Bakary Cafe

Beautiful scenery.

Quiet. Peaceful. Not entirely remote but deserted.

Also had time to indulge in some sledging. Great fun.

I caught up with Sicily Unpacked last night.

The first episode sees art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon and brilliant Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli  showing  us the art and culinary delights of Palermo.

So… not surprisingly,  I now want to go to Sicily and I want Giorgio to cook for me as I travel around the country!

I looked out of the window yesterday afternoon and saw fog.

There was nothing out there. Which was kind of weird.

And so I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to live somewhere where you don’t see daylight for weeks on end, like the residents of this far north Icelandic costal town. The sun went down on 16 November… and that’s it for 74 days!

They have 74 days of darkness ahead of them.

A new island is slowly appearing, off the coast of El Hierro in the Canary Islands, as a result of the latest activity from a submarine volcano.

Since the earthquake swarm in July, El Hierro has experienced more than 10,000 tremors.

(Picture: EPA)

“Lava is cooled by sea water as it hits the surface and then solidifies to create the land mass” (Metro.co.uk).

I flirted with Moldova. I was tempted by Kosovo.

After much deliberations, Finland emerged as the winner for my last trip of the year.

My choice wasn’t at all influenced by a desire to complete my trilogy of 2011 travels to countries ending in ‘land’ (Greenland and Iceland being the other two)!

No. What clinched it is the sheer variety on offer. Archipelagos and the prospect of day cruises; old Nordic towns; the coffee culture; saunas; top designers and fabulous museums.

I’m only going for a short break but my itinerary is packed.

I can’t wait.

Now if you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you’ll understand how good it is to see headlines like this one: Monet retrospective attracts thousands in final days.

I’m not alone! It seems that they are thousands of us, people who try their best but often leave it until the last week/day to see an exhibition. Oh… that feels good.

And on this occasion, what feels even better is that I saw the Monet retrospective last October… on the 11 October to be precise. Yep… I’m feeling smug.

It’s worth taking your time with this one! I was there for almost three hours and I’m contemplating a return visit.

The exhibition follows two artists, Rodchenko and Popova, from 1917 to roughly 1925. I was fascinated by the imagination and innovative ideas these two had; so unlike much of the stuff which was happening over here at the time.

An almost overwhelming volume of work is on display, from the dynamic energy of the early paintings to the strident purposefulness of their later print and textile work, following their denouncement of canvas and easel

Embracing the Russian Revolution, Rodchenko, Popova and a few other artists redefined art. Constructivism “aimed to transform the lives of an entire population” (source: Tate Modern). There is nothing they did not touch, from graphic works, advertising, architecture to theatre, political propaganda and textiles. Looking at ways they “could contribute to everyday life” (source: Tate Modern). They even designed a ‘Workers Club’, a place where workers could relax, read books and play chess (activities traditionally reserved for the middle and upper classes).

Turning their back on art and the meaning of art as we still knew it here at the time, “Constructivists rejected all ideas of illusory representation” (source: Tate Modern).

‘Sculpture: Objects in Space’ in room 6 and the short film in room 11 provide welcome breaks from the printed word and other visual pieces on the walls.

This is one for the mind. Over a week after I visited the exhibition I’m still thinking about what I saw and read. How artists can redefine art to serve a cause; how a political concept can so fully be embodied by art.

It’s on until 17 May, Tate Modern. Admission fee.