Damien Hirst - a maverick and genius at Tate Modern

Is Damien Hirst over-rated, an emperor in new clothes, or is he is genius of our current generation? I am really not sure, I can see something of a genius and maverick in the amazing diversity of his work. I was a bit ambivalent about seeing this exhibition, more like a current retrospective, at Tate Modern. I have seen a lot of the individual pieces at exhibitions across Europe and was uncertain as to whether seeing more together would necessarily be better! So I put my concerns to one side, set up myself for the audio guide and worked my way through the rather large and interactive exhibition. There were people and families everywhere - in the first room a group of impulsive children had knocked the ping pong ball off the airstream of the cold hairdryer and the room attendant was understandably stressed when the parents seemed totally unconcerned! I then watched a toddler realise he was looking at a shark and become really upset - no parent was around to help him out! For the first few dot paintings I was quite interested in checking out my visual capability of distinguishing different tones of the same colour; some of those purple and orange dots looked very similar to me! Later, as the dots became smaller and the number of dot paintings increased, I lost interest... And then I was impressed when I realised the similarities between his dots and his pharmacy cabinets and even his tablet displays. Apparently he was shocked at how much faith people put into drugs and medication, at the expense of art and creativity... I was impressed at his butterflies - the contrast between a room of carefully protected live animals with a room of dead wings arranged to resemble stained glass!! And I was impressed at his animals in formaldehyde and their catchy names - like mother and son divided - both animals were divided as well! But I did think the last 2 rooms were such strong statements; full wall cabinets of hand made diamonds, as evidence of over the top opulence on the one hand and a perfect dove in flight in light blue formaldehyde, signifying some perfect catholic peace... His ideas may well be impressive, but he cannot possibly do it all by himself, yet he can receive all the accolades for his own ideas and work?!?

Buckinghamshire artists open their doors

I had previously thought that Oxford was unique in having Oxfordshire Art Weeks around the city and county, where artists open their homes and collect together in groups to display and sell their work. But then it seems this might well be normal practice around the country. We were surprised to see a flyer for Bucks Open Studios. We visited the Clare Foundation in Saunderton, just north of High Wycombe, to see exhibitions of over 30 artists displaying their photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewellery and installations. With so much talent and so many different perspectives it was both inspirational and fun. I think my favourite was the photographer Stuart Feurtado, who appreciates colour and design, and who has travelled extensively in Europe. I particularly liked this close up of a chameleon's tail.

Sunday lunch at the Mole Inn, Toot Baldon

We found this traditional coaching inn in the small village of Toot Baldon on one of our cycling tours of southern Oxfordshire. After a great evening meal several months ago, we decided to return for a classic English sunday lunch. We were undecided about whether it was really warm enough to sit outside in the large and leafy garden and opted for a table inside the original inn. We had to walk carefully under the wooden beams and sat by the old fireplace. We chose respectively roast lamb and beef and thoroughly enjoyed all the trappings. Roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, a gaint yorkshire pudding on mashed potatoes all complemented by a rich warm gravy. The vegetables were lightly (and healthily) boiled and balanced the richness of the wonderful roast.

Creative Food at The Angel Restaurant, Long Crendon

We had cycled through Long Crendon several weeks ago on a southern circuit of Oxford - we were looking for the signposts to turn right towards Shabbington and in their absence, I decided to ask for directions at this restaurant! Outside, it looked like a classic coaching inn, evolved into a country gastro pub. But inside, it became clear this was no pub - the food smells and ambience were of a different order! So, it took us a few weeks to find the right occasion to return, for saturday evening dinner. I loved the way we started with an aperitif and olives in the brown leather couches in the front reception room, it what might have been the old bar. The matching pillows and curtains subtlely combined pink and green dots and stripes. We were then taken to our table as the entrees were served - we had decided on seafood and meat tapas platters to share. With 4 different surprises on each platter, this was like a culinary discovery of tastes, textures and temperatures. Despite an impressive printed menu, we decided from the 6 fish specials on the blackboard menu. I chose a trio of salmon, sea bass and prawn, presented with warm asparagus and beans in a tasty creamy white wine sauce. The grilled mullet was equally impressive and was complemented by another sauce. It is obvious that the selection and preparation of quality food is taken seriously by this restaurant. The many small rooms of this old inn also provide a variety of small and intimate rooms for enjoying a great meal.

