spanishwalkingeatingdrinkinglookingthinkingtalking

So 6 days in Spain - walking eating drinking looking thinking talking. Walking for 3 days covering 56 miles with 2 days staying in a hotel at the beginning and 2 days in a hotel at the end. It's part of a walk we are undertaking from Blamed to Portbu This is our third year, we started at L' Estartit and we arrived at the totally beautiful town of Cadaques. In between there was the extensive GrecoRoman remains at Empuries, huge WW2 bunkers commanding spectacular views, and Dali's house, which he lived in for 30 years in Portlligat which was totally excellent. You got a real feel for him and the context of his making. Highly recommended, but make sure you buy tickets in advance, they are made available in 3-month batches and go fast. Dali's house in, the next bay to Cadaques is totally fantastic. Not a guided tour but somehow better. You are introduced into each room for 15 minutes with 8 other visitors by a hugely knowledgeable guide of whom you can ask the most obscure questions and they know the answer. The welcoming spaces reveal themselves like a labyrinth, making the whole experience disorientating. There is so much to see and get your head around - stuffed swans, the tremendous bedroom with matching beds, strategically placed mirrors and windows with exquisite views but my favourite was the circular room where if you stand and make a noise in a certain place the reverberation is unnerving. You can then spend as long as you want in the extensive garden which has a charming swimming pool and lounging area. Most excellent, highly recommended. Got the bus to Figueres to see his museum which was fairly underwhelming - crowds not really looking at some of the stuff left over from the 70s. For the good stuff go to the Prado. But Figueres does have a totally fantastically bizarre toy museum full of tremendously dubious stuff, you will be on your own and be far more entertained. The food was, as ever in this part of the world overwhelming some days - sharing small plates you gotta have tomato and anchovies on bread with a crisp white wine along with sardines for lunch but for truly extraordinary eating shout out to MF in Cadaques  https://martinfaixo.com/ca/celler-mf.html and Hostel Empuries  https://hostalempuries.com/

insidespaces

working on a new approach with the 3D printing, thinking about using the printer to create shapes to be made into moulds, using a different material, possibly concrete maybe. onto screens – The New Look – Nazi, fashion, Paris, frocks – what’s not to like? – well…….Poor Things – plane crash, abandoned young women, desert Island – what could go wrong? - well........Suze – Empty nest, dodgy boyfriend, spoilt child - what’s not to like? – well…….

tablesandvinyl

The table displays for synthetic anatomy at Kings were amazing – some fantastically imaginative contexts created for the 3D prints. A great haul in the Salvation Army shop over lunch. Onto screens – Poor Things – an excellent remake of the Pinocchio tale almost take for take.

8setsinaneditionof6

Just added new work to my website – information about the 3D printing I’ve been involved in – looking good. The prizes for synthetic anatomy are ready – some 3D printed pieces for individuals who contributed to the classroom discussions making the sessions work for everyone. There are 8 sets of prints each in an edition of 6 for teams who have attained impressive examples in a range of categories.   

iminabook!

I’m in a book! Pattern and Chaos in Art, Science and Everyday Life (Book) Critical Intersections and Creative Practice. By Sarah Horton and Victoria Mitchell some work I made whilst in resident at Nanotech DTC in Cambridge. Working on some 3D structures using a present – PLA that gradually blends from one colour to another – the first one looks totally alien. Saw Little Shop of Horrors at the Wolsey in Ipswich – intriguing musical that kept me interested throughout all the show tunes in that it seems to comment on capitalism/slavery. Onto screens – Land of bad –the caring might of America demonstrated through drones and expensive technology! Code 8 part 11 – superhuman powers, robots, authoritarian state – what could go wrong. The Gentleman – wonderful, glorious nonsense. Just at the beginning of Masters of the Air – truly shocking visceral, footage that depicts the utter madness of flying in a metal box into a war zone.

modernistdream

Wow - Faro - a modernist dream. https://www.myboutiquehotel.com/en/boutique-hotels-faro/the-modernist-architecture-experience.html The apartment was stunningly minimal and beautiful. Simple living with formal systems, exquisite choice of materials with superb attention to detail. The building forms part of modernist walking tour of which there are so many amazing examples in the city. Spent the days wandering, eating, drinking, looking at architecture and enjoying the weather. Got to fulfil a psychogeography dream of walking to and from the airport. You walk out of town through unloved, non-defensible, seemingly unowned spaces, into a landscape of salt marsh, creaks, littered fences, under big skies. Watching planes taxi, land and take off through a perimeter fence. Faro is a great place to eat, as ever heading to dark back streets gets you the best food. As well as fresh food and general otherness the central market is awash with great cafe style eating. It’s difficult not to get excited about repeat pattern in a town covered in tiles. Churches in the area are full on - startling religious imagery, reliquaries, and garments. The museum reenacts various traditional activity through life-size dioramas and models.

itsallgogogo

A morning of Pecha Kucha’s at Kings on the synthetic anatomy course. There were some excellent presentations covering a huge range of topics underpinned by specific anatomy and biology in plants, animals and humans. The projects are going to be most excellent. Listening to Nile Rodgers speaking with Louis Theroux on his podcast - loved the idea that the concept behind Chic that it was thought of by themselves as a support band for a hugely famous band. This meant that they had to come out and be full on. Most excellent. Went to Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art at the Barbican. A good show with some excellent examples displayed in an interesting space. Most of who you would expect are all there with some interesting work from other parts of the world. Onto screens – One Day – how can you not get emotional at all that loss? F1 - how can you not get emotional at all that excess?