Tag: Oxford

Pitt Rivers

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skulls death trophy skull pattern decorative shrunken head enemy pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturekeys locks key lock objects design pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history cultureskulls death trophy skull pattern decorative shrunken head enemy pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history cultureskulls death trophy skull pattern decorative shrunken head enemy pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culture
These pictures are from the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. It’s a relatively small museum which joins onto the Natural History museum, which I also visited. The Pitt Rivers museum is pretty small, but stuffed with exhibits featuring a lot of anthropological and archaeological artefacts from around the whole world.

It was fascinating looking at decorated weapons, customised playing cards and all manner of trinkets used as currency; I really want a replica animal lock but unfortunately the gift shop couldn’t help me on that front! I was particularly entranced by the shrunken heads and decorative skulls, painted bright colours and displayed to taunt and humiliate the victims in death.

In the past, tribes had to embark on long, exhausting missions to capture and kill an enemy. Today we kill thousands of innocent people with guns, drones, missiles at the blink of an eye. We obviously do not mock the dead, but we also don’t really mourn or acknowledge the death in any meaningful way at all. The dead are not failings or losses, but merely statistics in our daily news report. Our weapons make it easier to kill, but is it also easier because we don’t recognise the murder for what it is anymore? It’s one of the stranger facets of human nature that we are so intent on killing one another.skulls death trophy skull pattern decorative shrunken head enemy pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culture
skulls death trophy skull pattern decorative shrunken head enemy pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history cultureplaying cards decorative pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturekeys locks key lock objects design pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culture
pitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culturepitt rivers museum oxford anthropology history culture

Christmas In Oxford

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christmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathsHere’s a few snaps from my recent trip to Oxford! Christmastime is one of my favourite seasons to visit new places. I feel like people try harder to be friendly, everything is decorated to look a bit nicer and you appreciate a warm and friendly shop or cafe that bit more. It’s no wonder most of my travelling happens during the colder months!

I have to say, the Oxford buildings remind me a little of the Cotswolds; fat yellow bricks and purple slate roofs, with windy cobbled streets running between everything. It’s all very “quaint British” to my eyes which a lot of people consider people to be a hallmark of this country. It’s funny, a huge portion of my American family are obsessed with the UK’s streets and buildings: I’m hardly the biggest fan in the world and yet I’m the one surrounded by it!

These photos were taken in a few different areas; some in various shops around Oxford, the covered market and of course a couple of the beautiful buildings. It was really magical to be able to see the Christmas lights and festive displays in the shops. Even without decorations the old buildings with their decorative lattice work looked pretty special anyway!christmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreathschristmas in oxford leaves winter architecture outside christmas wreaths

Oxford University Museum

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oxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaCamel Skeletonoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaI was lucky enough to spend a week in Oxford recently with one of my dear friends. There is a certain charm to the place itself but for me the highlights are definitely the museums. Last time I was there I wrote a post on the wonderful History of Science Museum and this trip we visited the OUM of Natural History and adjoining Pitt-Rivers Museum.

It was actually quite an odd experience. The Museum itself is great; wonderful architecture and factual displays. As you probably know by now, I’m obsessed with animals. Whilst we wandered around I thought that perhaps my love of animals stems from being exposed to a lot of animals at a young age. There were a lot of kids wandering around and drawing pictures of giraffes, tigers, lions etc – all the exotic, faraway animals you learn about in school.

Thing is, I can first remember seeing a giraffe aged about 4 and at this point in my life I’ve met most of these animals numerous times. I wondered if that has something to do with why I’ve always felt so strongly about animal rights and care. Perhaps the dangers and problems animals face seem more real when the animals themselves stop being theoretical?

Seeing a preserved taxidermy tortoise when just a few short weeks ago I was interacting with real ones was a truly bizarre experience, the camel skeleton just reminded me of Casanova (the camel that “flirted” with me in Egypt), and by the time we reached a stuffed fox, all I could unhappily think about was the foxes that play outside my bedroom window here in London. I was still fascinated by the skeletons of dinosaurs and the fossils of long extinct animals, but for some reason I found the exhibits of animals still alive today really jarring and it left me feeling a bit despondent (as per usual) about the way animals are treated in our society.

My friend made the point that it’s weird to see skeletons and taxidermy and think that all those animals were hunted. I sarcastically replied that it’s hardly like animals roll over and die for us to eat them every day – but he had genuinely never considered the fact that animals were hunted to be displayed before. Perhaps it’s just the way different brains work?oxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, lailaoxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, laila
oxford university museum of natural history, dodo, skeleton, tortoise, camel, laila

Leaves

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red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior autumn molesey wilderness forest exterior garden setting sun dusk evening red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exteriorSo if these photos seem familiar I’m basically following the same formula from a couple of weeks ago; take one coloured coat (this time my favourite maroon number, a fiver from Deptford Market 3 years ago), head into the garden… the leaves are so lovely this time of year, what can I say! It seems every time I’m home the trees have changed colour again and I want to document it on my camera! I love this time of year when nature is in technicolour and the changing colour of the leaves are such a powerful and perennial metaphor for the passing of time.

