Wee Birdy

Going, going ... Walking in My Mind

The wonderful Walking in my Mind exhibition at the Hayward Gallery closes on Sunday, so you might like to take advantage of tonight's late night opening (until 10pm) to check it out.

Yayoi Kusama's lifelong obsession with polka-dots is realised on a grand scale at the Hayward, with giant blow-up sculptures taking over one room and spilling out on to the sunny terrace. The red and white globules are dotted around the hyper-real green astroturf like super-sized ladybirds. Such a brilliant view (and an exceptionally nice place to park yourself for a bit of a gallery break)! 

But most delightful, perhaps, is the sight of Yayoi's polka-dot emblazoned trees, lining the promenade along Southbank like a joyously infectious pox.

I was also excited to see Yoshitomo Nara's little shed/bedroom/drawing room in all its creepy-kawaii-cuteness. It was a fascinating and voyeuristic insight into his world of sweet-and-sinister characters - not to mention an opportunity to peek at his awesome collection of kitsch figurines.

The other artists in the exhibition include Charles Avery, Thomas Hirschhorn, Bo Christian Larsson, Mark Manders, Jason Rhoades, Pipilotti Rist, Chiharu Shiota and Keith Tyson.

Walking in My Mind: Adventure into the artist's imagination
Hayward Gallery
Until 6 September 2009
10am-6pm (late night Friday until 10pm)
£9 adults
Nearest tube: Waterloo

Yoshitomo Nara My Drawing Room 2008, bedroom, (2009 installation), copyright the artist. Photography by Roger Wooldridge. Courtesy of The Hayward Gallery, 200

Shopping in London: V&A shop

Over the past couple of years I’ve posted quite a lot about my favourite bits and pieces from various London museums and galleries, but I’ve never delved into any great detail about the actual shops themselves. So naturally, that’s about to change…

It’s a given that any gallery-goer’s journey will end in the designated shop space – in fact their presence (and the promise of a toy dinosaur) has been used as the proverbial dangling carrot to get many a child through the tedium of an exhibition itself. But some of the world’s greatest and most-loved museums and galleries (New York’s MoMA, London’s Tate Modern, Design Museum and the V&A) have evolved in such a way that their shops are a retail (and tourist) destination in their own right.

I must confess that I’ve been guilty, on more than one occasion, of making a specific gift-buying dash to the V&A shop, without so much as a peep in at any of the permanent collection galleries (I know, shameful behaviour!). But that’s because the V&A, in particular, offers up an expertly-edited line-up of gifts, accessories, books and children’s toys – all perfect candidates for being packaged up and sent away to friends and family far away.

There's also a dedicated bookshop, with subjects spanning the worlds of design, art, fashion, textiles, jewellery, photography and architecture. And they always have an extensive range of the most gorgeous cards:

The website is also an excellent source for all manner of design-led products and accessories, and autumn/winter’s new collection has just arrived online. I’m loving the cherry brooch by Francoise Montague, squirrel ring box by Jonathan Adler, and chirpy cicada brooch.

There's also a really lovely selection of luxe hairbands and headpieces, like this little pleated beauty ...

The shop is also particularly good when it comes to accessing a clever range of kids’ toys, games and activities, starting at pocket-money prices. I’m particularly fond of the vintage-style wind-up tin toys, like this circus elephant, and these Clifford Richards cat and fairy notebooks.

The V&A also have a brilliant prints service, where you can order any print from their vast collection in the size, format and paper of your choice.

Also keep an eye out for pieces from the Cherry on a Cake collection, a brilliant line of limited edition designer collaborations, making them perfect (read: non-crap) souvenirs for tourists and London newcomers alike. Inspired by the museum’s extensive collections, you can take your pick from a stunning Grayson Perry doll (at a super-cool £4000, wow) or a Concise Book of Patterns necklace by Comfort Station. Art and history has never been so wearable.

The V&A Shop
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Tel. 020 7942 2687
Nearest tube: South Kensington
Click here for a Wee Birdy map.

Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 10am-5.30pm
Late night every Friday until 9.45pm

What to take home: Martin Grover bus stop prints

I'm loving the new prints and tiles by London-based artist Martin Grover: London iconography, pathos and an irreverent sense of humour rolled into one. Most excellent. They're available now from Rob Ryan's shop Ryantown on Columbia Road.