Cathy's Art Diary

Bright installation in Covent Garden of neon lights by Chila Burman. This consisted of huge, wacky neon sculptures around the market building of peacocks, tigers and snakes and bulls illuminating the space, plus uplifting words wonderful kaleidoscopic colours, all inspired by Burman’s Hindu Punjabi heritage. I’d not realised this was there and had already found the sculpture of a tiger in lights but was bowled over when I entered the market building to find this mix of images and quotes. I loved this snake and pig. It was all a bit like their Christmas decorations but not at Christmas. Closed 10 October 2021      

Quirky decoration of National Trust property Polesden Lacey for Christmas. This year’s decorations, by contemporary artists NEON, take inspiration from the society hostess, Margaret Greville, who lived there. Using her jewellery collection, which is now part of the Royal Collection, they take elements of the jewels and create three installations within the house. The Trust then responded to these quirky displays with a more traditional approach in the next room. My favourite room, shown here, was the billiard room hung with diamond shaped frames which moved gently in a breeze casting different shadows around the room. I also liked the corridor to the servants quarters lined with white foliage and feather balls. Closed 6 January 2020

Delightful decoration of National Trust property Standen as a family Christmas of the 1930s. The property was filled with scenes the life of the family of the house, the Beales, from a room set up for present wrapping, a dining table at the end of a food fight and the simple decorations in the servants’ hall. I loved a bust with added pearls and nostalgic paper chains. Outside the Trust had commissioned designers, NEON to decorate a large tree which they did with gold wind chimes which tinkled gently and glimmered as the wind caught the branches. Closed 5 January 2020