What made me reflect on the past recently was visiting the V&A museum for the Postmodernism exhibit.
This was the era of introducing radical freedom to design. Although confrontational and absurd at times, it began a new way of questioning. During the twenty years (1970-1990), a state of no boundaries in fashion, art and music changed our outlook into an autonomous world where the mind dictated expressions like never before. Yet, this freedom has had a price of its own to pay. The world economy boomed with a culture obsessed with wealth and status, demonstrated in the exhibition by Any Warhol's silkscreen of the Dollar sign.
From fashion designer Vivienne Westwood's over-sized, layered clothing to Annie Lennox's style in playing with gender norms and photos of Grace Jones' striking poses, I overheard the two ladies behind me remarking:
"You just can't believe she's for real. Can you?"
From new designs in jewellery to crockery, the seductive imagery of film and advertising was demonstrated in a 1985 billboard in Times Square by Jenny Holzer, which read:
"Protect me from what I want". A critical reflection on desire, its cause and effects amid the commerce surrounding it. In other words, be careful of what you wish for.
Jeff Koons, a former commodities broker turned artist, captured the decade's fascination with consumer desire, wealth and power in a bust statue of Louis XIV's copy of Bernini, in a tacky, silver finish, 'a strangely intimidating effect'.
In this postmodern era of radical expansion of possibilities, the question arises:
'Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday?'
The freedom of expression is priceless. However, there is a cost.
We were looking forward to a new world in the millennium, a better, peaceful era that is an image lost in war, destruction, and greed.
Do we really have a say in what is going on around us?
They will soon decide to put a camera up our backsides and charge us for breathing, and yet, we are under the impression of living a modern life where artists can display their imagination in any form.
Well... discussing politics is not my forte. Not because I am unaware of what is happening in this world but simply because 'the news' infuriates every cell of my body.
On a more pleasant note, the week continued with an invite from Aisha to a guest-listed event at The Radical Dining Society with a couple of girlfriends. The basement cave was filled with dressed-up people who did not seem to mingle well except in their crowd. A very fit, half-naked man approached us with pieces of sushi ginger scattered over his muscly chest and offered it to us.
"Come on, Haldita," offered Aisha, "he wants you to eat a piece."
On second thought, I was not going to eat anything off the chest of a stranger in a heated room, so I prompted:
"Now, if this was chocolate, I'd lick it off you," I said cheekily. "But I don't feel like sushi right now. Thanks."
And on that note, we decided to leave the event. I joined my family at a dinner afterwards.
Thursday was a wine-tasting experience in the Palm restaurant of Belgravia. Charlotte invited me to join Nicolas and his friend Christophe at the dinner. The region where the wines were represented was Rhone, and my favourite wine of the night was a Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2009. the gentle aroma of this pleasant production was so that I could have easily worn it as a perfume, fruity and citrus in taste with a crisp, dry finish. In the red selection, the Gigondas 2004 was beginning to grow on me until the Cote-Rotie 1999 was introduced. It was a grand selection, but I returned to my first preferred white wine.
After dinner, we headed to Walton Street's new bar, which opened as another off-spring from Jack's restaurant and another bar in the same area. Another bottle of champagne was to end the evening before Charlotte and Nicolas left, and Christophe walked me home gentlemanly with a slightly naughty twist.
Friday... A big night again. A party 'chez Haldita' (at mine) to celebrate my sister Hala, brother Soltan and his adorable fiancee Tuba's arrival in town. A great gathering of as many friends as I could comfortably fit in my living room, accompanied by Soltan's playing great tunes and Gloria's unique voice on the piano, followed by a Tina Turner number, which she sang with everyone joining in... 'You're simply the best'. The place was buzzing with chatter and dancing the night away till the early morning hours.
And then... Came Saturday. Another Fabric night with Hala, Shane, accompanied by Louisa, whom I got to meet and liked from the first instant. Also joining us were Ebi and two of his friends. I had my usual table, and Tiefschwarz were playing. I spent the last hour dancing to their music in the DJ booth with Judes, one of the most remarkable ladies I have met. When they finished playing, and the lights came on at 8am, I managed to get an innocent kiss from one of the DJ brothers!
Well, another week is gone, and a new one is beginning. Let's see what this week has in store in our era of modernism.
