Six Prayers

A pretty miserable day in London, dull and drizzly, very different from yesterday. But it didn’t matter as we had planned to go to Tate Modern anyway. And as chance would have it, I found two big exhibitions, which kept me indoors for most of the day. 

I thought I had missed Shape of Light: 100 years of Photography and Abstract Art, so was delighted to find that today was the last day. A fascinating exhibition. I’m not sure I’m much wiser about what defines abstract, but there was plenty to think about. 

Then I went to a new exhibition featuring the work of Anni Albers (1899-1994). She was a weaver who exploited the medium to create art. Some beautiful woven work, spaciously displayed, made for an excellent exhibition. Interesting that she was ‘among the leading innovators of twentieth-century modernist abstraction, committed to uniting the ancient craft of weaving with the language of modern art.’ One couldn’t help but make links with the photography exhibition. And of course I now have two new big books! 

This is Anni Albers’ stunning work called Six Prayers (1966-7). Woven in cotton, linen and silver thread, in a subdued palette of grey and beige, it nevertheless shimmers and shines. Each panel measures 186x50 centimetres. It was made for the Jewish Museum, New York as a memorial to the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. An astonishing piece of work. 

Later we braved the weather and walked along the South Bank to the Oxo Tower, where our daughter had booked us in for an early dinner. So, there we were on Floor 8, with panoramic views over the city, although it might have been better if it hadn’t been so misty. Super meal. 

Then the four of us went along to the Southbank Centre for an evening of readings from the Booker Shortlisted Authors. They all read extremely well; it’s so interesting hearing an author reading from their own book. Always surprising just how many people attend these events. I will maybe comment a little about a possible winner tomorrow - to be announced on Tuesday. 

And back to Sevenoaks by train and replacement bus. Another long, but good, day. Home tomorrow.