Street area is to get lost. It is then that you can find exciting things people don’t even know are there. E.G.: There are tons of Gardens along the way so keep looking and get curious. Don’t always follow the same path.

Above: Cavendish Square / Below: Wigmore Street.

On your way to work , when you can’t see your feet in the train you know it’s rush hour. Indeed, between 8 a.m – 9:30 a.m  and 5:30p.m – 7 p.m, you can forget how to breathe for a few stops. And don’t thinks that the end of your troubles when you step out of it! If you are at Oxford Circus on these timeframes, things will not get easier outside. I have the photos to prove it!

You pretty much get the picture. Streets are packed. People and cars move at a sluggish pace… close enough to the Matrix slow shots.

Although the heart of London is beautiful, historic, lively and many other great things for tourists and shoppers to enjoy,  it is also the worst place to work. When you are off to home, you know it’ll be ages before you finally arrive there. I sincerely love this city, but why oh why do we have to queue up to get in the underground everyday at Oxford Circus?

Born in France, the artist  lives in London. He recently graduated from St Martins and is currently exhibiting at the Rove Projects Space on Hoxton Square. He expresses his talent and creative vision through different media such as  installations, sculptures, tapestries & drawings.

Lucien’s creations depict our contemporary  society in a cynical and humoristic manner.  His vivid imagination empowers his pieces with absurd and childish depictions.  While his style refers to propaganda and comics, his  depictions of political characters  and super heroes reflect on the power of iconic figures and images. He loves creating contrasted environments filled with violence and laughter.

Lucien Murat is an artist whose artworks are full of colour and energy. However, they also contain a unique language. As the artist presents a mirror to our civilization, its reflection illustrates a cartoon like scenario of chaos and love.

In a few words I would say his work  is playful, attractive and deeply sarcastic. See for yourself on his new blog:

http://lucienmurat.tumblr.com/

“Narrative is a vital part of my work, so the references to comic layouts and illustration are appropriate to the content of my work. However, I don’t want just to set-up a linear narration or position myself as ‘teller. I want these stories to become a game, the viewer could almost pick up some soldiers and recreate his own story.”

Lucien Murat

Julia Van Hagen founded ArtStanding in 2007. This organization is dedicated to curating dynamic contemporary art exhibitions, introducing international emerging artists to the public.

Julia Van Hagen curated exhibitions in Miami during the Art Basel in 2008, Paris in October 2009 and Brussels in 2010. ARCHICHAOS is the fourth exhibition produced by ArtStanding. Invited by Kenny Schacter, the show takes place at the ROVE Project Space.

Featuring a group of 10 European artists, the exhibition reflects Van Hagen’s continued exploration of cultural diversity interpreted in the context of contemporary art today.

Van Hagan explains, “ I grew up in a multicultural family that was passionate about art and nurtured my curiousity from an early age. The differences in the cultures with which I was raised–at once German and British, but also French–paired with the different worlds I discovered through art, inspired me to explore the relationship between contemporary art and cultural heritage. ”

Julia Van Hagen is a graduate of Goldsmiths University in London with a degree in History of Art /Visual Culture. Today, she lives in Paris and continues to develop curatorial projects in France and abroad.

With ArtStanding Van Hagen continually develops innovative projects  with the aim of bringing new perspectives to a broad audience.

Artstanding just launched a new blog (that I created…) presenting its newest exhibition . All information on the artists can be found online on  http://vanhagencontemporary.blogspot.com/.

PS: Don’t forget to check out the work of Lucien Murat and the MoM’s on Hoxton Square!! They are my favourite!

At the future Gallery Kate Garner presents the Jolly Darkness exhibit. For some there is not much to be seen as every thing is presented in one room, though sit down and look at it. Really, you should!

Space invaders, Virgin Mary, Frida Khalo, it seems Kate has been inspired by grand iconic images to create pop distorted portraits. For the very strange feel it transmits  the viewer, I found these pieces of work absolutely fascinating and very appealing.

