Romantic Kenny and Ilona

Ilona

Kai

Adrian

Sage

I visited Samuel Levack and Jennifer Lewandowski's show called ‘Danse-moi vers la fin de l’amour’. They were still installing but it looked vibrant and beautiful.

Sadie Coles was the biggest surprise for me with artists such as Annette Kelm, Eddie Peake and Shannon Ebner amongst other future greats.

Shanon Ebner Y sculpture leaning out to South Audley Street.

Before heading to New York I visited Tel Aviv which is a tapestry of art, culture and business. The new Tel Aviv museum is spectacular.

On every corner like the town of Tel Aviv were twists and turns in architecture.

The Kiefer show was impressive and all the works related to the bible.

I visited a couple of collections, Doran Siebag at the Givon space and Avi Angel showing me his art hidden in the depths of a downtrodden building, like finding a diamond in the dust.

My highlight was visiting one of Israel’s more established artists, Yehudit Sasportis with Marie Shek, who will be creating a big show in the Israel Museum. She presented us with her ambitious project.

I had time to visit with Daniella Gareh the Noga Gallery, where ‘Misunderstood Part 1’ was curated by Yasmine Datnow and Maia Morgensztern. The show included Rina Banerjee and Wolfe Von Lenkiewicz. Also featuring a very strange young man called Hennessy Youngman you can find in YouTube. Tiffany tells me all the kids love his work.

My favourite of all the Israeli Artists was Sharon Yaari at Irit Somer gallery. His work is masterful.

I am back in the big city!!! New York, New York. Mike Kelley, Gelitin, Takashi Murakami eat your heart out!

Virginia Overton’s show Kitchen, where used and found materials were placed in such a way as to create delicate forms and tensions.

Then it was to Elizabeth Dee where I went to check our two latest purchases by the artist Ryan McNamara. Liz had found another great vibrant artist to work with.

I had time to help Ryan style for his big photo shoot, note how the yellow hanging rope coordinates with the Charles Eames Repo number?

Loved this work by Alicja Kwade, just perfect I thought.

I enjoyed the work of Kathy Ruttenberg.

Tom Burr show at the Bortolami again the real real deal.

New Discovery at Bill Jenkins at Laurel Gitlen thought there was some real talent there.

Bumped in to the new Twizy by Renault. The question is: is this the new trendy mobile in town?

Then it was to Mathew Dipple’s Gallery called. American Contemporary Inc. David Brooks fascinated me with his world, and rhetoric on the theory of science blending into art.

Organic substances and walls integrating with each other.

Agathe Snow’s body of work at Maccarone was full of energy and substance.

The best till last was Francesca diMattio. Tiffany and Olivia totally fascinated.

I was enlightened by her wonderful ceramic sculpture.

I was not sure if I was to pray or look. Damien Hirst’s show at the Tate appears before me like a majestic cloak of gold. I am immersed in something nearing toward euphoria. One room set after another curated by Anne Gallagher. The installations are so theatrical and sparkling and fresh. Damien is nearing 50 and has shown us that he is magnificent. I hope I live to see what he achieves in the next 50 years. In and out of Love stunned me, a room full of live butterflies, one of the most beautiful art works I have ever seen.

The security were more caring than the audience, they moved the butterflies with care to safety.

All the mid-career dealers were reminiscing on the good old days as was Ivor Braka with Matt Collishaw.

The rooms were magnificent, almost Godly, places of worship. Black Sun, a round canvas with a load of flies on it and a black sheep stood together in unison.

Doorways to the Kingdom of Heaven and the Anatomy of Angel happily sitting side by side.

The next day we all take a break on Jay Jopling's comfortable sofa. Muriel, myself, Susan, Ann and Frances

Ken was thrilled as his work was being auctioned for a huge price in the Auction.

Then off to Finland in the beautiful northern sunlight where the snow has not melted yet.

Everything there is starting to take shape, ready for this year’s visits and residencies.

Then it was Kiasma which is looking great, and the show “Thank you for the music” was breathtaking. So much so they have broken visitors numbers records on this one. Also from the collection was Susanne Bürner's 50.000.000 can’t be wrong showing an ecstatic concert audience. Also Iain Forsyth and Jane pollard’s work Kiss My Nauman. I was proud to see a few of our works on loan. Graham Dolphin’s version of Freddy Mercury’s back door.

Loved the work of Jenni Hiltunen she was great fun and loved her bottoms. Thought the work of Pink Twins was full of promise. Candice Breitz photo monuments were also brilliant.

David Blandy built a whole house and travelled with his guitar searching for the roots of blues in the Mississippi delta in the film Crossroads. People were queuing up to see this installation.

The work of Rose Eken struck a chord.

The big surprise was on the top floor was an impressive installation The Murder of Crows by George Bures Miller and Janet Cardiff.

Stopped off at Stockmans Department store to watch some Arabia Glass blowing. The City of Helsinki was teeming with art and design in every corner.

Then it was Copenhagen where the streets were armed for war.

I went to check some of the Galleries. I liked Matt Calderwood at David Risley Gallery. Paul McDevitt looked good at Martin Abaesk Gallery.

We went to their meat packing district and went to Bo Bjerggaard Gallery where Bo was celebrating his big birthday the same evening.

I was too knackered after 24 courses to get over there for some dancing. Then checked out some of the street art.

Very Bacon.

Talking about food we headed to Noma for our 24 course meal of food art.

Here are some of the dishes.

At the end of each evening all 40 chefs were gathered around in discussion. Their hearts and soul are entwined in this intense experience.

Sadly no Louisiana and straight back to London for the Gillian Wearing opening. Proud Gillian standing with Tiffany, Scarlett Lingwood and Lizzie. I do not know if I was being biased because three of our works from the collection were in the show but Gillian’s show was the best installed show I had seen in the Whitechapel.

Before Whitechapel we dropped by to Hilary Crisp Gallery to see the installation of George Young.

He has moved on so much and seems to create miracles on paper. Finally got to the Saatchi collection and loved this show. Gesamtkunstwerk: new art from germany I had a tinge of jealousy in my soul as I walked around to my shame. I loved many of the artists and the art works would have loved to have them in our collection. I liked especially the Isa Genzken.

My lovely friend Denise hosted an amazing dinner in her beautiful home where we invited community conscious supporters of the Charity. Architects Oliver and Holly from We Made That architecture group who are working on the new playground in Three Mills on the corner of the Olympic park. Claire Woods whose ceramic wall installation next to the Stadium is a feast for the eyes. Our star Monica Bonvicini was here in London to test RUN which was looking spectacular. (Check out my previous diary entry.) Then wonderful Neville Gable who had interacted with our project Sparked in the View Tube. One of his works was a video of him getting in and out of every single seat in the Olympic Stadium. I wonder how long that took.

I managed to get a sneak preview of Dexter Dalwood’s new paintings. No photographs as is top secret. They are mesmerizing and have a light touch to them. On the way out of Cubitt studios we managed to view the show of Nina Canell. Loved the neon piece. Tomorrow is Damien Hirst’s opening watch this space.