Cathy's Art Diary

Surprising statue in Waterloo Place off Pall Mall by Bansky. I say surprising as in true Bansky fashion it appeared overnight. I popped to see in it case it doesn't hang around and, as it's made of fibre glass, I'm not sure how well it will stand up to the elements. I joined about 50 people gazing and taking selfies. It looks impressive in the space and I took it as an anti-Reform comment and a warning against striding forward with a nationalist idea but blinded by that doctrine to the subtleties of the situation but that might just be me writing on the day of the local elections. From photos I had assumed it had a matt bronze like finish but in fact it had subtle white/grey highlights which make it more visible and distinct. Closes? Who knows! Reviews Times Guardian Telegraph Evening Standard

Fun offerings from contemporary artists in lockdown. I’ve been enjoying the new works of art artists are offering pictures of or downloads of during the Covid-19 lockdown. I loved Banksy’s witty redecoration of his bathroom captioned “My wife hates it when I work from home” shown here. It’s so witty and beautifully done but with that added sense of desperation we all feel of what on earth can I do now! Damien Hirst has produced a new butterfly picture called “Rainbow Butterflies” a limited edition of which will be sold for NHS charities but he has also provided a free downloadable poster version. I had only recently blogged his White Cube exhibition of butterfly mandalas so I was particularly excited to see this.   Tracey Emin did a seven day lockdown diary on Instagram, written thoughts, images and short film from her bathroom and studio, commissioned by White Cube. I’m not convinced thoughts on an art work are an art work in itself but then I often won...