How Many Books Did I Read in 2024?
Last December, I met up with my friend Fabian for coffee. As usual, it wasn’t long before we started talking about books. “Have you set your reading challenge for the next year?” he asked. No, I haven’t, and I won’t. I applaud people for setting such goals, but for me, reading is leisure and pleasure, and […]
My Travel Year in Review – 2024 Wrapped
After travelling obsessively for over two years (no doubt as a shock response to the pandemic!), I went for a slightly different approach in 2024. This meant fewer ad hoc trips and a more intentional selection. I prioritised some of my favourite destinations over going somewhere just for the sake of being away every month, […]
Landscape at Play by Jan Woolf – a new exhibition at the Tavistock Centre
Jan Woolf is a writer and artist. She has edited many books, written a number of plays, and published reviews and other pieces of journalism in the Guardian, International Times and more. Jan is also a political activist. This month, she’s showing a collection of recent artworks at the Tavistock Centre. Landscape at Play features […]
Vieni con me a Van Gogh Walk nel sud di Londra
Sapevate che 150 anni fa viveva Vincent Van Gogh nel sud di Londra? Ha trascorso un anno tra 1973 e 1974 in una casa in Hackford Road. Oggi funziona come un museo, Van Gogh House. Lo potete visitare e prenotare un tour ogni fine settimana. A 10 minuti da lì si trova Van Gogh Walk […]
Old City Inn Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan (Review)
You might have heard that the Old City isn’t the best place to stay in Baku. But I found it just right! Although much quieter than the Fountains Square area (the actual centre and heart of Baku), it still has lots to do. And the rates are significantly lower! Old City Inn Hotel is in […]
Margot Schiemann Opens Riverbanks of Grief at the Tavistock Centre
Margot Schiemann is a London-based psychotherapist and visual artist. She has exhibited at the Institute of Group Analysis, the Medical Art Society and Burgh House, among others. This month, she’s showing her collection Riverbanks of Grief at the Tavistock Centre in North London. Speaking at the exhibition launch last Friday, Margot discussed the word “trauma”, […]
Baku, Azerbaijan – Useful Info and Travel Advice
I spent nice few days in Baku earlier this year, and I also want you to give this underrated place a try! This is a quick post with tips, heads-ups and recommendations. Baku Main Information Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan, a transcontinental country in the Caucasus. Until 1991, Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet […]
“Art has really, really helped me” – an interview with Jo Aidoo
This October, artist Jo Aidoo returned to the Tavistock Centre with a new exhibition. She previously had a successful solo show here in 2023, and also took part in Tavi Open. Her new exhibition Faces, with African Twist was part of our Black History Month celebration. Jo was born in Ghana and now lives in […]
First Time in Baku, Azerbaijan. My New Favourite City?
On my way to work, I used to walk past the Azerbaijan Visa Centre in London. “That’s an obscure place to visit. I wonder if many people go there”, I remember thinking. I wasn’t even quite sure where it is… And little did I know that a few years later, one of those people will […]
Q&A with Alla Rubitel, Artist and Psychiatrist
In September, I hosted June Corpuz and Alla Rubitel at the Tavistock Centre for a collaborative show. Their exhibition Structures by Man and Nature featured over 30 artworks in a variety of mediums, including cyanotype, aquatint and Japanese woodblock print. Alla Rubitel is a London-based artist as well as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at the […]
Getting from Ohrid to Tirana by Bus
Taking a bus in the Balkans is the most efficient and economical way of getting around. Whatever your itinerary, there’s likely to be a suitable connection available. But when I went online before my trip from Lake Ohrid in Macedonia to Albania’s capital city of Tirana, I found scarce information and contradictory timetables. My journey […]
Q&A with artist June Corpuz
In September, I hosted June Corpuz and Alla Rubitel at the Tavistock Centre for a collaborative show. Their exhibition Structures by Man and Nature featured over 30 artworks in a variety of mediums, including cyanotype, aquatint and Japanese woodblock print. June Corpuz is a largely self-taught contemporary artist and printmaker. She has a particular interest […]