Art Therapy London

After being at a very low psychological ebb for much of 2018 I found that the arts could be a great comfort in times of stress. I had, since 2016, felt that we were drifting away from what a rich cultural life could do for our well being. I have made a very big effort to get more culture into our life and visiting more art galleries has been an important part of that. I feel that the slow art idea is a branch of mindfulness. It is just slowing down and appreciating art, taking time, at least five minutes, to really look at a painting, taking in shapes, colour, brush strokes, technique. Art and culture can help you appreciate your own life more and the struggles you face. Below are reviews of six of the best cultural centres in London.

South Bank Centre

The South Bank Centre is one of my favourite places in London. Often on one of our London walks our visit will start or end in the Royal Festival Hall. There is often entertainment going on in the hall, often music and exhibitions, there is also a welcoming bar and cafe area. The South Bank Centre also includes the Hayward Gallery, the National Theatre and the National Film Theatre which are also well worth a visit. It is also near an attractive stretch of the River Thames.

Tate Modern

Another favourite place in London is the Tate Modern near to other lovely London landmarks; St. Paul's Cathedral, the Globe Theatre and the Millennium Bridge. The building itself is very impressive, a disused power station. Modern art is often criticised as being pointless and not making sense. In the Tate Modern are very impressive paintings and thought provoking sculptures. I really like the surrealists and a visit generally takes in these and other favourites.

Tate Britain

 

I don't visit Tate Britain as much as the other galleries on my list. It is a bit more out of my way, in Pimlico, but still near a pleasant part of the river. It is an impressive place with great art by British Artists and the newer Turner wing. It is an excellent place to practice slow art appreciation.

National Gallery

The National Gallery sits facing Trafalgar Square and is also handy for Leicester Square, Theatreland and China Town. It is probably my favourite gallery in terms of the pictures held here. I love viewing Vincent Van Gogh and the Impressionists in particularly. It also features the National Cafe where you can sit comfortably and enjoy a latte and a muffin.

National Portrait Gallery

 

 

Next to the National Gallery is its smaller sibling, the National Portrait Gallery. Paintings we really enjoy in this gallery are the Tudors; there are some beautiful portraits of Elizabeth I here. Last time we visited we were also taken with the large Ed Sheran and Darcey Bussell paintings. There was also a small photographic exhibition which featured three of my favourite female pop starts; Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Debbie Harry.

Barbican

The Barbican Centre is an artwork in itself, an important example of Brutalist architecture from the 1980s. The centre itself contains a conservatory, a theatre, a library and a cafe overlooking water. Outside the centre is the equally impressive residential area, flats as picturesque as other great Brutalist buildings I have visited; the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate and 2 Willow Road.

Secret London Part Four (Blog Post 100)

A few places to visit had accumulated on my Secret London list and I chose a couple more from my book plus a couple from my own knowledge that I thought it would be good to have a look at. To start off mum and I met at Waterloo and after a trip on the Jubilee line arrived at St. John's Wood.

  

After a walk down 'the made famous by the Beatles' Abbey Road we came to The Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate

I've been wanting to visit this impressive housing estate for a few years. It's used a lot in films, as it is so unusual and eye-catching. Mum and I walked all the way through it admiring the symmetrical concrete forms and intricate well-designed shapes; taking photos of the striking angular houses and apartments.

We then took two short train rides from Swiss Cottage to Hoxton for The Geffrye Museum.

The museum is a bit like a real life version of the BBC 'Back in Time' series of programmes. It starts with displays of drawing rooms from the 1600s, moves on to rooms in the 18th and 19th centuries and then in the modern extension you can see displays of 20th century lounges. I definitely recognise some of this furniture from the decades I have lived through in my own life. I have visited this museum a number of times and it is definitely one of my favourites.

 

The main purpose of our trip was to try out the Geffrye Museum Cafe. It was very pleasant with elegant surroundings. I had a substantial ploughman's lunch and mum had a very tasty looking vegetarian hash.

From the Geffrye Museum we then took a bus down to the river to visit The Twinings Tea Museum.

I am a big tea fan and Twinings make fine tea, so I think I was expecting more from this experience than I actually received. There is not much to the museum, it is mostly a shop and is very narrow. The tea and what there is of its history were interesting but it was all a bit brief, so we quickly moved on.

The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting more popular sights in London, the Thames, Hungerford Bridge and the Royal Festival Hall. Over a coffee mum and I compiled a Secret London Top Ten list and I am now mulling over a follow up to our four Secret London day trips.

Secret London Part Three

On 11th June 2015 mum and I visited three more Secret London locations.

The Rudolf Steiner House really did feel like a secret location. I was following an obscure map and got lost two or three times on my way there. When I had finally found the right place, mum and I found ourselves in a near deserted, lovely, curvaceous building going up and down the flowing stone, spiral staircase trying to find the discussion group debating what's wrong with the modern world. With the help of the finance manager we did eventually find the room where four older intellectuals were discussing doomsday like scenarios, I think mum and I cramped their style a bit, but they were quite gracious and mum and I remained polite and grateful.

It was an extraordinary place, all about the singular philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, and the house reminded me of Gaudi in Barcelona. After tea in the self service cafe and a browse in the library and bookshop we moved on.

Number 2 Willow Road is a surprising National Trust gem. It was built by the post war industrialist architect Erno Goldfinger, the famous James Bond villain is named after him. I don't think Goldfinger, the architect, was very villainous, after my visit to his house, I ended up rather admiring him.

The house was built in 1939 and the architect was also responsible for post war developments in social housing like Trelick Tower. I live in a post war ex-council house and I could see some elements of 2 Willow Road in my humble abode. It was particularly pleasing to see the tiny kitchen, rather plain living room, early flat pack furniture, built in cupboards, DIY bookshelves and small entrance hall. However the house is still impressive with its capacity to be 'opened up' for cocktail parties, practical balcony and the master bedroom's exquisitly hidden en-suite bathroom.

I was feeling tired by the time we reached the 'Wellcome Cafe'. so it was a case of 'for this relief much thanks.' It was a light filled, busy space and mum and I spent over half an hour enjoying our tea and cake and discussing the plusses and minuses of the Rudolph Steiner and Erno Goldfinger buildings.

After our refreshment we had a look round the Wellcome Museum properly, visitng the Medical Man and Forensics exhibition and the sumptuous library reading room.