Theatre Review: Defrag at The Camden People’s Theatre

A deep, personal journey through the technology of the mind, Defrag focuses on one man’s struggle to “defrag” his own memory in order to process the trauma of his past. Previewed at Sprint Festival 2012 and presented as part of the Futureshock Festival, Defrag tests the boundaries of intimacy and expansiveness in contemporary theatre.

The Camden People’s Theatre is located on a busy London street, yet a friendly glow emanating from an open doorway is the only clue that you are in the right place. Once found, though, a warm welcome and a complimentary glass of wine is served in a foyer as comfortable as your own sitting room. The contrast between this and the theatre is striking; a perfect place for “mitigating the space outside”, the small and bleak space is a blank canvas to be interpreted.

Although the rampaging noise is a constant reminder that we are, in fact, in a theatre and not in the subconscious mind of a struggling character, writer-director-and-performer Tom Lyall endeavours to capture the audience’s attention through a tight and witty script.

An introductory monologue aids the start of our journey by relating the similarities between the human mind and a computer programme. In the act of defragging the mind, a technology enthusiast wistfully imagines how it would tidy the “filing system of the mind”, creating a fully functioning and faster processing machine.

Centre stage is Tom, a broken man who obsesses over a programme named Madeleine. A relationship develops between them, and as humankind is faced with the end of the world, Tom faces a dark struggle to choose between the technological and the human world.

Heavy in metaphor, deep in meaning, but light and effortless in performance, Lyall acts with absolute dedication and expression. The lighting by Cis O’Boyle has great impact to the overall ambience of the play, adding symbolic definition when the meaning was lost. Sadly, this happens often and though the intelligence and skill behind this piece is clear, the character of Tom sometimes appears unrelatable.

This said, the intimacy of the Camden People’s Theatre is the perfect setting to experience this clever and thought-provoking play. Script and space join together to confuse, yet fight to engage our senses.

Verdict: •••

Rosie Hillsdon

Defrag will be at the Camden People’s Theatre until 15^th December 2012. To book tickets and for more information, click here.

Click on the following link to be taken to The Upcoming magazine:

http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/12/01/theatre-review-defrag-at-the-camden-peoples-theatre/

Exhibition Review: Patricia Piccinini – Those Who Dream By Night

The Haunch of Venison is renowned for its support of internationally acclaimed artists working across a wide range of eclectic art forms. On her first UK solo exhibition, Patricia Piccinini displays her reality-meets-dreamlike sculpture inThose Who Dream By Night from 28^th November 2012 to 12^th January 2013. Her past exhibitions include the critically acclaimed Relativity, We Are Family and Hold Me Close To Your Heart. She has also had solo exhibitions in Australia, Spain, Peru, the United States and Japan.

Currently living in Australia, though born in Sierra Leone, Piccinini’s art world is a hypnotic examination of humankind’s relationship with technology. The artist aims to depict the modern day reliance upon science as a way to explain the complexities of what it means to be human. Juxtaposing these ideas with her fascination of biotechnology and gene therapy, Piccinini has created works that allow us to relate to the strange, fleshy sculptures that without this narrative cannot be easily explained.

Downstairs, with the regal shape and structure of a sphinx, a mound of skin and a glistening orifice is displayed on a bronze plinth. A combination of both revulsion and respect is demanded by this hybrid sculpture; its nudity evoking a sense of vulnerability. The Carrier, a life-sized fibreglass sculpture of an old lady being lifted by a naked half-animal, half-human male is the main focus of the upstairs gallery space. Like all of the sculptures, the figures are created with such astonishing realism that we are compelled to edge closer, examining every hair, every mole, every wrinkle on the skin. The workmanship by Piccinini and the fabricators who apply these effects with such scientific precision, lends itself to further the objective of the artist’s work. Both ugly yet oddly compelling, it is our ability to relate to these alien forms that is most disturbing.

Haunch of Venison at 103 New Bond Street is a cool but intimate space in which Piccinini’s work appeared at ease. Providing the freedom to see the sculptures and artwork from all aspects further coupled the peculiar relationship between the viewer as the human, and the art as technology.

Though Patricia Piccinini’s work may not be entirely to everyone’s taste, the works offer a chance to see art and technology collide in a truly original way. It is well worth a visit.

Verdict: ••••

Rosie Hillsdon

For further information about Patricia Piccinini visit her official website.

Those Who Dream By Night is exhibited at Haunch of Venison, New Bond Street, from 28^th November 2012 to 12^th January 2013.

Click on the following link to see some awesome pictures by Sarah Tsang: http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/11/29/exhibition-review-patricia-piccinini-those-who-dream-by-night/

Exhibition Review: The Dr Susan Weber Gallery – V&A’s New Permanent Gallery for Furniture

For the first time in 150 years, the V&A’s astounding collection of furniture is on display for the public on 1^st December. From the beautiful to the bizarre, from the functional to the downright uncomfortable, curators – Nick Humphrey and Leela Meinertas – have worked with architect Graeme Williamson from NORD architecture, to create an exhibition that encourages us to see the history of art and design that make up the objects that we use every day of our lives.

Either side of the tall and serenely lit space, perfect examples of furniture have been handpicked to show the complex techniques of carving, upholstery, lacquer and many more that have contributed to Western design and style. Accessibly positioned on a white background, the objects are strikingly framed by a dark surrounding; for there is something almost magical about the way that these fully-functional objects have been presented. It feels as if you are small enough to fit into the numerous draws of a seventeenth century table cabinet, exploring the little personal histories of this quirky and very charming collection. With 90% of these items being from the museum’s own archive, this seems to have been created as a labour of love. “This is not a gallery of famous names”, Nick Humphrey says. “This is a furniture biography”.

Humphrey, Meinertas and the wonders of NORD have taken into consideration the temptation for us to reach out and touch the precious objects. Glass cabinets and brief descriptions are replaced with audio clips, films and interactive screens showing close-ups and 360° photos. Even the bright, young things of the Techno Age will be blown away by the “Materials Table” – a 3D information and interactive table top that allowed the visitor to see how and why various architectural materials were used to make up the new gallery.

So, who is it for? Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiasts? Table fanatics? Experts of polypropylene? Well, it’s for all of these people really. But most importantly, as a museum for the people, the V&A have created an exhibition gallery for anyone who has an interest in shape, colour or texture, or for those who just have a curiosity in the way things are made.

Whether an hour or five minutes are spent in the Dr Susan Weber Gallery, it is well worth a visit – a magnificent permanent addition to a museum that is dedicated to art.

Verdict: ••••

Rosie Hillsdon

 For further information on The Dr Susan Weber Gallery, visit the website.

 

http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/11/29/exhibition-review-the-dr-susan-weber-gallery-vas-new-permanent-gallery-for-furniture/ 

Day of Rest

The amount of sugar and cinnamon roasted almonds I ate on the stall of Rubies in the Rubble in Duke of York Square, was nothing compared to the completely NUTS week that I have had!

I have been lucky enough to be on trial as a writer and reviewer for The Upcoming – an online publication that allows young writers to experience some seriously amazing opportunities. Whether or not I get accepted as an official Upcoming writer, I have been to some amazing exhibitions at the Haunch of Venison, the V&A, I went to a crazy theatrical production at the Camden People’s Theatre, and the holy grail for any budding food writer… a top-class restaurant…  The food – oh the food!

So to follow this post, I’m going to pop up three of the reviews that have been published on The Upcoming website – I’m so chuffed! Bear with me Fellow Foodie Fanatics, for not serving up some delicious delights, but these are some examples of a different writing style that I’d love you to see.

TBC

Rosie x