Matthew Bourne's Early Adventures in Oxford

Funny, quirky and totally engaging. The costumes were absolutely impeccable and the music was very recognisable. We were treated to 3 segments of nostalgia, presented in a contemporary and sometimes challenging manner. Matthew Bourne, today's choreographer had in fact danced in these shows over 20 years ago and they must have been quite radical at the time. The first show, Spitfire, has four men dancing in a slightly variant classical style in their underwear. The inspiration from underwear catalogues was clear and the stances and facial expressions were so well connected through some amazing moves - these men really danced together, lifted each other and moved with dynamism and force. I had never seen anything like this before and was totally spellbound. The next 2 part show Town and Country offered contrasting vignettes from aristocratic post war Britain. Town scenes included drinking tea in hotel lobbies, a secret rendezvous at the station, and the maid and butler assisted bathing and dressing in grand style. I loved the tweeds and jodhpurs of the country scenes,contrasted by the white frills and flowery bodices in the next. The final segment, Infernal Galop, took us to 1930's Paris, accompanied by the expected music of Edith Piaf and the can-can. It was really uplifting and showcased gay lovers within the normal hub bub of the time. I love watching Matthew Bourne's compositions and can only look forward to the next one...

Sculptures in the garden - Waddesdon Manor

I was quite overwhelmed by the house and gardens at Waddesdon - so it was quite a pleasure to discover an amazing range of diverse sculptures dotted around the massive gardens. Apparently Christie's chose a selection of indoor and outdoor installations to comemmorate a recent Rothschild acquisition of Chardin’s painting, depicting a boy building a house of cards.

We did not find all 33 works but were extremely impressd by some great names; Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Anthony Gormley, Urs Fischer and Anish Kapoor. Apparently, quite a few are for sale at crazy prices!

So it was fun to walk and recognise these greats - I really wanted to lie down beside Antony Gormley to appreciate the house and gardens. This life size iron man looks tiny in comparison to its surroundings and it is also quietly reminiscent of the new sculpture standing atop of Exeter College in Oxford.

Previously, I had seen this bright red LOVE sculpture on the busy streets of New York - so it was fun to see it again in a small sunny courtyard with the more traditional statues of love; Cupid and his mother, a classic pair of young lovers and another of two young brothers; and surrounded by sub tropical palms and small banana trees...

So I almost had to be dragged home - and my final sight of the manor was complemented by this disorienting yet fantastical sculpture by the Swiss artist Urs Fischer 'Bad Timing Lamb Chop!' I felt like Alice leaving her Wonderland and simultaneously as if I was closing the wardrobe door on Narnia.

Waddsedon Manor - a Buckinghamshire chateau

I was unsure what to expect as a good friend took me to visit this very European Rothschild family home. Initally I was impressed by the enormity of the estate - green meadows and forests surrounding a natural hillock between Bicester and Aylsebury, just north of Oxford. As we approached the north facing main entrance across a massive lawn, I was transported back to the Loire Chateaux.

Although Waddesdon was built almost 200 years later, it seems that Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild built this house between 1874 and 1889 to display his outstanding art treasures to his social set, inspired specifically by Chambord, which had 2 similar towers. Inside, there are 45 rooms to view across 3 levels, all connected by 2 superb spiral staircases, currently carpeted in red. The rooms are large, immaculately restored and furnished with so much that is good and great - paintings, tapestries, furniture, carpets, crockery, books and artefacts.

No doubt, each one has a detailed and significant history. It seems that this wealthy family were appreciative collectors of great things. And it seems that this pattern is continuing as there are recent acquisitions, including a selection of Lucian Freud portraits, the story of Sleeping Beauty illustrated across 7 panels by Leon Bakst and Ingo Maurer's exploding porcelain chandelier, which was commissioned by Lord Rothschild in 2003.

Outside the English gardens are wonderfully proportioned and maintained. The southern terrace has manicured gardens around a classic fountain, overlooking the rolling green Berkshire hills. There are white marble statues everywhere and I was particularly impressed by subtropical ferns, palms and banana trees growing, albeit very slowly! Even the forests seem to have been planted with an eye for colour and complementary texture... such attention to detail...