Participatory Art

Peering over the balcony into the turbine hall at the Tate, at the Flying Fish art installation, you find yourself appearing to go down an escalator that doesn't exist.  Now try and make sense of what I tried to describe.  Its all an illusion!

Another bit of magic is that most of my sidebars have reappeared! (see lastThursday's post).

Shadows and Light

A street view from the wonderful viewing deck of the Tate Modern.

The Lantern

"Floating Dreams" by artist Ik-Joong Kang moored in the Thames in front of the Tate Modern Gallery.  There is lots of wonderful detail in this piece.  Look out for the back pack when you wander by.  

The Staircase

The staircase in the Tate Modern Gallery new extension that opened In June this year.

Dinner for Two

It's getting cold dad.

Museum Visit - Tate Britain

Tate Britain has recently undergone a revamp part of the work included the restoration of this staircase that had been closed since the 1920's.   It's all looking very glam now.

And talking of all things British remember the recent MINI tour around London earlier in the month?  You can see it again through the eyes of my American friend at Phoenix Daily Photo

Endless Stair

The London design festival has begun and here is one of the more playful items: endless stairs in front of the Tate Modern.  Quirky and playful everyone wanted to climb to nowhere.
The design festival runs until 22 September, however the stair installation will be open until 10 October.

The two towers

... but not quite as JRR Tolkien would have envisaged them.  On the left, the new Shard above London Bridge station, it's claim to fame is being the tallest building in Europe. On the right, the Tate Modern's tower and legacy of it's former life as electricity generation station when the Southbank was a very different place than today.
The horizontal fallen bread slices across the horizon are the new Blackfriars rail platforms, the only rail platforms to span the Thames.  Their claim to fame is visual shame! They completely destroy the upriver views that used to afford great vistas of London riverside icons like St Paul's and Tower Bridge. Tut ...

The Nut Seller

Rain or shine these guys are there selling their sugar coated nuts.

Grey London

A grey and foggy day

Hymn by Hirst

Damien Hirst's "Hymn" outside the Tate Modern as part of the Hirst retrospective exhibition.

Controversial as always the critics have plenty to say about his wealth, some calling him the biggest conman of our times.
The toy manufacturer Humbrol sued Hirst over this sculpture. They claimed it is a scaled up version of a model they sell to teach anatomy to children.
An out of court settlement was agreed with Hirst paying an undisclosed sum to charity.

The Long Path

A trek along the river.

Warmer Coat

I must get myself a warmer coat.

Girl with the White Balloons

Dressed in white holding a bunch of white lilies in one hand and white balloons in the other. A special day perhaps.

Sunday Bridges - Wibbly Wobbly

A view from beneath the millennium bridge. Looking at it from this angle reminds me of how it twisted in the Harry Potter movie.

The pedestrian bridge crossing the Thames between the Tate Modern and St Paul's was built for the millennium but closed almost immediately for modifications to its unstable movement. It was quickly nicknamed the wibbly wobbly bridge which has stuck and continues to be refereed to by locals.

Check out the other Sunday Bridges hosted by Louis Le Vache.

Singing Plants

A couple of weeks ago as part of the Tate 10 year celebrations they hosted no soul for sale, an exhibition of over 70 local and international artists.
The quirky and fun installation of house plants by Oregon Painting Society was one of my favourites. You hold two plants and pressure or stroking results in sounds. Talking to the plants is not just for Prince Charles.

Mist

Mist or fog, the stuff that makes you think of Jack the Ripper hangs over London.
I climbed over 500 steps at St Paul's Cathedral to bring you this picture.

October Theme Day - Contrast

Fire played a big part in this years Thames Festival. The amazing light in the window of the Tate was created by small pots of fire. This was the last picture I took that day as I headed home.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Paparazzi

The Dagger Brothers singing Paparazzi during the four day long Tate festival over bank holiday weekend.
A bit of sun, a few days holiday and Londoners will show you how to have fun no matter how old or young. A sprinkling of madness definitely helps.