Thursday 6th October: Stockholm Modern Art Museum

A trip to Stockholm and the INCREDIBLE Modern Art Museum which has a garden with Alexander Calder kinetic sculptures and Yayoi Kusama trees, an exclusive installation of Olafur Eliasson maquettes, a retrospective of Moki Cherry (Neneh Cherry's father) and an absolutely excellent permanent collection - I was in heaven!  I also jumped for joy when I found this rainbow painted subway station on the way!!!!  If you have the chance to visit the city I highly recommend a trip to this brilliant gallery!

Sunday 19th June: New Tate Modern

This weekend the Tate have opened the doors to their new structure which has been growing towards the sky, behind the power-station on the Thames.  It looms in different angular directions, with an exoskeleton of ventilated brick-work so that you can see thru to the gallery inside.  It's awesome.  The interior curves of cement makes it feel as monumental as the Guggenheim which is really exciting for London.  Just scaling each of the 10 floors is an adventure on its own, so the art was just a bonus on this first visit.  As you can see, there is a room of beds for when you might need a break!  

The new free exhibitions include work by Louise Bourgeois, Rebecca Horn, Lygia Clark, Yayoi Kusama ............ a great representation of female artists amongst the collection of international modern and contemporary art.  I need to go again to reach the summit viewing point and get round all of the shows............  

Look out for Michael Craig-Martin's pink and green TFL roundel's at Southwark as a commission from "Art On The Underground" to celebrate the new gallery opening.......... 

Thursday 26th May: Louisiana, Modern Art Museum, Copenhagen

Leading on from the Yayoi Kusama mirror rooms in London to her "Gleaming Lights of the Souls"  in Copenhagen at the Louisiana, Modern Art Museum where I found myself the following day!  It's in the most beautiful setting, out of town, on the coast with a backdrop of the sea's horizon.  Here are both the interior contemporary art galleries and the sculpture gardens that surround the space with works by Henry Moore, Alexander Calder and Jean Dubuffet.  Its a magical place to get totally lost and keep discovering steps up and down the hills to lakes and panoramic views.  It's tranquil bliss just a 40 minute train journey from the city centre and the best recommendation I have for any visit to Copenhagen.   Here are my highlights from the current show of acquisitions called "Illumination".

GL. STRANDVEJ 13, 3050 HUMLEBÆK

Thursday 26th May: Victoria Miro Mayfair: Yayoi Kusama's "My Eternal Soul" paintings

The third exhibition of Yayoi Kusama 's newest work at Victoria Miro's Mayfair site is a series of ‘infinity net’ pattern paintings called "My Eternal Soul".  Here are details from the large canvases of psycaedelic swirls and vibrating colour combinations.  Its incredible that she's been so prolific over the last seven decades and here is an opportunity to see her most recent 2D and 3D pieces across all three London galleries.

14 St George Street, London W1S 1FE

Weds 25th May: Yayoi Kusama at Victoria Miro

Victoria Miro's latest exhibition of new work from Yayoi Kusama spans across all three of the London spaces.  At the Wharf Road galleries, she has created three immersive mirror rooms: "All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins", "Chandelier of Grief" and "Where the Lights in My Heart Go".  I was lucky enough to attend the preview yesterday morning in the glorious sunshine, perfect for their pond of floating chrome balls “Narcissus Garden” and the new mirror room positioned on the adjacent decking.  To view from the outside, the box reflects the greenery of the garden but once inside, it feels like a tardis planetarium.  Tiny holes dotted in each wall allow shards of light to stream thru in constellations and a totally different way to experience Yayoi Kusama's patterns.  I won't explain anything else so as not to ruin the rest of the surprise in store for you.  Make sure you visit Victoria Miro's Angel Islington site to experience these wonders for yourself and check out the gift shop of silk pumpkins available........... however, sadly not the cosmic shirts as worn by the invigilators!  

Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW