Two exhibitions in a day

Planned weeks in advance with my Grandad and Dad our visit to the Edvard Munch exhibition at the Tate Modern was some what of a disappointment. Having read some reviews the critics response was in general positive and I feel my expectations were set too high.
Though well spaced out and well curated by theme the collection it's self seemed just medicoa. None of the paintings there had the impact of The Scream. Much of his work looked at many of Munch's own issues; agoraphobia, lost sight, alcoholism and an ever long list of issues, yet nothing it seemed could compare to his most famous work, The Scream.
His photographs gave an insight to his own fascination of his own self image, yet the many out of focus, lost shots didn't seem to add much to the viewers experience.
Leaving the exhibition my Dad, Grandad and I all agreed it was "alright". However I feel my real disappointed was extended with a surprise visit to the Courthauld Galleries afterwards to kill a bit of time.
Visiting Musee D'Orsay two summers ago confirmed my love for the impressionists. Dagas is by no deliberation one of my favourite artists and the small collection of Cezanes to Monets to Degas' outshone the Edvard Munch exhibition by miles.
Just a few small rooms over two floors displaying Medieval, Renaissance, Impressionist and Modern work (and a cafe with great mint tea and a beautiful staircase too) my first visit to the Courthauld Gallery exceeded all expectations and a recommendation for sure.

Edward Degas (1833-1917)
Two Dancers on Stage (1874)

Edward Degas (1833-1917)
Woman at a window (1871-72)

Cezanne (1839-1906)
The Montange Saint-Victoire

The Staircase at the Courthauld

Baked White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake with Chocolate Covered Strawberries

My own cheesecake was inspired from a mix of different recipes from one of my favourite websites for new recipes BBC GoodFood.

• 
  
• Ingredients                        
• 300g digestive biscuits
• 60g melted butter
• 600g low fat cream cheese
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 175g golden caster sugar
• vanilla extract
• 2 eggs , plus 1 yolk
• 150ml pot soured cream
• 400g raspberries
• 100g white chocolate , chopped into small pieces
• 1 tbsp icing sugar
• 300g strawberries
• 45g dark chocolate

1. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. crush the biscuits in a food processor (or put them in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). mix with the butter. Press into a 20cm spring-form tin and bake for 5 minutes. Leave to cool.
2. Beat the cream cheese with the flour, sugar, a few drops of vanilla, eggs, the yolk and soured cream until light and fluffy. Stir in 300g of the raspberries and the white chocolate and pour into the tin. Bake for 50 minutes and then check - it should be set but slightly wobbly in the centre. Leave in the tin to cool completely, then chill for 2 hours.
3. With the rest of the raspberries in a pan with 1 tbsp icing sugar. Push through a sieve once soft and leave to cool. 
4. Melt the dark chocolate in a bowl over boiling water. Once melted dip the strawberries into the dark chocolate and leave to harden in the fridge on a cling film covered plate. 
5. To serve dribble the raspberry sauce over the cheesecake and decorate with the chocolate covered strawberries. 

The First Post

Today I visited the Thomas Heatherwick exhibition at the V&A. Completely booked up until it finishes on Sunday 30th September it was completely understandable upon entering. The back of the red routemaster bus remodel is the first thing to be noticed from the ticket office and begins to build the well deserved expectations. 
Perhaps most widely and recently known for his design of the Olympic Cauldron in the London 2012 Olympics, the copper petal and mini model are just the beginning of Heatherwick's creativity used with a mix of beautiful aesthetics and function is absolutely amazing. From the buildings to bridges to christmas cards each piece stands out on it's own. The Sheung Wan Hotel in Hong Kong stood out as one of my favourite buildings while the East Beach Cafe decided an unknown want to visit Little Hampton. Yet what I loved most was the bridges. The technology used to create the curling bridge was an original and beautiful idea. 
Ending and starting the exhibition in the entrance hall was perhaps one of the funnest elements of Heatherwick's designs, the Spun chair. 

You can check out more of his work on his website Heatherwick Studio or check out his most recent book Thomas Heatherwick: Making. 

The Sheung Wan Hotel in Hong Kong

The Olympic Cauldron

My friend Hannah in the Spun chair

The Rolling Bridge