I’ve been a little busy of late and I’d meant to post this a week or so ago.
Steph and I popped down to London a couple of weekends ago as it was the only chance we had to see the Julie Margaret Cameron exhibitions on at the V&A and at the Science Museum.
Media Space at the Science Museum first, for the Julia Margaret Cameron: Influence and Intimacy exhibition marking 200 years since her birth. Most of the exhibition featured the Herschel Album (1864) and a sequence of 94 images which Cameron considered to be her finest work to date. Along with a lens and other bits and pieces.
I was surprised at how quiet it was, there were only three people in there on a Saturday? but still well worth the visit, you could take your time and really concentrate on each print.
Unlike the V&A, and their Julia Margaret Cameron exhibition which was full to the rafters. Too full to enjoy the works individually.
I really don’t enjoy crowded spaces like this, but I guess thats what you get going on a weekend. If only there was a Photography Museum nearer to home?
Although an enjoyable exhibition I did leave thinking that she was quite calculated in what she was doing and felt it was becoming a commercial exercise for her, whereas previously I had thought she was a lady of leisure who just happened to turn her hand to photography after receiving a camera as a Birthday gift. We discussed this quite a bit at the open studio last weekend so I’ll not get into an argument here.
There was also an excellent exhibition publication, that was well worth the money.
We also called in to see the Richard Learoyd exhibition Dark Mirror whilst we were there. Large scale images, still lifes and nudes, captured using colour photographic paper and a Camera Obscura. These are really well executed but not everyones cup of tea I’d imagine.
The V&A has to be one of my all time favourite Museums, even if recent events with their asset stripping of the National Media Museum has soured my feelings towards it, but thats another story.
We had queued for Dennis Severs House, which was a little weird just queuing, with the grumpy chap on the door only letting so many people in at a time. We got to the front to be told it was cash only…. oh well. So we walked over to The Barbican Centre instead to see the The World of Charles and Ray Eames, which was a little over my head and I soon became overwhelmed, but Steph enjoyed that one.