Radio 4’s consumer programme today is a phone-in, inviting people to say what they miss during the lockdown.
One caller said he missed going to exhibitions, exchanging off-the-cuff comments about the displays with the people (strangers) around him. He described one occasion at the Royal Academy, standing in front of a fabulous painting of a feast. The chap next to him said how well painted it was. He said in reply, “It is well painted, but the people don’t look like they’re enjoying themselves.”
This reminds me of the time when I was at the Serpentine Gallery (in Hyde Park), looking at the photographs on display. One was a black and white photo, captioned Grand Union Canal. The “grand” canal looked more like a deep ditch at this unidentified stretch. The opposite bank of the canal was lined with about 30 sheep, all staring at the photographer. A man in his 50s came up from behind me, took one look at the photo and said, “Oh look, there’s Maggie’s cabinet!”
[Maggie = Margaret Thatcher]
(London, 1985)
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