The artist’s take:

“These pieces depict the humour, joy and beauty of what could be seen as the darker side of life. I’m interested in Romantic Futurism. I see the people I build as being a vision of the future when genetic and nano technology allows humans to be, not just varying shapes of pink and brown, but green, purple or blue. There are not just two sexes but everything in between. I believe human beings foster their own evolution.”

Have a look at this little exhibit, and tell me what you think!

The Future Gallery:
5 Great Newport Street, London – Tube: Leicester Square

Le cordon Bleu London School Presentation:

A journey in the heart of London with the best chefs that makes you want to go crazy with your pans!

Start a career in the culinary arts or learn the basics to wow the crowd with fascinating techniques towards high achievements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkwzRJG7bOc&feature=player_embedded

Between 1905 to 1915, Jacob Epstein, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and Eric Gill emerged as three young fascinating and talented sculptors in Britain. In the long run they will have transformed/revolutionized British sculpture.

Bringing them together for the first time in an exhibit, the Royal Academy of Arts sets the context of these “avant-gardist”  works of art. Such modern pieces for such an early decade, some of them are just jaw-dropping. Between sculptures, drawings and pastels, more than 90 works are exposed. They have never been exhibited in London before, I guess this added to the excitement  the show inspired me.

Three rooms are dedicated to the work of each sculptor. The exhibition emphasizes on their key achievements  and reveals their impact on British sculpture. In this respect,  the show’s star pieces  Epstein’s Rock Drill (sculpture / above), Gaudier-Brzeska’s  Birds Erect (carving), and Gill’s  Ecstasy (carving).

Quoting Ezra Pound,  Wild Thing is a reference to the powerful modernist vision expressed in these pieces. Impressed by the Frenchman Gaudier Breska  the poet compared him to “a well-made young wolf or some soft-moving, bright-eyed wild thing.” Because of Gill & Epstein also apply to this definition with their revolutionary spirits, there can be no mistake their work and themselves should be compared as wild things as well.

Exploring themes upon the men, namely sex, fertility, the human condition, the machine age and the impact of war. Art here expresses change and distress. A feeling  sensed in London and the world at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Professors Iain Stewart (bright smile is a bit annoying but does a good job) and Kathy Sykes for BBC 1:

Together they take a  look at global warming and explore the world’s leading climate scientists’ vision of the planet’s future. They predict that if global temperatures continue to rise at their current rate, Earth will be one degree warmer within ten years, and three degrees or more before the end of the century.

Although we already know how dramatic the conditions are the programme also explores various technologies  offering solutions for a sustainable future. A little hope appears then in the black sky…What if we could find a scientific solution to our problem? In this context,  it will hopefully be put into place quickly enough.

In the meantime it’s up to us (…individually I’m afraid) as Copenhagen failed our prayers. Can geo-engeniring; solar, wind & hydrolic power; hydrogene cars and magnetic levitation be the answer?

Here are the links I found to check out the video (60 mn):

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADRcA3QbGwg&feature=channel

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iomk9iWm5Gw&feature=channel

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JpzkWz6RW4&feature=channel

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGwEQks_dkM&feature=channel

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51NPLV_4NAk&feature=channel

Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXDa71_eAm8&feature=channel

Saturday evening, in  St Germain des Pres. Passing by the many cafes, shops and restaurants of the rue du Bac, I suddenly was facing the rue de Vermeuil. The belated artist used to live there and since his death his residence has become a place of pilgrimage for his many fans.

There are no flowers or candles on the porch, just what seems to be a giant graffiti wall. With a close up one can discover poems, notes, quotes, anecdotes and drawings all dedicated to the memory of the singer.



What a sight! The wall is ever changing, as if  the memory of the artist was being kept alive by ink and paint .

Provocation,  sex and love; poetry, words and music; cigarettes, beautiful women and alcohol.  Emblematic of an “epoque” he remains a fascinating figure  …  even more so today to a generation who never knew him.

On the 20th January a movie inspired by his live will be out in every cinema of France.

Can’t wait to check it out. In the meantime here are two of my favourite songs by him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLhlrmg71XY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxggQMBNQso&feature=related