The Culture Post: 5 Things to do in London

London is so vibrant and full of things to do on a weekly basis that it is easy to just give up and do the same old instead of being faced with endless possibilities to choose from. Being indecisive is a particularly annoying first world problem after all.

So, here is a list of five things I would recommend you do this week. They have all been tried, tasted and enjoyed by me, so they have earned their seal of approval from a particularly picky person...

See Ryan Hewett: UNTITLED at The Unit London

With the crazy amount of galleries in London, there is always a new exhibition or ten opening during the week. However, quantity does not stand for quality. There are the good ones, there are the bad ones, there are the exciting ones and the boring ones, the high teas and the day-old coffees. The question is which ones are which?

The Unit London is a very cool, very exciting place. This contemporary gallery situated in Covent Garden is founded by two young guys and is aimed at younger audiences who want to enjoy art without feeling out of place. In this, the Unit succeeds. Moreover, the new solo exhibition that the gallery hosts until 24th May is by renowned South African painter, Ryan Hewett. Stroll down the gallery, admire the portraits of those very familiar faces, and after that you have plenty of choice with where to grab a bite between Leicester Square and Covent Garden. And here is why I think this is the one exhibition in London not to be missed this month.

Watch Spooks: The Greater Good

Oh, don't I love a good film? When there is a long weekend ahead thanks to a lovely bank holiday, hitting the cinema is the perfect thing to do (especially if the weather fails to cooperate and chooses to be grumpy instead). 

Assuming you have already seen Avengers: Age of Ultron, why not opt for something as fabulously British as Spooks? Needless to say, I was a massive fan of the series, and with the period drama likes of Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Penry-Jones and Richard Armitage, who wouldn't? 

The Greater Good sees Harry back in business as there is a new crisis in MI5. This time, Peter Firth is joined by Game of Thrones' Kit Harington who still knows nothing, but looks good while (not) doing so. 

Spooks: The Greater Good won't hit UK cinemas until 8th May, but you can already read what I thought about it here! 

Visit the London Coffee Festival

People, this is not a drill! London Coffee Festival opens this Thursday (30th April) and goes on for the rest of the weekend as a launch event of UK Coffee Week.

So if you are a coffee addict with a bank holiday on the cards (check and check), Shoreditch is the place to be. The Coffee Festival is based in Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane and celebrates London'd coffee culture with more than 250 artisan coffee and gourmet food stalls. I will try my best to visit and if you are interested, too, here is where you can get tickets from.

Have a day at the V&A 

Personally, the Victoria and Albert Museum is one of my go-to places when I want to be on my own with my thoughts, while also admiring some great art. Why should you visit it this week in particular?

Firstly, there is obviously the hugely anticipated Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition that will be on till 2nd August - if you want to visit, you have to be fast and snap some tickets here. Alternatively, there is another pretty interesting exhibition dedicated to McQueen at Tate Britain:  Nick Waplington/Alexander McQueen: Working Process.

Secondly, there is another great little alternative on the ground floor of the V&A: What is Luxury? is a small, free exhibition that evaluates what "luxury" really means, and how many different things it could stand for. More on why you should visit: you can read my opinion here (shameless journalist, I know). 

Listen to some new music: Harris Adams

Finally, here is an alternative for you even if you are not in London. Born near Sheffield, Harris Adams is a British songwriter who revels in blending the old with the new. His debut single Ring Ring does just that, by harking back to Ray Charles classics where he would ‘call and respond’ to his backing vocalists The Raylettes. It is a classic trope that adds a fresh dynamic to a track, giving it a real sense of fun.

Adams' debut single Ring Ring was released on the 28th April so it is red hot! You can give it a listen here. *

And to finish this post off, here is a hilarious video involving some serious biceps content to put you in a good mood!

What are your plans for the weekend (regardless of where you are)?

*I was contacted by Adams Harris' publicist regarding his debut single. However, this post is not sponsored in any way: these are all my personal opinions, I gave his song a listen and decided it would be good to share it :)

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What I Have Been Up To: London

I decided to share with you what I have been up to in the past couple of weeks as a lot of the things are culture related. Thus, making them perfect to share on here... After all you can never be bored in London, right?

Rubens and His Legacy: Van Dyck to Cézanne at the Royal Academy 

I had the opportunity to visit a lovely Blogger's Evening at the Royal Academy that included a short lecture on Rubens before entering the exhibition. Basically, it turned into the perfect Friday night for me and my boyfriend as museums do work as perfect dating spots. 

I cannot recommend Rubens and His Legacy enough! It has to be the best exhibition in London right now so do not hesitate and visit it (you have a chance till the 10th of April 2015). The exhibition explores the great impact that Rubens has had on contemporary art by showcasing his work next to works of subsequent generations of artists. So, you not only get to see some of Rubens' best, but also works by Renoir, Cezanne, Gainsborough, even by Picasso and Warhol. You can read my review on it here.

Personally, I love classical art and it is exhibitions like this ones that I enjoy the most. Italian Renaissance,  French Baroque and Romanticism are among my favourites, and as Rubens' style is so obviously influenced by the great Italian masters - he quickly turned into one of my favourite artists. Rubens and His Legacy also gives a great perspective into exactly what an influential figure Rubens was (and still is) in the world of art. 

Now go, go, go! 

Magnificent Obsessions: The Artist as Collector at the Barbican

This is another very good exhibition that is quite unique! The idea behind it is to show what 14 different artists have collected through the years - by showcasing their personal collections next to pieces of their own art work, the viewer can draw interesting new connections. For instance, you get to see Warhol's collection of cookie jars - a symbol of domesticity that can be found reflected in his work.

The exhibition is at the Barbican and it is going to be there until April. Will insert a link to my review once it is up.

Marlene Dumas: The Image as Burden at Tate Modern

If you asked me, this is another must! Marlene Dumas' loud social commentary feels very current as her work reflects on issues that could be found in the mass media. One of the most interesting rooms, called Magdalenas, reflects on the way women are represented in British media, and the contrast between Naomi Campbel's and Princess Diana's pictures talks quite clearly.

Full review here and you can see the exhibition at Tate Modern until the 10th of May 2015.

History is Now: 7 Artists Take on Britain at Hayward Gallery

In this one, seven artists have been invited to curate exhibitions, looking at particular period of cultural history from 1945 to the present day. The artworks shown are rather versatile just as the covered topics: celebrity culture and mass media, 'mad-cow' disease, protest movements, feminism, the Cold War. The last 70 years have been quite eventful, so there are a lot of aspects that have had their impact on British culture as we know it today. Including more than 250 different objects, History is Now is another great exhibition that I can recommend visiting as each of its seven rooms raise different questions.

I have reviewed this one as well, right here. You can see it at Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre until the 26th of April, 2015.

Lastly: Definitely go and watch Kingsman: The Secret Service if you still haven't. Unmissable entertainment. I promise!

So, what about you? Do tell me what you have been up to this week!

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