As I was editing this post I was reminded of this set of photos featuring the same shirt and trainers. That post was from when I was last on tour in the South West with Rhum & Clay, and coincidentally I’m on tour again with them at the moment. It’s so brilliant to be able to see different parts of the country whilst in such good company! I wrote the score for the show we are performing and it is so stimulating to revisit a project I care about so much, as so often in art that’s not the case. Completing a painting, finishing a novel or recording an album all have a moment of finality where the product is finished and the time for alterations is over. Theatre is the opposite: constantly evolving and adapting to new stages and audiences, nuances and cadences never quite the same from night to night.

Facebook/Twitter/Bloglovin/Lookbookred burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior aIMG_8818 red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior autumn molesey wilderness forest exterior garden setting sun dusk evening red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior red burgundy swing coat oversize maroon accordion pleat white blouse new look nike trainers black bow outside garden exterior autumn molesey wilderness forest exterior garden setting sun dusk evening

Museum of the History of Science

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museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antiqueaIMG_8755 museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antiqueContinuing my Oxford adventures from my last post, I thought I’d show you a few things from inside the Museum of the History of Science. Given that flash photography wasn’t allowed some of these photos have turned out rather strange but I like them. Whilst I am very interested in many branches of science I can’t say I’ve ever really stopped to contemplate the history of science before. Amongst the many thoughts I scribbled down in my museum notebook (it’s a thing…) was “In 100 years everything new to us will be archaic”. It’s fascinating to think that whilst we may think we have a huge scientific understanding of the world around us in the present day, in the future scientists will look back at our time and think “oh how quaint, they didn’t know about the (insert future scientific discovery here)” in the same way that we look back at globes featuring only half the world we know today or periodic tables missing most of the elements and think how much we know now.

I particularly fell in love with the pocket sundials (above; how beautiful is the star shaped one?) and there was an interesting accompanying text about sundials and clocks. With a clock or watch, we set the time and do what we can to ensure that watch/clock will continue to keep in time; they are timekeepers. My watch frequently needs rewinding or a clock may need a battery change in order to keep up with the time again. A sundial, provided it’s in the right place, will always tell the correct time according to the sun; they are timetellers. I think as technology advances there are always qualities unique to the older technologies that get left behind. I thought of film cameras and digital cameras: completely different branches of technology that achieve the same outcome. I think I much prefer film cameras, and I’d rather have a timeteller than a timekeeper. What about you?museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique museum of science history oxford display interior scientific objects old antique

Oxford

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Welcome to Oxford! I’m currently touring the show ‘A Strange Wild Song’ with Rhum & Clay. Touring is an odd one; whilst on the surface it means lots of exploring and impromptu nights out in new locations I feel I should tell you that touring ALSO involves lots of travel, unfamiliar beds, constant packing and maniacally refreshing Google Maps on the motorway. I was lucky enough to have a day off in Oxford last weekend to explore!

Following a late brunch at Georgina’s Cafe (recommended by Bel) in the covered market (worth visiting just for the ornate signage) we then wandered around the picturesque cobbled streets watching drunk students in caps and gowns (some sort of term beginning event?!) and enjoying the 1960s publishing house aesthetic that seems to affect the whole town. Even the front of Oxfam is in mahogany and sepia! We spent a lot of time in a stationary shop called Scriptum. It was filled with beautiful quality stationary, traditional writing implements and random “gift” items: inkwells and quills, parchment notebooks, beautifully illustrated copies of classic books, ornate decorative hot air balloons and a glass case of venetian masks. Rob and I both managed to justify buying stickers (stickers!!) and notebooks before heading on to a museum which I shall blog about next.

I’m next touring to Leicester, Derby, Exeter and Devon; any suggestions gratefully received ! You can read about the show here and listen to some of my score here (I’ve blogged about it here and here).  And BIG thank you to Bel and Luke for your invaluable suggestions. :)oxford covered market interior arches roof georginas cafe sign decorative visual merchandising VM shop interior furniture homewares oxford turl street visual merchandising VM shop interior furniture homewares oxford turl street shop front outside aesthetic oxford window oxfam oxford exterior interior road pretty architecture laila tapeparade college oxford universityFacebook/Twitter/Bloglovin