kolnismyname

7 days on Cologne - living 20 mins out in a neighbourhood and cycling in along the river gives a richer understanding of place rather than living tourist like in the centre. Travelling gives interesting new perspectives, the place acting as a mirror and enabling one to see the country you live in. Returning mainly gives the feeling of embarrassed shame. The entry point to the UK is via a dirty side entrance along a sad corridor grubby with dust build up and let's not talk about toilets. Cologne appears to have no litter, very limited graffiti, full and occupied shops and a busy, thriving feeling - we stayed close to a square with 4 bakeries and 6 coffee shops and several excellent restaurants. The boat/bar/restaurants are ace and easy. Transport is clockwork, efficient and clean - cycling is a joy. Spent the time going to world class galleries and museums and the cathedral is a must see. I saw some of the most astonishing medieval work in Museee Schnutgen and Museee Ludwig but the jewel was Kolumba, the space is awesome with the overall design followed into the attention to detail of everything - even down to the amazing door handles and leather curtain. The exhibition - artist at work was sublime in it's hang and curatorial choice. Other notable spaces include, NS Documentation Centre of the City of Cologne to see Nazi’s playbook at work before we truly give our world to them, Cologne City Museum tells a great rewritten story from the perspective of residents, Museum of Applied Arts Cologne for the Bauhaus, and he signs in the Skulpturen Park Köln sculpture park are a work in themselves. 

backintime

So 5 days in Naples - what a fantastic place - gloriously harsh, dirty and slightly dodgy, but at the same time fantastic. The best pizza, pasta and fried animals from the sea, served in a cone ever. Did I mention pastries, the Sfogliatella, only to be found in this part of the world is a dangerous delight - layers and layers of filo pastry with a heavy cream interior. Fueled by coffee and the aforementioned cakes the days have been full - wandering through narrow streets, learning to walk into the path of motor vehicles and entering museums of old stuff that is tremendously beautiful. I have a great deal to research to include in my practice, to think about the idea of fixing and conservation in relationship to the 3D printed work. Faces silently looking from the past, seemingly to quizzically question. The Archeological Museum in Naples is extraordinary. 'Abroad' always has important lessons to impart. Leaning in to difference leads to new insights. Returning to Pompeii 20 years later was interesting. The magic of time travel is palpable it's easy to imagine walking through busy streets, bathing and eating. Visiting the archeological museum beforehand to see the artifacts gives a sense of the people and their way of life. When last there we had our lunch sitting in the amphitheater - not this time!