Hot day in the city

We went up to London to visit the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy today. Last year we had left out the architecture room, thinking that we would return - but didn't. So this year we decided to do it in two bites - with lunch in between - on one day, ... and a collapse with tea and cake at the end!

The beginning was very good. In the courtyard is Jeff Koons' stunning piece Coloring Book. My snaps are first looking up, second the side view, and third ...

a view apparently through the piece. It is a reflection of the building behind me that can be seen in the photo, but because it is set in a square of similar build, it looks transparent.

The rest of the exhibition is interesting, less frenetic as there are fewer pieces, but I was drawn to little on show. My absolute favourite beyond doubt is the Anselm Kiefer beautiful Aurora. Nothing quite blew me away like that did.

I was delighted by Sonia Lawson's works throughout the rooms, but especially by Edge of Spring, and Fait du beaux reve.
There were works by people whose work I like, but nothing especially different to strike me. I was slightly disappointed with the placement of Ian McKeever's prints and acrylics. To me they suffer from the proximity of the funfair of the hang.

As ever, however, I make new discoveries. Last year it was Hughie O'Donoghue. This year it was two sculptors: Ann Christopher with Marks on the edge of space, and Kenneth Draper. The work of each of them has set my brain tingling. And tea and cake in the Friends' Room was refreshing!