Undulling for multiculturalists

All work and no play makes us dull.

Last weekend a suprise visit by my cousin from Canada hurled us out to Tate Britain to see the Picasso show.

Click on the links to see what I’m talking about below – gorgeous images online.

But there’s a hidden gem in the smaller Migrations exhibition – from Holbein to stunning contemporary pieces – showing the two-way impact of artists with overseas roots working in Britain.

Top billing for me were works by Francis Alÿs (Belgium), Rasheed Araeen (Pakistan) and Sonia Boyce (Caribbean).

The catalogue, in spite of typos, is full of detail on how ‘the arrival of newcomers continues to transform the urban geography, fuel the economy. and contribute to the cutltural life of Britain.’

Here’s my London list for undulling.

1.  Alighiero Boetti’s Game Plan at Tate Modern – for map geeks (who could also have a look at this) and anyone trying to make sense of the world (ends 27th May)
2.  Meetings in Marrakech: The paintings of Jassan El Glaoui and Winston Churchill at Leighton House Museum, ‘a tribute to the enduring and celebrated friendship between two extraordinary personalities, two  great families, two countries, united by a vast creative spirit.’ (ends 31st March)
3. Can We Talk About This? by Lloyd Newson at the National Theatre with DV8 – ‘From the 1989 book burnings of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses, to the murder of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh and the controversy of the ‘Muhammad cartoons’ in 2005, DV8’s new production examines how these events have reflected and influenced multicultural policies, freedom of speech and censorship.’ Also described on last night’s BBC2 Review Show as polemic. (ends 28th March)
4. Mustafa by Naylah Ahmed at the Soho Theatre – ‘Mustafa is in prison for the death of a teenage boy during an exorcism .. Is Mustafa the evil killer of a teenager or a brave innocent man who risked his life to deliver the boy from a dangerous entity?’ (ends 24th March)

And I’ve yet to see Hockney at the Royal Academy and Hajj at the British Museum.  This afternoon I’m catching the last day of Lawrence Abu Hamdan’s Aural Contract: The Freedom of Speech Itself at Showroom.  Pity I missed their Right To Silence series.

Thanks Sue – a whirlwind visit which stirred us out of winter and away from desks and meetings :)