London - money and art
By Hans-Josef Jeanrond on Tuesday 15 September 2009, 16:55 - London - Permalink
London - money and art
Londres - argent et art
London - Geld und Kunst
Extending a business trip left me with some time to visit an old friend in
London and to walk around some of the areas that I knew well in the past. So I
walked until blisters and an oncoming cold stopped me, catching some images for
my reflection series. (And some more "touristy" ones, too)
The above photograph is from Paternoster Square, a huge commercial
development, including the new London Stock Exchange, right next to St. Paul's
Cathedral. One wonders whether, during the height of the financial crisis,
bankers and investors went in procession through what used to be Paternoster
Row, like the medieval clergy of St. Paul's, praying for better
times...
The next image shows St. Paul's Cathedral reflected in the glass panes of
the tourist office nearby. (Plus a little "self portrait" in the left lower
corner)
Walking across the Millennium Bridge, I paid my tribute to the Tate Modern.
Wonderful to simply walk into a museum without paying, look at a few pictures
that particularly interest you at that moment, and walk out again - knowing
that you can come back any-time for more - without queuing up and paying again.
The light was not particularly good, but I still like the view from the
cafeteria on the top floor.
Looking down into the "machine hall", I saw this amusing sign, pointing to a
"low future" for Futurism.
The next day, walking across London Bridge, I got yet another glimpse of St.
Paul's in this glass front:
A bit further east, is another financial district: Canary Wharf. In front of
a building still under construction, I found these very nice "Fleurs d'argent".
(In English, the pun gets lost, since the "silver" and "money" are not the same
word.)
While taking pictures on Canary Wharf, I got accosted by security men
telling me that "they" did not like people taking photographs of buildings.
After a few friendly exchanges, I told them that I really did not care much
about the views of landlords as long as I took pictures on public ground. I
then learned to my astonishment that the whole of Canary Warf is private
property. In that case, owners have indeed a say in the publication of any
picture taken from/of their property.
I hope they won't mind too much the publication of the next picture:
"Passe-muraille & Pont-levis". The draw-bridge is permanently up (because
of construction work). One may wonder whether people in the finance industry
will remain stuck between the glass walls of their buildings, like the
"Passe-muraille" in Marcel Aymé's story. And if they get out, will they be able
to leave their "island" ?
(Click on the images to enlarge)