Cathy's Art Diary

Glorious exhibition in Brighton Pavilion of hats by designer Stephen Jones. The hats were shown among the usual furniture and displays and were displayed in witty ways.   They blended so well with the over the top décor. I loved the scene in the dining room where they showed hats he had made for bespoke clients with one in each seat around the dining table setting up a wonderful fantasy dinner party. There was Kylie at one end and Lady Gaga at the other. Three hats from cat walk shows were displayed up the stairs on mannequins with outfits they’d been worn with. The kitchen was set up with food and nature related hats some of which blended into the artificial food in the display. I loved a red swan hat in the fireplace facing the stuffed swan in the display. In another room hats inspired by the board game Cluedo were shown on large chess pieces. The whole thing has such fun, my only moan was the labels which were interesting and had good quotes but were hard t...

Interesting exhibition at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery looking at plans for and images of the area around the Royal Pavilion. It was lovely to be seeing this having walked through the Pavilion Gardens and the museum itself being part of the estate. The focus was some wonderful new 3D images for a virtual reality tour  which were really sharp and clear. I’ve not tried the tour yet but I will do. Alongside these modern images were historical ones starting with a picture from when Pavilion area was stables and including the ground floor plan by Pugin. There were also nice photographs including one of pigs in the gardens during the Second World War. I loved the inclusion of books including an 1841 guide book, a Georgette Heyer novel and Raymond Brigg’s “The Snowman” in which the snowman and the boy fly over the Pavilion. Closes on 3 September 2017

Nice little exhibition at Brighton Pavilion looking at the life of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince Regent, whose sudden death in 1817 saw a public outpouring of grief. The exhibition told her story well. From how she was removed from her mother and her parents separated almost as soon as she was born, though her upbringing a heir to the thrown to her tragic death in child birth following a romantic wedding the previous year. The Queen had lent Charlottes wedding dress for the exhibition which was a beautiful silver empire line gown.   I did however prefer the recent exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery looking at Charlotte and Victorian and comparing their lives and how they were portrayed as it had a bit more depth.  

Installation by Geraldine Pilgrim at Brighton Pavilion as the first of their new annual contemporary art commission. This installation consisted by 4 pagodas in different areas of the Pavilion to recall the six porcelain pagodas commissioned by the Prince Regent for the music room. “Reflection” in the kitchen mirrored the shiny copper pans around it and contained cutlery. Upstairs “Translucent” was made of Cluny lace and lit with blue light.   I found them a welcome addition to a trip round the Pavilion.