Thursday 26 September 2013

Now I am back in London, I am getting back to my Grandma roots with a lovely National Trust day out to Red House, home of William Morris. All topped off, of course, with a cream tea.





Beautiful, turkey? decorated windows.

These window mosaics GLOWED.













Really loved the colours in the entrance hallway.


What an idyllic house ey?


After a lovely week in sunny Venice I am feeling like a right culture vulture. From some old school classics like Titian in the Accademia, to the likes of Max Ernst, Magritte and Picasso in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, followed by a trip around the Biennale my senses have been in overdrive! Nevermind the beautiful surroundings; all this coupled with the constant use of boats left me feeling a tad dizzy.....


Some holiday snaps of my favourite bits!








Just look at that house.


Early Saturday morning view of the Rialto Bridge on our way to the market.


The boat poles here remind of Doctor Seuss!




Looking down the Grand Canal.


Lock a memory.




Gondolas.






Check out the chimneys on those.


CAKE.






Sneaky shot from within The Doge's Palace.




Saint Mark's Square.






While we were in Venice the Biennale was in town so we had a look around. It was really interesting and a fun experience checking out all the different pavilions! - highlight? Great Britain giving out free cups of tea.




Tea cup. Check. Macabre element. Check. = My kinda art.


From the Dutch pavilion.



I loved these trees at the entrance of Finland's pavilion. Simple but intriguing. I love a good tree and textured bark. HA.


I think this is the best caption to some art work EVER. I am sorry what?!?




I absolutely love these pieces of work by Italian artist Domenico Gnoli. They are playing with the idea of 'What is a monster?' I really like the character and playfulness as well as the style of his drawings. Very inspiring stuff!






These collages are by Czech Republican Eva Kotatkova. Her themes were the ideas of individuals being restricted and controlled by authority. Where 'Classrooms become prisons.' I just found her selection of images and how she had transformed them through clever collage and juxtaposition really clever and endearing.






This artist stood out to me due to the scale and theatricality of her work. From Belfast, Cathy Wilkes explores domestic life, and what it means to be a mother and the role they have to play within a family, and all they do not through choice but because it is expected of them. It is a very touching piece full of sentiment and feeling. My Mum said it nearly made her cry!




After a while we were ready for some time out and a brew, so we headed to the Biennale cafe. CRAZY. This interior added to my continual swaying from having to rely on boats for transport I really didn't know which way was up.




Crazy stack of floating stools.


After our mind-bending tea experience in the cafe, we realised we could of had a proper, FREE cuppa in the British Pavilion. Fail and a half!
What a trip.