The Revue, May 2021

May has arrived and – carefully, cautiously – we find ourselves out and about this month. Leaving the house with a little more purpose, we’re easing ourselves into our new freedoms with a mix of IRL selections and sofa picks. A welcome return to gallery life, we start with a long-awaited Tate retrospective, head to North West London for an expertly prepared fry-up and end the day with an virtual walk around Germany’s post-war design hits. Jump in.

visit: Fly in League with the Night– Lynette Yiadom-Boakye at the Tate Britain

It’s been a long time coming, but May 17th finally sees the reopening of Fly in League with the Night, Tate Britain’s Lynette Yiadom-Boakye retrospective, the first major survey of the acclaimed British artist’s work.

Eighty pieces dating from 2003 are brought together, “often painted in spontaneous and instinctive bursts, her figures seem to exist outside of a specific time or place.” For those unable to attend in person, a brilliantly put together virtual tour. Not to be missed.

eat: Norman’s Café, Tufnell Park, 167 Junction Road, N19 5PZ

Located on the long, strange stretch between Tufnell Park and Archway, Norman’s arrived last year, offering takeout during multiple lockdowns. An ode to traditional caffs (checked tablecloths and matching curtains, chalkboard menus…) the food is equally no-fuss: fry-ups, pies, kedgeree, kippers and fish and chips offered in generous portions. These simple plates are prepared with the kind of skill and care you’d expect of a team fresh from Lyle’s and The Clove Club. No pretension, just really lovely comfort food served at breakfast and lunch, with dinner coming soon.

read: James Wines – The Future of Architecture, Apartamento

Following a feature in issue 26, Apartamento magazine ask New York-based architect/artist James Wines to return for a conversation on the future of public spaces in a complex, post-pandemic, climate crisis world. Wines is best known for his wildly experimental shopping centres for BEST Products, created through his firm SITE (Sculpture In The Environment). This collection of offbeat buildings served as both retail spaces and conceptual, tongue-in-cheek sculptures, all plonked in the middle of suburban America. In this interview, Wines looks back at his unusual practice, taking lessons learnt and applying them to the challenges of the next few decades. “From an ethical and humanitarian perspective, I would say that every architect in the world should be focused on solving some aspect of this earth-centric challenge.“

read: Out in the World with Gaetano Pesce, Museum

Published by Literal Matter, 81-year old experimental designer Gaetano Pesce is the subject of a 120-page hardcover in a limited edition release. Architect, product designer, urban planner and much in between, Pesce is best known for his "radical embrace of seemingly ordinary, unexpected materials." This latest volume focuses on his furniture concepts, featuring his most recognisable pieces alongside lesser-known works, all captured by a collection of photographers from across the globe. An interview with Pesce by critic Sophie Haigney places his work in context: "to think about Pesce’s work is to reevaluate the structures of ordinary objects.”

watch: Tour German Design 1949–1989: Two Countries, One History - Vitra Design Museum

With the chances of a visit to the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein slim to none right now, the institute has kindly placed a series of tours online including “German Design 1949–1989: Two Countries, One History," currently on show.  A fascinating walk through the visual language of a divided nation, design in the East and West is explored in this uncertain post-war period, demonstrating how differences in ideology affect everyday objects. “Cheap plastic and shrill colours in the East, cool functionalism in the West – the exhibition breaks with simplistic stereotypes…” Exploring the legacy of Bauhaus and introducing some of the major players of the time including Dieter Rams, Egon Eiermann, Rudolf Horn, and Margarete Jahny, this curator’s tour is well worth a watch. 

product focus: Linen Suits

It’s hard to imagine a more versatile item than the navy linen suit. Drake’s have been producing expertly cut, Made in Italy versions for years now. The key - a soft, natural shoulder and an unlined finish making this feel appropriate in informal and dressed up situations alike. Linen of course ages beautiful, forming gently to the body over time, making this one to hold onto for years to come.