A day like any other surrounded by the predecessors of the dead.

Today was bright and sunny yet in my heart, I just felt down and de-energised.  A vapid excuse for a human being.

The day began with a visit to the Burlington Galleries to see the Bill Woodrow exhibition.  His compositions ranging from deconstructed machinery either embedded in concrete implying historical value or in pieces across the floor.  Neat lines of components and segments that once formed a tape recorder being one composition.  Some of the pieces were painted with nectar and his fascination with beekeeping was evident too.  This was a twenty minute exhibition, one of those experiences that mean more if you simply absorb and run.  Modern art should come with a time limit.  It can be as transient as a sunny day and quickly replaced by the next best thing.

Following this visit, I stumbled my way to Green Park, where I tried to ease my mind by looking at birds, trees and squirrels.  I was saddened by the fate of the squirrels.  Domesticated scroungers who were literally eating out of the hands of people who fail to realise how wildlife is rendered useless and subject to harm through such unnecessary benevolence.

Squirrel on the scrounge.

I concluded my day at the Soho Theatre for 'Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen (Volume 2)'.  This production restored my faith in human creativity.  Arthur Smith arrived on stage shortly after the culmination of 'What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?', Elvis Costello's version of Nick Lowe's song.  Then through an hour of song, comedy and poetry, he simultaneously revealed aspects of his own life, Leonard Cohen's life and the nature of comedy.  Leonard Nimoy's poetry was the subject of particular ribbing, owing to his fixation on the eternal 'me'.  Towards the end of his performance, Arthur Smith made reference to the fact that 'the living are just the dead on holiday' and uttered the immortal phrase, 'Happy holidays!'  On a day when I feel there is little point, it takes an image of the ephemeral nature of humanity to cheer me up.  Leonard Cohen would be proud of your act, Arthur Smith!  Although, the nude guy in the Leonard Nimoy mask who leapt across the stage towards the end of the show will forever taint my appreciation of the Vulcan mindset.

Barry Watt - Sunday 16th February 2014.

Afterword

The Bill Woodrow exhibition has finished but the Arthur Smith show is running at the Soho Theatre until the 2nd March 2014 and is well worth seeing.

'What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?' originally appeared on Nick Lowe's album, 'The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz' and by Elvis Costello on his seminal 70s masterpiece, 'Armed Forces'.

'Vulcans' appear in some little known science fiction programme called 'Star Trek'.

BW