Sculpture and texture at the Soap Yard

There’s nothing better than a sunny, lazy Sunday and our trip to Parrillan in the newly opened Borough Yards will take quite a bit to beat. Not only was there great food and a relaxing space, but there was also a visit to the nearby Neal’s Yard Dairy, a great unexpected sculpture and of course, time to check out the loos.

It wasn’t until we were through the bricked arch that I turned round and spotted the painted sign to the Soap Yard - the brickwork, and the neon signs pulled me towards them, but I soon backtracked to admire this too. Both are from different times, but both are equally design classics aren’t they?

Once through the arch and after taking a photo of almost every brick, I noticed the globe sculpture titled The World Reimagined - Stolen Legacy: The Rebirth of a Nation, which is by Alison Turner. It’s one of 103 unique globes across the UK which explore the history, legacy and future of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans.

Alison Turner is a mosaic artist who uses recycled vintage bone china, broken and discarded pottery, glass, ceramic tile and porcelain ornaments to create unique artwork. Her globe at Borough Yards was fantastic, and it’s the sort of piece that not only has deep meaning, but one that every time you look at it you’ll spot something different, and be enchanted again.

The World Reimagined - Stolen Legacy: The Rebirth of a Nation – Artist: Alison Turner

We were early for our lunch reservation so took some time to wander around the space admiring yet more brickwork, and the structures they formed. I couldn’t help but notice and admire the curved reception desk at Parrillan which I’m sure was chosen to echo its surroundings.

It soon became clear though, that texture had been given a lot of thought. Even the lemon meringue pie - which was as tasty as it looks - adopted the brief.

And in the loos it was once again evident, with the panelled metal sheet on the ceiling, the smooth sink surrounds and the curves and symmetry of the mirrors and wall lights, demonstrating again that you can be adventurous with texture in a relatively small space.

Back outside we moved from our table to a less formal space to end our meal. There were a few discoveries there, not least the heated seat pads (not pictured). Who knew, what an invention though sadly we had no need for them on our visit, but definitely something to try on a future, slightly chillier visit!

The modern wooden bench also caught my eye for its simple elegance, and the texture it too brought to the space. Alongside it the planting introduced more, the needles of the pine and the underplanting of soft mossy mounds. That’s how you do texture.

But also, succulents and small frothy ferns. What a combination.

Post Comment Love 14-16 October

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any blog post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

The work redecorating the outside of our house is continuing, and we’re hopeful that the scaffolding will be coming down in the middle of next week so we’ll be able to admire the work more fully. Our decorators have been great and of course the odd cup of coffee (with the obligatory two sugars) has been welcomed. I’ve not been out so much in the past week as with my car taking up a different space in our shared parking arrangements I haven’t wanted to abandon it and prevent our neighbours getting in or out of their spaces. But I did get into town last Friday and I’m sharing more about the exhibition I visited in the post I’ve linked this week - to give you a hint of the subject matter, this week my photo is one from the after-exhibition shop.

POWER OF WOMEN

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Rebel, Rebel - beautiful and timely

Last Friday while MOH went into the office for the first time ever in his current role, I decided to take in a new exhibition at the Barbican. That exhibition was Soheila Sokhanvari’s Rebel Rebel, in The Curve until 26 February if you fancy popping along, and explores the ‘contradictions of Iranian women’s lives between 1925 and the 1979 revolution - an explosive period of both liberation and commodification that proved short lived.’

The space - which is named well - contains miniature portraits of glamorous cultural figures from Iran and shares their stories of creative careers in a culture full of Western style, but not its freedoms. Entering the space it was clear it was going to be pretty special.

MONOLITH, 2022, Wood, metal, perspex mirrors and glitter

The portraits are small but the impact is large, especially against the hand-painted geometric pattern, based on traditional Islamic design, which covers the floor and walls of the space. The space is calming and a space for reflection.

There are so many inspirational stories contained within the exhibition and the exhibition guide shares so much more than the short summary I’m sharing here.

Googoosh (1950- )

Known as Googoosh, Faegheh Atashin is possibly the biggest star of 20th century Iran, who began performing at 3, becoming a child star at just 7. She’s known for her prolific music-making releasing more than 200 songs in the 60s and 70s. She was imprisoned for a short time and released on the condition of no more singing in public, though she relaunched her career in 2000 when she was allowed to leave the country again.

Her short hair cut was known as the ‘Googooshy’ - and there aren’t many people that get one of those named after them - I can think of two others, though I’m sure there’s more. The Purdey - yes I’m showing my age, and the Rachel - still old, but not quite so much!

If you’re none the wiser, the Purdey was from The Avengers and was Joanna Lumley’s character, and Rachel was from Friends.

GOOGOOSH 1950- The Love Addict (Portraits of Googoosh), 2019

Forouzan (1937-2016)

Filmfarsi superstar Forouzan’s breakthough role come in 1965 and made her reputation as one of Iran’s most alluring and bankable actors. She made more than 60 films and was the best paid female performer in the industry and remained in Iran after the Islamic revolution in 1979. She was released from prison after signing a letter of repentance, but her money and property were seized by the courts and she died in obscurity, never giving interviews again.

FOROUZAN 1937-2016 - Hey Baby I’m a Star (Portrait of Forouzan), 2019

It’s clear that each of the portraits are a labour of love using the ancient technique of egg tempera - painted onto calf vellum with a squirrel-hair brush. The exhibition title borrowed from David Bowie’s song pays tribute to the courage of these female stars as the 1979 revolution left them with a stark choice: renounce any role in public life or be forced into exile. Given the demonstrations currently taking place in Iran, this exhibition is timely though I’m sure it was already in the Barbican’s programme, but it really does give plenty of food for thought on history, and how things really haven’t changed in the intervening years.

But despite all of that, the courage of these women is remarkable, and for me that was summed up in one of the posters in the shop.