Symbols & Secrets

Walking the City of London

Two sets of photographic treats at the Barbican Library.

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.”

Here’s a selection.

Lots of memorabilia too …

Upstairs in the main library is another treat, work by the City of London and Cripplegate Photographic Society

Here’s a small selection …

Well worth a visit.

Finally, I couldn’t resist posting this picture of a cute dog!

… along with this important message from Beak&Squeak

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent

Dirty Looks at the Barbican – Desire and Decay in Fashion.

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.

Ma Ke: The Earth

Hussein Chalayan: Future Archaeology 1993 -2002

Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood: Nostalgia of Mud. Autumn/Winter 1983 …

Alexander McQueen: Highland Rape Autumn/Winter 1995 …

Jean Paul Gaultier: Autumn/Winter 2004 …

Items from John Galliano’s 2024 Artisanal collection for Mison Margiela …

Stains as Ornament …

13. Robert Wun: The Wine Stain Gown, Fear. Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2023

14. Hamish Morrow: From Function to Decoration. Spring/Summer 2002

Phoebe English and Helen Bullock

Glittering debris …

Leaky Bodies …

7. Di Petsa: My Body is a Labyrinth Spring/Summer 2025

8. Louis Gabriel Nouchi Spring/Summer 2023

Some more images from the exhibition …

Fascinating, fun and occasionaly shocking – what more could one ask for.

I couldn’t help but wonder, however, what the late Queen would have made of her wellies being part of this.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent

Some things that interested and amused me over the last week.

I hadn’t thought of a particular theme for this week’s blog so, as is my usual practice when this happens, this is a bit of a random collection.

Walking along the Barbican Highwalk I came across this friendly coot …

He strolled right up to my feet, looked up at me, and then carried on walking …

It posed a bit of a dilemma for me since his normal habitat is the lake and I wondered whether I should pick him up and place him on the parapet where he could see the water below. But he didn’t seem distressed, and I was reluctant to frighten him, so I let him contiue on his way. Maybe he was off to visit the Giacometti exhibition.

Or he could have been heading for the library for this event …

There are some great pictures on display, here are images of a few of them …

Some of the other items in the exhibition …

Well worth a visit.

I liked these artistic vapour trails …

I’m also a fan of Bidfood delivery van artwork (bit weird I know). This is a new one …

Some earlier favourites …

Good advice …

In amongst the cityscape, the weathervane of St Lawrence Jewry catches the sun …

Clever marketing near King’s Cross …

Medieval/Roman construction meets the modern day …

You can just glimpse The Gherkin in the distance – so sad it is now almost impossible to see from the west due to new developments …

Fire drill evacuation on Fore Street. Blue and white shirts for men still the most commonplace attire. See if you can spot the one chap wearing a tie…

Pimlico Plumbers licence plates, always good for a laugh …

American Judge endorses Kennedy’s Fish and Chips in Whitecross Street (I agree with his statement) …

Silk Street beds development.

January this year …

February …

March …

April/May …

June/July …

August …

September, it’s a forest …

As well as the Wonderful London books I wrote about earlier this month, I now have a new source of research, the London Topographical Record Volume XXXIII, which I received this week …

What it’s all about …

You can read more about the London Topographical Society and how to join here.

If you would like to follow me on Instagram here is the link …

https://www.instagram.com/london_city_gent

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