On the meditating seat #final

Sue-Wen

On the meditating seat #4

On the power of perception:


Sue-Wen

Past the meditating seat #3 to Venice

We take a break from our local toilets and gondola our way to Venice, where I have just visited François Pinault's new-ish museum Punta Della Dogana to see his latest exhibition 'In Praise of Doubt'.

At times more impressive than the art itself, the Punta Dogana used to be a customs house in the 17th century so vast and overpowering I sometimes forgot I was supposed to be thinking about what a beach table ensemble with a laid out jigsaw set was meant to mean. Unfortunately I also have little empathy for postmodern art. So doubtful I was indeed.

There was a lot of intellectual melancholia and some curious things, but those that were particularly compelling was sad to say, not Jeff Koon's inflatable toy floats (the only name who was familiar to me observed that 'apart from being play things, these things also save lives' - cute, but still doubtful). Instead, Julie Mehretu's use of traditional media to represent the globalised vortex we live in and Roni Horn's brilliant manipulation of glass in 'Well and truly' made it well worth my visit.

Anyway the point is that art is long and life is short. Since the businessman and the starving artist serve each other's purpose (one wants transcendence, the other wants to make play things) then what else can I say except Mr. Pinault, will you consider giving this poor soul a chance?


Sue-Wen

On the meditating seat #2: What would Karl do?

This is what happens when one day a mood chart is drawn and some find themselves unrepresented:


Lets take a closer look since the lines are too thin:

And finally, the last words:


... We all know the famous story of Karl slimming to fit into Dior Homme Hedi Slimane-era jeans. So of course he would approve of this one. We are after all a fashion school with doors only just wide enough for model-sizes to get through; it is the first round for qualification into the college. You're not allowed - physically, socially and mentally - if you cannot even get pass the doors. Dear oh dear.

"It will give us more profile and will make us more visible. Central St Martins will be a really major art college development and one for the 21st century," says Sir John Tusa, chairman of the University of the Arts London, of the new compound.

I suppose wider doors in King's Cross won't be an issue for debate then, unless some disagreeing individuals with power prefer to keep the college less fashionable.

Sue-Wen

Disclaimer: Exaggeration of door size may be a result of being tired from hearing a certain fashion stereotype. Most of us consume ginormous amounts (sometimes to our own frustration as good food = calming break = money =/= a journalist's wage), and the irony is that Lindsey, the slimmest of us could down a horse in one sitting. Which makes me wonder where one will find delicious things around our new home - currently all I see within King's Cross are Chinese take outs and chip shops. Dining at the Gilbert Scott will be fanciful.

On the meditating seat #1

Before machines demolish our dear old Charing Cross branch - it's so easy to come to love this grubby building - Room 406 shall pay respect to the whispering walls of toilet stalls.

Home to 70-odd years of historic art and design, retreating to the loos can seem a tad disappointing at first. Few work worth preserving to be found in there. These musing walls - mostly comical, sometimes depressive and cynical, are at other times insightful or just plain mundane (worrying for an art school, if walls could indeed speak) - are where the stars past, present and future come to get rest, in one way or another.

Goodness knows who 'Niady/Nialy M.G.' is though. Sad times for her and thousands alike whose restroom-declarations may be the only mark they are to make publically - and who would've known, will crumble into dust come the summer. Sorry folks. I suppose the likes of Christopher Kane to Phoebe Philo were too engrossed scribbling in their sketchpads than on restroom walls but you never know…

More seatings to come.

Sue-Wen