Hello, my name is Paul Smith

Ahh it sure is good to be back on old turf, if only for a one week whistle-stop. Admittedly I've been a little overambitious with the amount I want to squeeze in on my fleetin' LDN return (it's funny how much you grow to cherish homeland after going cold turkey for over three months), but I'm definitely having a good crack at catching up with much missed folk and hang-outs.

One of my first hits was the Design Museum's current exhibition, "Hello, my name is Paul Smith". Charting the globally renowned designer's rise to fashion fame and repute, from his humble Nottinghamshire beginnings to present-day prosperity, the display offers an aesthetically seductive and fascinating insight into the inner workings of Paul Smith; both the man and his eponymous brand. 

The exhibit is neatly divided into individual illustrative segments, from "The First Shop" to "The Hotel Bedroom" to "The Studio", showcasing a comprehensive combination of audiovisual material, original sketches, photographs, clothing and even Paul's personal art collection, plucked from his Covent Garden based studio. 

Running from 15 November 2013 - 09 March 2014, "Hello, my name is Paul Smith" is a vibrant, engaging and truly personal archive of Mr Smith's career. A must-see for all art/design/fashion/creative/retail/business kinda heads.

CentroCentro: El Arte del Presente {Colleción Helga de Alvear}

While art aficionados can certainly satisfy their cultural cravings at the most eminent of Madrid's museums, the "guidebook go-tos" if ya like, I've found that there really is much more to the art scene here than the likes of (the indubitably impressive) El Prado and La Reina Sofia. Plus, if like me you're not totally enthusiastic about the hordes of gallery goers these kinda places lure, you'll most probably embrace the more overlooked (but no less worthy) of the city's artsy hotspots. 

Exhibition space and all-round cultural core CentroCentro sure-as-dammit qualifies as one of these. Housed in the architecturally sound Palacio de Cibeles edificio [building], CentroCentro is a veritable gem for contemporary art buffs and architecture appreciators alike. For those partial to a pretty panorama, the site also boasts a viewing platform to peer over part of the city. And the cute little gift shop's worth a visit too.

However! On this occasion, I was keen to check out contemporary art exhibition El Arte del Presente [The Art of the Present], before it closed its doors on November 3rd. Well worth the cost of entrada at a super slender €2.50 (for students, at least), the collection was packed with some seriously striking visual art from a real plethora of disciplines. All the artists showcased have been supported in one way or another by Spain's most comprehensive contemporary art gatherer, Helga de Alvear. Hence the name cred. The refreshing intermingling of media and expressive forms, including video, installation, photography, drawing and sculpture, totally reflects Helga's interest in the works as entities rather than favouring a specific discipline. This made for a real fresh and eclectic mix of work. Here's a teeny taster:

ICA: Keep Your Timber Limber (Works on Paper)

Mall chillin'.

The Institute for Contemporary Arts (or ICA, as it likes to be called) is by no means a secret amid London's ever-blooming cultural backdrop. Nevertheless, it's amazing how many folk march pass this artsy hub, housed in a beautiful building on central London's The Mall. Just off Trafalgar Square, en route to Buckingham Palace.

It's a great little haunt, with its well-stocked bookstore, cute cinema, bustling bar (particularly of an evening) and thought-provoking melange of art pieces. As a student, too, membership is well worth it, costin' £10 a year. Perks include £3 cinema screenings every Tuesday, big fat discounts, free admission to a wealth of exhibitions and eeeeven a cheeky price deduction on entrance to BFI Southbank and IMAX. Win-win.

Come in, why don't ya.

Anyway. Currently running in the lower and upper galleries is a (in my opinion) cracking exhibition entitled Keep Your Timber Limber, which also has plenty of super interesting events surrounding its overriding themes and concerns. Zooming in on eight artists renowned for their often provocative and socially/politically/culturally transgressive works (namely Judith Bernstein, Tom of Finland, George Grosz, Margaret Harrison, Mike Kuchar, Cary Kwok, Antonio Lopez and Marlene McCarty), the collection consists solely of illustrations, all of which teeter on the brink of social palatability. 

Disclaimer: the display definitely isn't for the prudish. Addressing issues "ranging from the politics of gender and sexuality to feminist issues, war, censorship and race" (source link), the works are brazen, bold, laden with sexual imagery. They're an unabashed breach of and grappling with social "norms". Personally, I like that. 

Throughout its run (19 June - 8 September 2013), I've popped along to a debate on counter culture, a workshop named Honk! If Your Body's Not Yours and a bunch of other talks and film screenings. Really good stuff. Get down to The Mall.

Last night's venture.