Mattress season

Originally uploaded by sf2london.

I know, I know, it’s been a while... Sorry.

I snapped this picture on my way home from the gym (which I haven’t visited in weeks because I had a head cold and then “minor surgery” to remove a ganglion in my wrist—yuck).

I took this for two reasons: First, there is a fine tradition of skanky old mattress photos by contemporary artists (Todd Hido, for example); and Second, it seemed to be mattress season in North Kensington and I wanted to document it (though this is my only one). By mattress season, I mean that for about a week the streets were filled with mattresses: night and day, all sizes and colors, on just about every road. I’m not sure why. Maybe the council scheduled a special rubbish collection. Maybe there were good sales on new mattresses in January. Maybe it was just unconscious herd behavior...

Art ‘n stuff

Originally uploaded by sf2london.

We kicked off Saturday at Alfies, helping Neil pick out an occasional chair (very unusual round Scandinavian number with almost nautical details) for his living room. While he was getting the thing into his boot, Steven & I lunched on the best fish & chips we’ve eaten so far. After giving Neil our brutal assessment in situ (two thumbs up), we purchased a copy of Laura Owens’ gorgeous catalog (from a show we saw at the Camden Arts Centre a while ago) for half price at Sadie Coles HQ. On our way home, we took a little detour to look at some very pretty Rachel Howard paintings at Haunch of Venison. Once home, we popped downstairs to pick out our pan-parental Christmas gift, settling on an ink on paper piece (“Untitled 2”) by Tanya Ghosh (who happens to be William’s wife and a fabulous fashion illustrator).

London fog

Originally uploaded by sf2london.

After lunch with Suzette & Jeff at Le Cafe Anglais (do believe the hype) we walked down Queensway searching for sage (to no avail). Then we crossed Hyde Park and had a look at the Serpentine Gallery’s current misty exhibit by Anthony McCall. The park was stunningly beautiful. Despite London’s foggy reputation, we haven’t experienced anything like this in our three years here...

Here, kitty kitty

Originally uploaded by sf2london.

From the Chapman Brothers’ excellent show of corrugated cardboard animals at Paradise Row.

Daniel Buren

Originally uploaded by sf2london.

We went to Oxford for the day on Thursday and saw an amazing installation by Daniel Buren at Modern Art Oxford (this is one of four rooms).

Carsten Höller

Originally uploaded by sf2london.

Haven't been down them yet, but these slides are in the Tate Modern turbine hall at the moment.