The Serpentine Pavilion

I had to go back and photograph the Pavilion again today. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron (who designed the Beijing Olympics Birds Nest Stadium) and Ai Weiwei (famed for his sunflower seed intallation in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall).

As I walked through the gate I was approached by a young American man and his girlfriend. He asked me what this place was. I explained that it was a gallery and the structure outside, the annual pavilion. Baffled by the shape and design he said "but what do you do in it?", "Have a cup of tea" I replied, explaining that it was made out of cork so quite comfortable to sit on.

"And in the building?" he asked. "An exhibition by Yoko Ono" (surely everyone had heard of her, I thought).

When the man paused and asked if the exhibition was made out of cork too I realised he was genuinely baffled by all of this. "Take a look" I encouraged, figuring an explanation of conceptual art might be better seen than explained.

He put his hand wearily on my arm and said "This is so beyond anything we've ever seen before", and at this point said good bye and walked away.

I hope they'll come back.