ARTS & CULTURE
Originally published on Monday, 04 August 2008
Highlighting the best of London's cultural life in the month ahead, David Waters routs out the artistic truffles from under the cultural leaf-litter.
Can't get through August without…
…catching an open-air movie. Watch Claude LeLouch's cult guerilla road movie, Two-Lane Blacktop, as chosen by US pop artist Richard Prince (he of the Louis Vuitton collaboration, and currently exhibiting next door at the Serpentine Gallery). You'll have an insight into the artist-as-handbag-maker's inspiration, which is pure raw, trashy Americana. The Frank Gehry-designed Serpentine pavilion backdrop adds another US cultural twist to your evening's entertainment.
Two-Lane Blacktop • August 15 • £8, £6 adv.
...getting into a spin at the Roundhouse with Miss Behave's Variety Nighty. Roll up, roll up for the sword-swallowing cabaret star extraordinaire and her motley crew of comedic, contorting, gyrating circus pals. This ain't gonna tax the grey stuff, but who cares when going to the theatre can be this much fun. And if Miss Behave gets a gushing reviews from non other than Miss Joan Rivers, that's enough to for us to flash our plastic.
Miss Behave’s Variety Night • until August 24 • £13.50-£15 • Box office, 0844 482 8008.
...grabbing the last chance to see the Hayward Gallery's 40th birthday exhibition, Psycho Buildings, which finishes at the end of the month. Featuring installations by space creatives of renown such as Artelier Bow-Wow, Tomas Saraceno and Rachel Whiteread, this is not so much an art exhibition as a space within a space head trip. Not for vertigo-inclined.
Psycho Buildings • until August 25 • £10
...avoiding the yellow brick road leading up to The Wizard of Oz in the main auditorium of the Royal Festival Hall. Instead head downstairs to the Hall's ballroom on Friday nights before and after curtain up and watch a host of twisted cabaret taking inspiration from the camp-fest that is Oz. This is where your 'friend of Dorothy' brother and anyone in pigtails and gingham will really want to hang out. Look out for twisted cabaret stars such as Johnny Woo and Timberlina, David Hoyle and Nathan Evans.
The Wizard of Oz • until August 31 • alternative shows free.
...hearing new poetry voices at the Whitechapel Gallery with Plum and music by Kaisa. Galleries, theatres, even Trafalgar Square be-Jesus! can no longer just do what they say on the box. They have to mix things up with one-off performances, stagings and happenings which have more than a touch of Da-Da and a hint of the Situationist vibe. You had to be there, man! Poetry is at the vanguard of this urban space mix up. Who'd of thunk it?
Plum • August 7 • Free.
...stunning your eyes with first time Japanese film maker Mika Ninaugauen's richly visual Sakuran at the ICA; and... having your cultural nouse fine-tuned by the Jeff Bridges-narrated documentary about the beat-nik LA arts scene where artists like Ed Ruscha and Robert Irwin found their groove, The Cool School, both at the ICA this month.
Sakuran • August 29-31 • £8
The Cool School • August 16, 17, 19 & 25 • £8
