Trafalgar Square Model

Trafalgar Square Model
Originally uploaded by d m.

They need to update this model of Trafalgar Square in the National Gallery with the Fourth Plinth projects. Other than that, it's clean tourist-free space is eerily accurate...

I made a brief visit to Reubens at the National today, which was OK, and also Jonathan Monk's project at the ICA, which is really excellent and probably Brian Sewell's worst nightmare. I tried to ignore the fact that it bore a passing resemblance to my work 5 years ago (well, probably the other way round) only much better executed. I mulled over what it takes to be succesful in the art world but as this line of thought made me despondant, I swiftly moved on.

Outside, I was quite heartened to see how conventional the Alison Lapper statue actually looks like once it has been rendered in Carrera marble at a suitably monolithic size. The pigeons are already making light work of aggresively attacking it's pristineness, which is good news.

After which I met a friend and we walked to the New Picadilly Cafe, just off Picadilly Circus, for a sandwich and cuppa which I was really looking forward to (having been described as "a place of reverence" by Classic Cafes) and have been meaning to visit for a while. The decor certainly is wonderful, however the experience was marred by lack-lustre portions. Still, a cup of tea was only 80p (50p with food) which you can't argue with, and soundly beats Starbucks at it's price-fixing game at any rate.