My plans for the day were meager: an old shopping arcade in Mayfair and then the Saatchi Gallery in Sloane Square. I accomplished both and somehow made a whole day of it. And I saw a helicopter.
I rode the tube thrice: from West Hampstead to Green Park; Victoria to Sloane Square; and then Marble Arch to West Hampstead. On two I got a seat, on one I was sardined by the door.
The first tube, to Green Park, delivered me close to the Royal Arcade, which is attractive but short. The arcades in Paris needn't worry about the competition. Next was window shopping in Mayfair. A bit oligarch for my taste. The phrase "come the revolution" kept popping into my mind.
By then it was raining but I dressed for rain. I walked south through Green Park (the park, not the station) and then walked through the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Lots of people lined up but after dropping off a message for Charles I kept on walking.
Lunch was a sandwich and double espresso at a cafe in Westminster.
I found three exhibits at the Saatchi. I enjoyed two. The first titled "Filling in the Pieces in Black" and the second "R.I.O.T." Photos below.
Royal Arcade Shopping Hall
Royal Arcade Shopping Hall
Royal Arcade Shopping Hall
Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:13
in London, England
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:13
in London, England
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:13
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10253
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A beautiful blue
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:41
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10259
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A beautiful blue
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:41
in London, England
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A beautiful blue
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:41
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10259
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Mayfair street
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:47
in London, England
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Mayfair street
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:47
in London, England
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Mayfair street
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:47
in London, England
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The Green Park
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:49
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10257
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The Green Park
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:49
in London, England
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The Green Park
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 11:49
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10257
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I delivered Gerard’s message for Charles
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 12:01
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10256
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I delivered Gerard’s message for Charles
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 12:01
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10256
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I delivered Gerard’s message for Charles
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 12:01
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10256
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Popular building
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 12:26
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10255
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The building on the right had just drawn a big crowd and so I figured I should photograph it.
Popular building
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 12:26
in London, England
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The building on the right had just drawn a big crowd and so I figured I should photograph it.
Popular building
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 12:26
in London, England
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The building on the right had just drawn a big crowd and so I figured I should photograph it.
Entrance to the Saatchi
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:37
in London, England
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Entrance to the Saatchi
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:37
in London, England
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Entrance to the Saatchi
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:37
in London, England
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Exhibit poster
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:44
in London, England
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Exhibit poster
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:44
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Exhibit poster
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:44
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Untitled, Kaloki Nyamai
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:45
in London, England
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Kaloki Nyamai,
Kenyan, b. 1985, Untitled, 2023,
mixed media, acrylic, collage stitching on canvas
Untitled, Kaloki Nyamai
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:45
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Kaloki Nyamai,
Kenyan, b. 1985, Untitled, 2023,
mixed media, acrylic, collage stitching on canvas
Untitled, Kaloki Nyamai
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:45
in London, England
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Kaloki Nyamai,
Kenyan, b. 1985, Untitled, 2023,
mixed media, acrylic, collage stitching on canvas
Virulent Strain, Zack Ove
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:52
in London, England
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Virulent Strain, Zack Ove
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:52
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Virulent Strain, Zack Ove
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:52
in London, England
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Virulent Strain, Zack Ove
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:52
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Virulent Strain, Zack Ove
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:52
in London, England
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Virulent Strain, Zack Ove
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:52
in London, England
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Distilled Scores
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:06
in London, England
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Nate Lewis, American, b. 1985,
Distilled Scores, 2023,
Hand sculpted inkjet print ink, graphite, embossing, frottage
Distilled Scores
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:06
in London, England
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Nate Lewis, American, b. 1985,
Distilled Scores, 2023,
Hand sculpted inkjet print ink, graphite, embossing, frottage
Distilled Scores
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:06
in London, England
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Nate Lewis, American, b. 1985,
Distilled Scores, 2023,
Hand sculpted inkjet print ink, graphite, embossing, frottage
Self portrait
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:10
in London, England
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Keesi Botchway,
Ghanaian, b. 1994,
Self Portrait (June Sarpong), 2022 signed, titled and dated acrylic and oil on canvas
Self portrait
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:10
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Keesi Botchway,
Ghanaian, b. 1994,
Self Portrait (June Sarpong), 2022 signed, titled and dated acrylic and oil on canvas
Self portrait
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:10
in London, England
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Keesi Botchway,
Ghanaian, b. 1994,
Self Portrait (June Sarpong), 2022 signed, titled and dated acrylic and oil on canvas
Wait a Minute
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:54
in London, England
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Johnson Eziefula,
Nigerian, b. 1998,
Wait a Minute, 2023, acrylic on canvas
Wait a Minute
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:54
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Johnson Eziefula,
Nigerian, b. 1998,
Wait a Minute, 2023, acrylic on canvas
Wait a Minute
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 13:54
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Johnson Eziefula,
Nigerian, b. 1998,
Wait a Minute, 2023, acrylic on canvas
Untitled
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:04
in London, England
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Patrick Quarm,
Ghanaian, b. 1988,
Untitled, 2023,
Mixed media,
Two layers Acrylic, oil on African print fabric
Untitled
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:04
in London, England
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10276
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Patrick Quarm,
Ghanaian, b. 1988,
Untitled, 2023,
Mixed media,
Two layers Acrylic, oil on African print fabric
Untitled
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:04
in London, England
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Patrick Quarm,
Ghanaian, b. 1988,
Untitled, 2023,
Mixed media,
Two layers Acrylic, oil on African print fabric
Kwame Afoto Bamfo
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:15
in London, England
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Kwame Afoto Bamfo
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:15
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Kwame Afoto Bamfo
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R.I.O.T.
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:30
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R.I.O.T.
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R.I.O.T.
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R.I. O.T.
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:20
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R.I. O.T.
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R.I. O.T.
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:24
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:24
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:26
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:26
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:26
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R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:22
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After leaving the Saatchi I walked north, through Sloane Square, undecided as to my path. Walk back to West Hampstead or take the tube? As I was about to cross a street I heard that distinctive helicopter whirr and simultaneously the street was full of motorcycle cops. Stop, the cops called out to those of us about to cross the street. Seconds later a motorcade of black SUVs, lights flashing, US and UK flag bearing, sped by, as the helicopter kept lookout overhead. And then, as quickly as it arrived, it was gone.
R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:22
in London, England
X100V 23mm f/2.0 1/320s ISO 500
1082 x 1074 px
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10270
London photos
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Map
After leaving the Saatchi I walked north, through Sloane Square, undecided as to my path. Walk back to West Hampstead or take the tube? As I was about to cross a street I heard that distinctive helicopter whirr and simultaneously the street was full of motorcycle cops. Stop, the cops called out to those of us about to cross the street. Seconds later a motorcade of black SUVs, lights flashing, US and UK flag bearing, sped by, as the helicopter kept lookout overhead. And then, as quickly as it arrived, it was gone.
R.I.O.T. Helmet
Wed, 1 Nov 2023 at 14:22
in London, England
X100V 23mm f/2.0 1/320s ISO 500
1082 x 1074 px
762 kb
www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/10270
London photos
Photos
Map
After leaving the Saatchi I walked north, through Sloane Square, undecided as to my path. Walk back to West Hampstead or take the tube? As I was about to cross a street I heard that distinctive helicopter whirr and simultaneously the street was full of motorcycle cops. Stop, the cops called out to those of us about to cross the street. Seconds later a motorcade of black SUVs, lights flashing, US and UK flag bearing, sped by, as the helicopter kept lookout overhead. And then, as quickly as it arrived, it was gone.