David Byrne & Dizzee Rascal
I went all the way down from East London, Whitechapel, paid the overpriced London Underground day pass, changing twice the smelly tube, stepped out at Green Park station on the way up, miraculously a Mark & Spencer popped up, went inside bought 4 packs of my favourite sultana scone’s, a small bottle of mandarin juice and the weekend edition of Financial Times. Armed with two shopping bags full of provisions and literature I made my way on to the Hyde park, entered through Queen Elizabeth Gate, hit the Rotten Row, passed the Dell, made a slide detour onto Fisherman's Keep, through an armada of giggling swans and grey geese's bagging for a slice of English toast, nevertheless progressed with the thought, that must be the Diana Memorial Fountain to the Serpentine Gallery, to discover following: Rem Koolhaase’s and Cecil Balmond's concept building looks in that royal bourgeois park scenario from outside surprisingly good, but then I made the mistake and went inside. One advice to organisers, think twice before you make a discussion event in a concept building, the acoustics are very bad, yes they are bad. It was unpleasant and uncomfortable to sit on some synthetic cubes and listen to ‘must question something intelligent†chats between a obviously pressing Hans Ulrich Obrist and a soft spoken Rem Koolhaas, (his company OMA), (at Harvard) who try’s to feed in some feeling and surprising questions. Actually I wanted to stay longer but after Zaha Hadid's session, Zaha Hadid, completely in a tight-fitted black nylon dress, obviously bored but very professional tolerant, made diplomatically her way out accompanied by a group of blond grand dames, all shielded by expensive sunglasses. (see Guggenheim expo) and (Design museum London) and Arcspace. Suddenly questions poping up: Is there a hidden agenda? Are they all here because Deutsche Bank paid for it in one or the other way? This fiscal strategic synergy between art and the establishment? VVIP - VIP - IP, oh the hungry banking district's looking desperately worldwide where to frieze the money through, or should I rather say serpentine the money away? I manage to stop these disturbing thoughts with an over sweetened cappuccino, normally I take care how much sugar I take. I took the chance stepped out of the ovoid-shaped inflatable canopy, made a U turn and embarked onto my second royal crossing. Being surpassed on the West carriage drive by whining black Ferrari’s, from beautiful saturated sound of hoofs hitting the asphalt, searching for the famous Speakers corner, passing numerous groups of Russians, doing all kind of funny Saturday afternoon activities. In my mind I run a short slight show, comparing the flair of Paris gardens and this London Park where I am moving through. Arrived at the Speakers corner. Here I found two lonely gentlemen engaged in interpreting William Shakespeare's texts, what they may say to us. I know this is a very subjective view and maybe there have been, after I left, very good and intelligent talks. But I do not think that the live quality changed, not that I say that the organisers should, for the next "Post Marathon" use the Speaker corner, H.U.O. and guest's can stand on cases as custom and practise and deliver there speeches, the acoustics are comparable bad. So after all, I went down on Marble Arch to the smelly tube back to Whitechapel.