Blue and Chihuly

If Dale Chihuly was ever to want a bag for carrying his goods – I would happily be that bag. My first week in London has been punctuated with ups and downs but the biggest up so far has been my trip to Chihuly’s exhibition at the new Halcyon Gallery on New Bond Street. A stunning array of Chihuly’s intricate glass work and paintings, adorn the walls and floors in installations of intense colour and vivid imagery which contrast with the minimal, industrial feel of the building. Imposing Medusa chandeliers hang in the entrance, their serpent tendrils evoking ocean sensuality and the protuberances which erupt from the floor of the upstairs installation bring to mind a fantastical garden of flora. Chihuly explores the colour spectrum, happily playing with the palette and challenging the visual interpretation of his work. But it is the way which he transforms utility into the surreal which most appeals to my senses. His vessels, which make up a large part of the collection, change the perception of functionality. A flower, placed in a Chihuly vessel, would seem strangely forlorn – a piece of toast sitting on an antique Royal Doulton plate, still tasty but undeniably plain in comparison. Chihuly has somehow used nature as inspiration but bettered the outcome – the very illustration of a modern master.

I talked to Pierre, who, in some respects, thinks I am similar to one of Chihuly’s vessels – I am a functional bag, but somehow I am of greater aesthetic appeal to what is put inside me; objects which would normally be considered of great value, suddenly become worthless. I can only conclude that this is a compliment, despite its disguise.

But I digress; my first week has been as successful as I could have hoped. I thought my seams would split on the first day when I was asked to fetch a pack of 24 Diet Cokes from the supermarket. But thankfully they held out. Overall a good week: Fetching and carrying punctuated with long periods of sitting at a desk; the only problem being, I crease easily!   

Chihuly @ Halcyon Gallery, New Bond Street until March 31st 2012