This was the era of introducing radical freedom to design. Although confrontational and absurd at times, it began a new way of questioning. During the twenty years (1970-1990), a state of no boundaries in fashion, art and music changed our outlook into an autonomous world where the mind dictated expressions like never before. Yet, this freedom has had a price of its own to pay. The world economy boomed with a culture obsessed with wealth and status, demonstrated in the exhibition by Any Warhol's silkscreen of the Dollar sign.
From fashion designer Vivienne Westwood's over-sized, layered clothing to Annie Lennox's style in playing with gender norms and photos of Grace Jones' striking poses, I overheard the two ladies behind me remarking:
"You just can't believe she's for real. Can you?"
From new designs in jewellery to crockery, the seductive imagery of film and advertising was demonstrated in a 1985 billboard in Times Square by Jenny Holzer, which read:
"Protect me from what I want". A critical reflection on desire, its cause and effects amid the commerce surrounding it. In other words, be careful of what you wish for.
Jeff Koons, a former commodities broker turned artist, captured the decade's fascination with consumer desire, wealth and power in a bust statue of Louis XIV's copy of Bernini, in a tacky, silver finish, 'a strangely intimidating effect'.
In this postmodern era of radical expansion of possibilities, the question arises:
'Why can't we be ourselves like we were yesterday?'
The freedom of expression is priceless. However, there is a cost.
We were looking forward to a new world in the millennium, a better, peaceful era that is an image lost in war, destruction, and greed.
Do we really have a say in what is going on around us?
They will soon decide to put a camera up our backsides and charge us for breathing, and yet, we are under the impression of living a modern life where artists can display their imagination in any form.
Well... discussing politics is not my forte. Not because I am unaware of what is happening in this world but simply because 'the news' infuriates every cell of my body.
On a more pleasant note, the week continued with an invite from Aisha to a guest-listed event at The Radical Dining Society with a couple of girlfriends. The basement cave was filled with dressed-up people who did not seem to mingle well except in their crowd. A very fit, half-naked man approached us with pieces of sushi ginger scattered over his muscly chest and offered it to us.
"Come on, Haldita," offered Aisha, "he wants you to eat a piece."
On second thought, I was not going to eat anything off the chest of a stranger in a heated room, so I prompted:
"Now, if this was chocolate, I'd lick it off you," I said cheekily. "But I don't feel like sushi right now. Thanks."
And on that note, we decided to leave the event. I joined my family at a dinner afterwards.
Thursday was a wine-tasting experience in the Palm restaurant of Belgravia. Charlotte invited me to join Nicolas and his friend Christophe at the dinner. The region where the wines were represented was Rhone, and my favourite wine of the night was a Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2009. the gentle aroma of this pleasant production was so that I could have easily worn it as a perfume, fruity and citrus in taste with a crisp, dry finish. In the red selection, the Gigondas 2004 was beginning to grow on me until the Cote-Rotie 1999 was introduced. It was a grand selection, but I returned to my first preferred white wine.
After dinner, we headed to Walton Street's new bar, which opened as another off-spring from Jack's restaurant and another bar in the same area. Another bottle of champagne was to end the evening before Charlotte and Nicolas left, and Christophe walked me home gentlemanly with a slightly naughty twist.
Friday... A big night again. A party 'chez Haldita' (at mine) to celebrate my sister Hala, brother Soltan and his adorable fiancee Tuba's arrival in town. A great gathering of as many friends as I could comfortably fit in my living room, accompanied by Soltan's playing great tunes and Gloria's unique voice on the piano, followed by a Tina Turner number, which she sang with everyone joining in... 'You're simply the best'. The place was buzzing with chatter and dancing the night away till the early morning hours.
And then... Came Saturday. Another Fabric night with Hala, Shane, accompanied by Louisa, whom I got to meet and liked from the first instant. Also joining us were Ebi and two of his friends. I had my usual table, and Tiefschwarz were playing. I spent the last hour dancing to their music in the DJ booth with Judes, one of the most remarkable ladies I have met. When they finished playing, and the lights came on at 8am, I managed to get an innocent kiss from one of the DJ brothers!
Well, another week is gone, and a new one is beginning. Let's see what this week has in store in our era of modernism.
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