All posts tagged: england

London Visual Art Guide: 9 Must-See Spots

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London has so many famous art museums and galleries – and entry to all of them is completely free.  I can’t get over this.  These museums are all institutions which are held in the highest regard (probably bordering on religious fervor) and could only be described as “sacred” for any lover of art.  London is also brimming with contemporary visual art galleries well-known for exhibiting the latest and greatest, and they are all free!  Take advantage!  I originally tried to make this list highlighting the best 5 free art venues around the city, but that was impossible… there are just too many amazing spaces.  These are our top 9 must-see visual art spots in London. 1)  BEERS This is The Alternative Atlas top pick for so many reasons.  A pristine small gallery space in Shoreditch with a great name and an even greater show program.  1 Baldwin St, London EC1V 9NU. 2) The Tate Modern Too good for words… but the images speak volumes.  Bankside, London SE1 9TG. 3) Marlborough Fine Art Representing prominent international artists …

Getting Around in London: Do’s and Don’uts

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London is a BIG city.  We spent over two weeks here and it feels like we barely scratched the surface.  There are lots of different ways to get around in this daunting metropolis; buses, cabs, bikes, pedestrians and the TfL Overground all share the roads, but the primary method of transportation for locals and visitors alike is the infamous London Underground. DO: Take the Underground Known simply as the Tube, this sprawling underground rail network connects everything and services the boroughs surrounding the city center.  Regardless of their station in life, everyone sits (or stands shoulder-to-shoulder) in the crowded commute on the Tube, and you should too.  We used this metro service daily and never ran into trouble (on one occasion a friendly platform officer gave us a few pence out of his pocket so we had enough money to buy the proper ticket).   We were endlessly impressed by the sheer volume and frequency of the service.  If you arrived on the platform just in time to see the last person squeeze in before the …

London-for-Free: The Saatchi Gallery

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We visited a lot of galleries and museums in London, and one of the finest is the infamous Saatchi Gallery.  It just so happens that this is the only completely free-entry contemporary art museum of its size in the entire world.  So what does this mean for art lovers like ourselves?  Do we get to indulge in monumental works by world famous AND emerging artists side-by-side AND hang out in an insanely beautiful exhibition space AND we get in for free???  Yes, yes, yes, and yes! The Saatchi Gallery has been defining and redefining the way we encounter contemporary art for 25 years, and we spent an afternoon exploring its two new exhibitions: Dead: A Celebration of Mortality and Pangea II: New Art From Africa and Latin America. ^^^I am particularly psyched about the Dead show; imagine my excitement upon seeing advertisements throughout the city depicting a schoolboy playing leapfrog in a graveyard…  Yes!  I’m so into it!  That kid can play on my grave anytime! ^^^One of my favorite pieces by Terence Koh, The …

5 Must-See London Markets

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This city could be famous simply for its markets selling everything from fresh produce, bread and cheese to  ready-made food, flowers, and vintage finds.  Let’s leave out all that stuff about London’s status as a world cultural capital and leading global city for over two millennia… we’re going to talk about the drool-worthy markets.  Who has time to visit a world class museum when there is a guy serving caramelized plantains from a stall over there?  London is home to some massive markets that set up on the weekends (and some weekdays) that cater specifically to your inner foodie and vintage fashionista needs.  With so many options and so many markets, how does one choose?  Here we present our top 5 based on food/fashion/art selection, vibe, and people-watching opportunities.  All are Alternative Atlas approved! 1) Broadway Market This has to be at the top of the list.  The market is located in Hackney in an adorable neighborhood… I got a great feeling from being here.  The market is open on Saturdays from 9-5 when the …

London East End Street Art Tour

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The area of focus here is Brick Lane and Shoreditch in Hackney on London’s East End; this stretch is a cultural hub which doubles as a vibrant fashion district as well as a constantly evolving street art exhibition space.  This is an exciting area to see ever-changing work, and a point worth mentioning is how accomplished artists are producing in areas constantly in flux.  From hard edge abstraction to large-format hyperrealism, it’s all happening here.  An appropriate word that comes to mind while walking through these streets is dense.  Another word that comes to mind is gentrification; this area is home to England’s largest Bangladeshi population living side-by-side with the artists moving into the neighborhood.  Case in point: we saw in the same instant a Muslim woman in her niqab (a garment which covers the entire body and face except the eyes) walk past a fabulous man changing into a pair of hot pants in the middle of the sidewalk.  While the woman was modest enough not do a double-take, I had to get another …

UK TechFest 2015

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Opalescent.  I overheard this word being used by a concert-goer to describe their experience at UK TechFest 2015, and this is one word that I cannot get out of my head.  At first I was confused by this description, but as more time passes I am becoming more comfortable with it.  About 700 attendees assembled between July 8th-12th this year on the beautiful grass plains of Newark-on-Trent, England to watch their favorite metal bands perform inside huge aircraft carriers which housed two stages. The first large main stage hosted international touring acts like Monuments, Decapitated, Slice the Cake, and Nexilva, and a smaller second stage where I played with my band Kardashev alongside Portuguese tech-death forerunners The Voynich Code and our label mates The Room Colored Charlatan.   I got a kick out of that word.  Opalescent.  At first I would have never used that word to describe the experience.  In fact, nothing about the festival was glamorous; it was truly a rowdy and drunken ruckus from beginning to end.  The Newark Showground was transformed …