Currently on exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery of London (from October 20, 2011 to January 8, 2012) is The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons. Here is my account on my visit to London and the exhibit.
Finally, we land and arrive in the London airport; and, yes, it is raining. It is already dark, and as we are driven through the streets of London, the old buildings appear romantically and mysteriously lit. It is as if we were in the same time period as Oliver Twist and My Fair Lady. We were here in the land of Emily Dickinson and Jane Austen, both of whom I love very much. The people on the pavement are all in dark, warm outfits, running into and away from one another to keep away from the rain. The color of their clothes, the color of the sky, and the the color of the buildings are all of the same matching tone of black, brown, and gray. “Yes, we are in London, and tomorrow, when I get up, I am going to immerse myself into its rich, deep culture,” I tell myself, as I open the car’s door to get out.
The next day, we have lunch at the Italian restaurant right in front of the National Portrait Gallery. Following lunch, we go to the gallery to see the exhibit, The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons.
Oh my, I just love what I am standing in front of. I just love what I am looking at. I love it, love it, love it. The combination of the photographs and the paintings are just fantastic. As I read the labels next to the paintings and the photographs, I notice that most of the artists are quite young too — young and very magical and talented. I am so totally impressed and inspired, and I can’t wait to go back home so I can start to paint again.
You may be interested in the following exhibitions:
The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons
Until 8 January 2012
Find out more: National Portrait Gallery
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2011
Until 12 February 2012
Find out more here
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Tags: & Literature, Actresses, Art, Film, First Actresses, London, Mahvash Mossaed, National Portrait Gallery, Nell Gwyn, Sarah Siddons
Posted in Art Reviews, Reviews |
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