Frederik Muller (1817-1881) was an obsessive collector of printed maps that reflected the Netherlands’ history. While his chronological description of these prints have become a standard work in antiquarian circles, the Rijksmuseum has chosen to exhibit his collection by thematic content – royalty, military battles and humour. The result is a unique and deeply engrossing overview of this country and the painters who tried to encapsulate it.
Archive for December, 2008
Public loos
Florence (indeed, most of Italy) has never been the best place to find a public toilet ‘in extremis’. Either you can’t find one, or when you can, it’s filthy. The city council, however, must have become aware of the problem as they have built new ‘gabinetti’ throughout the city and published a booklet designed to help tourists find the nearest one. The washrooms are all properly cleaned, all but one have baby-changing facilities and many are wheelchair accessible. There is a charge (L500-L1.500) and all have specific opening hours. The leaflets are available from tourist offices, bars and news stands.
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Hijas del Sol
This fabulous duo – Piruchi Apo Botupa and Paloma Loribo Apo – are aunt and niece respectively. Well established on the Spanish music scene, with several albums under their belt, Hijas del Sol (‘Daughters of the Sun’) are originally from Bioko, an island off Equatorial Guinea. Members of the Bantu tribe, they sing in the Bubi language and have been compared with Zap Mama. Profoundly aware of their people’s traditional music, Hijas del Sol’s compositions are much more than folklore, they look at contemporary problems and propose an anti-racist, rights-for-all message.
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We Ourselves
‘We Ourselves’ is the result of the latest pairing of playwright Paul Mercier and the Passion Machine Theatre Company. In the mid-80s all that was fresh and irreverent about Irish theatre was represented by Passion Machine this talent theatre company brought the early works of writers such as Mercier and Roddy Doyle to the Irish and world stage. Again trying to push the boundaries a little, Passion Machine has, unusually, chosen the club venue of Vicar Street to launch their latest production on an expectant public. ‘We Ourselves’ is the usual fast-paced, witty story you expect from this team.
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James Natchwey: Testimony
Veteran photojournalist James Natchwey is currently one of the most respected in his field, owing to his brave portrayals of conflicts from all around the world. This show, consisting of a 150 images, both in black and white and colour, depicts the dignity and human spirit of those who survive in even the most horrendous circumstances during conflicts such as Rwanda and Afghanistan. Natchwey’s work has appeared in Time, Paris-Match and National Geographic and is laden with countless awards including the Robert Capa Gold Medal and the World Press Photo among them.
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The English Shop
Do continental breakfasts leave you peckish? Then a full Anglo-Irish plate of grease could be just the ticket. A newly opened tea room next to Brussels’ English shop has just begun serving up weekend brunch with meat and eggs supplied by Irish butchers, Jack O’Shea’s, next door. For under 500BF (£10), you can gorge yourself on sausages, rashers and black pudding and wash it all down with bladder-bursting quantities of tea and coffee at no extra charge. During weekdays, the tea room specialises in lighter fare, such as salmon rolls and quiche lorraine.
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Vonda Shepard
Singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard enjoyed a unique career breakthrough, shooting to fame via the hit television series ‘Ally McBeal’ instead of through radio airplay or relentless touring. Her early career took a downturn after the flop of her second album, the 1992 ‘The Radical Light, Shepard’. She then turned to the LA club network where, spotted by TV producer David E Kelly, she signed for the comedy-drama. Be prepared for an audience of bland music lovers shouting ‘We Love Vonda’.
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Parcours chanté
The genteel environs of Le Botanique play host to a celebration of Francophone culture for three weeks in March. The bill, which features 30 different acts, caters for very eclectic tastes. Highlights include the sparse folk-rock of Senegalese protest singer El Hadj N’Diaye, the blues of Boubakar Traoré from Mali, the techno of French group Bosco and the electro-Arabic marriage arranged by Tunisian chanteuse Amina. Indigenous Belgian talent is also well-represented with Daniel Hélin, William Dunker, Marc Morgan and Vive La Fête.
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Mrs Warren’s Profession
Banned on its publication 106 years ago for being too ‘immoral and otherwise improper for the stage’, London audiences had to wait 30 years before they could see George Bernard Shaw’s shockingly modern take on prostitution. The play tells the story of an unconventional young woman who discovers her mother’s secret in this groundbreaking early work from the Irishman. Directed by Brian Brady, the Peacock hosts this production to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights.
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