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Saturday: Day 5 and I wake to a call at 5.30am from Australia! Someone obviously doesn't know the time difference :p but outside, it was as bright as midday! Still not used to this!
After debating on what I should do on my first day in central London, I am welcomed to go with Josh and Gloria to an exhibition they have been talking about. An exhibition unlike the one you are probably thinking of though! This kind of exhibition is an like an eccentric live social experimentation with cameras set up and the public being a part of the art itself. The artist's name is
Marina Abramovich and she is an older lady who has been creating art like this for over 20 years. Each time she holds a new exhibition, it is different from the last and is never repeated...this one is called '501 hours'...
We head in, with no personal belongings allowed; no phones, cameras, sunglasses or even watches and approach unaware of what is to come or what will be involved. Rather confused, as I had not been to one of her exhibitions before, I see a flat tier of wooden blocks in the centre of a large room with people standing completely still on them, in different positions. (Are these actors, or the public? lol!) I soon realise that they are just the public but several workers of the exhibition take people's hands at random and place them into the art with specific actions to undertake. Very intriguing! As I exit the first room and into the second I feel a hand link my arm by a man who I'm not too sure even works there! (he does!) Still in slight shock, I am lead into the second room and asked to begin walking as slowly as humanly possible from simply one end of the room to the other...with my eyes closed! (errr..okay?! haha) This would mean I would be joining several others also walking within the room...also with their eyes closed!..He tells me to breathe, be calm, and focus simply on the actions of my body as I try to remain balanced between each step!! Knowing my humor, I think I'm bound to crack up laughing but to my amazement, I find myself slow and steady beginning to take my first steps. It almost felt like I was a part of a busy city street with passers-by all completely oblivious and unaware of one another...
What I got from the experience was that it felt like we all spend so much of our lives rushing around going to work or trying to get to our next appointment on-time completely forgetting to actually take a minute to stop, breathe and be conscious of ourselves and our surroundings. You suddenly find yourself grateful for the legs that carry us, calm and balanced in our movements, and fully present; not stuck in the past or the future. I am warming up to this rather obscure exhibition! Once completing my task, I quite calmly make my way out of the room and into the third room where I find a bunch of wooden chairs scattered around all facing away from the entrance and with a set of big headphones placed on each chair. (The ones like the pilots wear)...there's a few people already seated and not doing a great deal so I make my way towards a chair thinking there must be some kind of nice relaxing music on the other end. Well, no. Nothing at all actually! Just silence. The headphones have completely blocked out any sounds whatsoever. Okay. I close my eyes and within minutes I find myself feeling quite meditative, reflecting on my day, my thoughts, and more deeply; my life and the people in it. (wasn't expecting this that's for sure)..I sit there in silence for probably 20 minutes. Who knows what everyone else is thinking about; but I sit there and end up talking to myself saying something like, 'Hmm silence hey. Not something you are going to be able to experience for a while throughout your travels so make the most of it. Centre yourself, take it all in and be grateful for this moment; it's all yours. No one can disturb you or distract you here (and so on),'... I like this exhibition a lot!
Back in the first room, I spot Gloria as one of the models on the wooden blocks. I watch and observe this peculiar experimentation along with everyone else who has come to see it...
We exit the exhibition after an hour or so discussing our thoughts on how we felt and what we saw. In conclusion, I absolutely loved it!..
We make our way for a casual stroll through Hyde Park and visit a few popular attractions such as the Prince Albert Memorial and Kensington House before we spontaneously decide to hop on a bus and go to Oxford street! Of course I can not leave London without visiting such a global attraction! We walk through the congested crowds between shops and go in a few really hip places. Further along, we end up heading to China Town, Piccadilly Circus, Leister Square and Soho. Quite the tour really and a lovely day spent with my new friends.
We end the night with some incredible 'organic, gluten-free, dairy-free home-made' food at this cute little cafe-style restaurant and then head home for a much needed rest :)
- comments
jill What an experience!!!