Swinging in the Turbine Hall

A reflection of the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern art gallery

The pendulum swings slowly from the ceiling with the movement of the Earth. It is suspended above a carpet made in the colours of British banknotes. Designed as a space to contemplate the forces of work in our everyday lives.

 Looking down from a central walkway at the Turbine Hall. You get a very good view of the installation from up here.

 The installation is called 'One,two,three swing' by Superflex. An orange line of swings weaves its way through the Turbine Hall, this huge place at the heart of Tate Modern, a former power station that once generated energy for the City of London. It then crosses the gallery and emerges in the landscape to the south of the building. The line links production, collaborative action and shared use beyond the gallery into the city's public places and around the world.

Each swing is designed  for three people by Danish art collective Superflex. I'm not sure I really understand the thought processes behind the installation but the swings are great fun. I brought my granddaughter here a couple of months ago and we had a lovely time swinging together - until I fell off, but then that just made us laugh even more.

The installation continues outside but the weather today was atrocious and nobody was keen to be swinging in the rain.
Sharing with James at Weekend Reflection

St Bartholomew the Great church

In 1559 this half timbered house was built above the original west door of the nave of St Bartholomew the Great church. Walk through the gateway and you will see  the oldest surviving parish church in London.

It was founded in 1123 as an Augustinian Priory and although only a small part of the original 12th Cent church remains it is

 a wonderful medieval church that escaped both the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the bombs of WW2. It has been the setting for films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and is one of the best examples of Norman architecture in London. Follow me in and see what you think.

This is the tomb of the founder of the church, Rahere. He founded the church in 1123 as part of a priory. Rehere was a jester at the court of Henry I, son of William the Conqueror. Whilst on a pilgramage to Rome, Rahere was taken ill with Malaria. He was so ill that he had hallucinations and believed that St Bartholomew appeared before him and saved him. When he recovered he became an Augustinian monk. He founded a priory and a hospital on this site. St Bartholomew's hospital or Bart's as it is known is one of the oldest hospitals in the world, having cared for the sick for 900 years. The priory contained a large church, St Bartholomew the Great. The priory and church were funded with the proceeds from the Bartholomew Fair,one of London's largest annual fairs.

This is the tomb of Walter Mildmay and his wife Mary. He was the Chancellor of the Exchequer for Queen Elizabeth I. She died in 1576 and he died in 1580.

The martyrdom of St Bartholomew by Damien Hirst. (24 carat gilded bronze)

Ightham Mote to Oldbury Hill

                                                            I started this week's walk from the medieval manor of Ightham Mote in Kent.

It was a beautiful day for a walk.

Yes I was tempted but didn't.

There were reflections everywhere.

Lots of primroses in flower today

 The walk ended back at the manor house which has a lovely cafe!

St James's Market

St James's Market Pavilion near Piccadilly was launched at the end of last year with its high end restaurants and shops. There was a market here in the mid 17th cent and it was important to try and bring some of that history back when the pavilion was opened. The Handsome Butcher of St James's Market is an 18th cent ballad that uses this site as its backdrop.

The story is about an upper class lady falling in love with a lowly butcher. When her belly starts to swell her parents realise what has been going on. Her father demands they get married but refuses to give his daughter a dowry. But it's all a trick as they had already married in secret knowing her father would never have given permission for her to marry a butcher. When he discovers they are already married the father is delighted and gives his daughter a large dowry. Their plan had worked well for them.


The ballad is told through these simple  3D figures exhibited in this large display cabinet