One exhibition showcases rare behind-the-scenes photographs of fantastic US rock band Blondie. The free display at the Barbican Music Library features 50 images taken in New York during the group’s breakthrough year in 1978, when they released their best-known album, Parallel Lines.
The photographs were taken by music photographer Martyn Goddard, who documented the band in concert, backstage, in the studio and during photo shoots. He said: “When I boarded the plane in May 1978 to photograph Blondie’s lead singer, Debbie Harry, in New York, I could not have conceived that there would still be a demand for my images over 45 years later”.
Mr Goddard described the exhibition as a visual snapshot of a key moment in Blondie’s history, capturing the band’s “energy, rawness, and style”.
“Those assignments produced a body of work that resulted in magazine cover stories, album and single covers, tour programmes, posters, a book, and two photo exhibitions.”
After visiting the gripping Mona Hatoum + Giacometti exhibition a few weeks ago I have just visited another extraordinary Barbican event. Called Dirty Looks, ‘it explores how dirt and decay have been used to defy beauty standards, and why it’s going through a resurgence in young designers’ work. As a counterpoint to glossy digital perfection, these artistic practices point us to a new way of thinking about a sustainable fashion future.’
There is lots to see and incredibly detailed signage along with a really useful free guide book. So I shall just be sharing images with you so, hopefully, you can get a sense of the show and maybe feel inspired to visit – I strongly recommend it.
You know you’re in for an unusual time when, in the first installation, you encounter the late Queen Elizabeth’s pristine wellies …
… along with Kate Moss’s muddy ones …
Before looking at my images, you might find it helpful to read a few of the reviews. This one is from The Guardian and this from The Standard.
Mona Hatoum and Alberto Giacometti have been paired in the second of a series of exhibitions at the Barbican presenting the work of the sculptural luminary alongside that of 21st-century artists. You get a first glimpse of what’s in store as you cross Gilbert Bridge and see Hatoum’s Hot Spot glowing across the gap between the Barbican’s iconic concrete pillars …
Three of Hatoum’s works are on display in the foyer outside the library and the exhibition itself. Jonathan Jones writes in his Guardian review: ‘Mona Hatoum’s show begins with an indelible afterimage of modern war. Into a stack of welded steel boxes resembling an apartment block in a city that could be anywhere, Hatoum has melted or blasted holes imitating drone or missile strikes. Parts of interior walls and floors have been shorn away to look like apartments with their fronts blown off. This is the shell of what was once a home to many, emptied out by war, like the buildings you saw on the news last night’.
It’s called Bourj, which means ‘tower’ in Arabic …
In this blog I am just going to show some of the images I took when I visited the exhibition along with their title. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the most disconcerting and thought-provoking experience I have ever had at a Barbican event – strongly recommended.
I suggest you read the review by Jonathan Jones before you look at my pictures since it will provide a very useful perspective. You will find the full article here. I also enjoyed reading this interview with the artist in The Observer.
Hatoum: Remains of the Day, 2016-18 …
Giacometti: Woman with Her Throat Cut, 1932 …
Giacometti: The Cage, 1950-51 …
Hatoum: Cube, 2006 …
Giacometti: The Nose, 1947 …
Hatoum: A Bigger Splash, 2009 …
Hatoum: Round and Round, 2007 …
Giacometti: Four Figurines on a Pedestal, 1950 …
Giacometti: The Cat, 1951 …
Hatoum: Incommunicado, 1993 …
Hatoum: Interior Landscape, 2008 …
Hatoum: 4 Rugs (made in Egypt), 1998-2015 …
Hatoum: Divide, 2025 …
Hatoum: Hot Spot (stand), 2018 …
I liked this reflection …
Various other items on display …
Hatoum: Over my dead body, 1988 …
There is an excellent free guide to go with the exhibition …
I’m pleased to say that the lovely people at Daunt Books Cheapside are still supporting me by displaying my book in the much-favoured position right beside the till …
Do visit if you’re searching for books to read now the evenings are closing in. The best and friendliest bookshop in the City …
The Guildhall Art Gallery sometimes describes itself as ‘The City’s best kept secret’ and this often seems to be the case when I visit. Free entry, a wonderful collection of pictures, free tours every day, and a Roman Amphitheatre for good measure – and often very few visitors. At the moment it’s hosting a superb exhibition of work by artist Evelyn De Morgan which I wrote about in my April Blog. I have also previously written about some of my favourite London scenes that are on display there.
It has a splendid little shop with some excellent books on sale …
