Author: jaywp

The effect of the present exhibition at Tate Modern, ‘August Strindberg: painter, photographer, writer’, is to most cultural enthusiasts, simply and profoundly stimulating. Here was a famous writer (for the most part) and participant in the intellectual ferment which at…

The announcement was made in autumn 2004 that the extension to the Victoria and Albert Museum, known as the ‘Spiral’ – hard-won and much praised by the gallery world – was to be cancelled. Once again, the primary reason was…

British efforts to secure a commitment to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games came from London, with the February 2005 presentation to the Olympic Committee held before that of Paris. The razzmatazz for London seemed energetic but somewhat forced, although…

The February 2005 strike by staff at the Science Museum in London was more concerned with future plans for all museums, although it represented major concerns by staff. The 2.5% rise offered in February did not really placate everyone and…

There is a plan to locate a Louvre II in the less prosperous area of Northern France. Two towns have been nominated; Valenciennes and Lens, as well as Calais, Boulogne, Amiens and Arras. Louvre II will house over 500 works…

In a recent survey conducted by a Scottish Sunday paper, Ian Hamilton Finlay’s renowned garden of sculpture and conceptual art, ‘Little Sparta’, came top. A UK-wide poll, taken in the aftermath of the run-up to this year’s Turner Prize, had…

Jannis Kounellis: Modern Art Oxford. 15 December-20 March 2005 This quasi-retrospective exhibition of the work of Jannis Kounellis is a remarkable opportunity to assess the continuing significance of this outstanding artist. Born in 1936, he has been described by some…