In a new series, London’s leading arts figures reveal the books, films, TV and more they're loving in lockdown.
Iwona Blazwick, director of Whitechapel Gallery, gave us her recommendations, from online art to poetry read out loud.
Art
There is a vast horizon of art online ready to be explored on museum and gallery websites. From Whitechapel Gallery’s artist’s films from around the world, to the Centre Pompidou’s two-minute art history lessons about modern art, to the New Museum’s digital artworks, including Sam Lavigne and Tega Brain’s The Good Life — featuring 225,000 emails from the Enron Archive they say will take just seven years to read. By which time we will have beaten coronavirus.
TV
When you need a criminal lawyer — no, a criminal lawyer — Better Call Saul. This ravishingly shot, genius prequel to Breaking Bad shines the glittering lights of Albuquerque New Mexico on the dark goings-on of a chicken take-away drug lord, a ruthless corporation and a conman turned attorney for the poor, Jimmy McGill, aka Saul Goodman (… s’all good man!). We’re on season five — the tightly coiled ponytail of his girlfriend, lawyer Kim Wexler, plays a starring role, and every episode takes a surreal turn. Look out for the ant’s eye view of a discarded ice-cream.
Books
After dinner and before the sofa we’ve been reading poetry out loud. Lemn Sissay’s Gold from the Stone (Canongate) does what it says on the tin — from a love-free childhood Sissay emerged with an extraordinary delight in language and daily existence. In his words: “‘How do you do it?’ said night. ‘How do you wake and shine?’ ‘I keep it simple,’ said light. ‘One day at a time.’” Also useful in this inbetween-time: Documents of Contemporary Art — Boredom. Artists and thinkers reveal how boredom is a prerequisite for creativity.
Music
I’ve been exploring the bright minimalist compositions of Jonathan Dove, which bring a thrilling rhythm to working from home.
