Tracy Emin’s doors

I did Pilates first thing and then we went to London for the Big Day Out.  We went first of all to the National Portrait Gallery for lunch in the new RIchard Corrigan restaurant called The Portrait, which was very delicious.  We then spent a little too long in the historical galleries because we decided to walk down through them and so many familiar figures catch your eye.  

On the ground floor we decided not to go into the Hockney but enjoyed the semi permanent exhibition of new faces and paintings, and photographs of many contemporary figures.  It was fun and vibrant even if on occasion slightly it was slightly  unclear as to who every painting represented.  A noticeably younger more mixed crowd than might have been there previously so I would have  thought they will be counting it all a success.  Tea in the cafe and on the way out we looked at the bronze doors by Tracy Emin.  There are 49 pictures of female faces to balance the roundels that depict only male artists on the outside of the building.  Not portraits apparently but imagined women.  Lovely impressive doors that I’ll enjoy seeing every time I walk down Charing Cross Road.  I like the woman in her face mask you can see top left here 

We then went over to Riverside Studios to see a production of Ulster American, a dark and funny play about an American actor coming over to star in a play about the Northern Ireland ‘troubles’ and completely missing the point.  Starring Woody Harelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland it was a riot.  

Train home late, bed by 1230…