Natural History Museum
The
Natural History Museum in South Kensington is a wonder in two parts.
Firstly, Alfred Waterhouse's Romanesque architecture is stunning
(ignoring the modern expansion), featuring a variety of terracotta
ornamentation fitting to each exhibits theme1.
Without entering a single exhibit, the building itself makes for a
worthwhile visit. But of course the natural treasures are worth a
glance or stare. While the exhibits include everything you'd expect
to find in a Natural History Museum, the exhibits are of course all
expansive, and picking your interests will save you a head-ache. For
instance, I love mammals, but am not inspired by taxidermy, so I
can't tell you anything of that section (although impressive I'm
sure). What I can recommend is the Treasure Room and the Vault. The
Treasure Room features amazing natural artifacts that are also
historical milestones: from the first discovered Neanderthal skull
and meteorite; from a first edition copy of Darwin's On the Origin
of the Species (which features a Venus-like mostly naked lady
-sex sells evolution) to an original painting of John James Audubon.
Plus a Dodo bird skeleton. Complete treat for any science and/or
history geek.
The
Vault, at the back of the geology exhibit, features some of the
museums finest geological treasures. Mars meteorites, cursed jewels,
and a elaborately decorated diamond and gold encrusted snuff box.
Most impressive perhaps is a display featuring the Aurora Pyramid of
Hope; a collection of 296 diamonds featuring the entire natural color
range. Some of these diamonds react to ultra-violet light (which the
display phases in and out of) shining with a rare neon florescence,
hence being named after the Aurora Borealis. I can only assume that
the name “The Vault” is not mere decoration and would hate to see
how securely and quickly the room would lock down if any alarm was
tripped.
Many
more exhibits are housed in this building, but after these two rooms
housing some of the best of the museums natural treasures (as well as
the architecture being a treasure in of itself), I was able to walk
away having seen as much natural beauty and historical artifacts as
my mind can handle in a single afternoon.
Sadler's Wells;
Barbarians
Barbarians is not a
dance piece for everyone. During the talk back, an American audience
member stated cheerleaders danced better. The sound design could be
described as “oppressive”, with the bass tones rattling your
seat. The energy and lighting was similar to a rock concert at times,
too a further degree than I would have expected if not for the name
of the trilogy (I mean, “Barbarians” is kind of a hint,
right?) to the point that someone should have sold ear plugs in the
lobby. The pieces were intense enough that several of our group
suffered extremely strong emotional responses. So it was not for
everyone. By the Gods of all things performance, I swear the pieces
felt like Samuel Beckett had teamed with Stanley Kubrick in some
alternative universe to produce dance.
In what was an
entrancing evening; Hofesh Shechter Company produced with Sadler's
Wells Theatre an ineffable interpretation on love (intimacy and all
things beautiful) and more love (obsession and all things ugly) in
brutal honesty. To a sound track ranging from pulsing techno, raging
drum and bass, upbeat hip-hop, to classical baroque. Yes baroque.
“English Country Garden” to be more specific. The theatre was
brimming with manufactured fog so that every angle and movement of
the many automated lights (used extensively and timed perfectly to
audio cues) was clear and vivid. There was a voice over that sounded
like the wife of HAL 9000. There was gold spandex and full
lederhosen. There was a psychiatrist chair and teddy bear utilized
for the talk back with the choreographer. The final duet ranged from
sensual, to all out violently sexual. This piece was out there in
style, but a style that I completely resonated with, though I was
disappointed not to see more heads bobbing in time with the music.
Can't recommend Barbarians to those not ready for the completely
barbaric, though after two amazing shows, I can recommend Sadler's
Wells Theatre to anyone ready to see innovative and powerful dance
performances.
The Journey
"One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice-
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles
'Mend my life!'
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do
determined to save
the only life you could save."
-Mary Oliver
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