Aaaargh. So little time so much to do.

I have been slow in updated the blog lately and a few things have happened since the last entry. First there was a meting with Nathalie down at The Three Guineas, the reading station pub. Then there was the artists talk in one of the waiting rooms. I missed my appointment with the elusive Nathania last week and feel quite bad about it. Mistimed, misplaced mistaken identity.

First Nathalie, it was good to meet one of my fellow countrymen. Inevitably the topic of conversation moved towards the political and the state of French society. Presidential elections are coming up very soon and the French people are wondering who to turn to for a leader. Our political institutions seem in disarray and some are talking about necessary reforms in the face of growing unease and division. Liberté Egalité, Fraternité, the motto of the republic appears more than ever to be just a veneer glossing over the reality of a deeply divided society. Still, most French people would disagree with the statement that there is no such thing as society. Social Darwinism anyone?

Then there was the artist talk in the waiting room. Hats off to Erica Burton for organising this project, dealing with a train company is difficult at the best of times (if you travel by train you’ll know what I mean), but to try and organise an art project in that specific context was asking for difficulty. She did it and I would not be writing this blog here otherwise. I really enjoyed meeting Jo one of the other artist involved, her son is at art college in his last year at Wimbledon school of Art and we had a good talk about the state of art education amongst other things.
What is art’s proper place? Not somewhere it becomes invisible as if part of the furniture. Some people got quite surprised as they walked in that waiting room expecting nothing -the quite of nothingness where you can while some time away until your train comes- and finding not only an audience but some inviduals making a display of themselves talking art animatedly. You should have seen this.

And finally,
Nathania I am very sorry about missing our appointment. How can I make it up to you?