Tavistock Gardens

The small parks in central London are really wonderful. Particularly like Tavistock Sq and Russell Sq gardens on a sunny afternoon.

Spitfire

Went to see the opening night of Mathew Bourne's Early Adventures at Sadlers Well. Wonderful performance which brought back memories of seeing Spitfire when it was first performed and a long bus trek from Brixton to see our friend Keith Brazil dance in it.

Location:Sadlers Wells

Contrition in the grass

Just realised how long it has been since I last posted. I stumbled on this today. I love the title and the skin tones. Wish I could get shadow to work like this.

Also a beautiful nude after this morning at the Lucian Freud Portraits exhibition at the NPG. Those were painful to look at - so brutal and unforgiving.

Antinous Stele

Images of Antinous, the Roman Emperor Hadrian's lover who drowned in the Nile, are well known. I like this Stele found in the ruins of Antinopolis, the city Hadrian built in memory of Antinous. It is now in a Berlin museum. It isn't one of the beautiful cultic statues most people have in mind when they think of Antinous and the religion Hadrian created when he deified Antinous as an incarnation of Osiris. It shows a much more primitive image confusing of the cult of Antinous and Christianity.

The nude figure holds a cross in one hand and the grapes of Dionysus in the other.

The cult of Antinous was criticised and mocked by early Christian writers an indication perhaps of the threat its popularity posed to the early church - both religions focus on death and resurrection. Images of Antinous were popular until pagan symbols were prohibited by Emperor Theodosius in AD 391.

Location:Antinopolis/Berlin

Elephant capitals

Petra. The elephant head capitals found here are unique in the ancient world.

Location:Abou Baker Al Seddeek,,Jordan

Tsarouchis Centennial Exhibition

Tsarouchis centennial exhibition from lixy on Vimeo.

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Henry Scott Tuke

Beautiful paintings by Henry Scott Tuke of bathers set in the coves around Falmouth. This one the critics shows a wonderful sensitivity to light.

Cafe Colombo in Rio

Another cafe to add to favourite coffee places. This ornate mirrored cafe in central Rio is definitely one not to be missed.

Windsuits

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.