Recipe #1 ~ Beans in Smoky Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce During our first online meeting for The Courtauldian, we discussed what topics we should focus on during this unstable and unusual time. When somebody suggested creating content about recipes and cooking, I immediately volunteered to write something on this subject. I love to cook. There are only a few things in the world that can instantly make me happier and eating good food is definitely among these. The opposite goes

Questions for a Coward 24 April 2020 It’s been over a year now, Since it was just us. Secrets spilled out of my mouth, You scooped them up And folded me into your bed. We’re so far from there now. I had him and you’ve got her. I thought you were calling me so I disconnected all other lines And now you don’t answer. My mind was clearer when things were unsaid. You didn’t make any promises That I am too far gone to see through. And now you run away from your words so fast that

'The fact of the matter is I’m interested in the truth’ An easy way for the hours to slip away during lockdown is with our screens. Switching between Youtube and Netflix, trying to pass the time. Without the library or a cafe, it is difficult to stay focused, and the mind wanders. Before it was closed, Tate Modern presented a retrospective on Steve McQueen, with 14 compelling works to think about and compare viewing experiences: gallery versus sofa. Born in London, 1969, McQ

The legacy of a storyteller by Ellen Wang 20th April 2020 In March 2020, right before its temporary closure due to London’s lockdown, the British Film Institute (BFI) held its Tilda Swinton film season after Swinton was awarded a BFI Fellowship, the highest accolade by the Institute to individuals in ‘recognition of their contribution to film or television culture.’ Out of the thirteen feature films and five short films shown, from Swinton’s early collaboration with Derek Jar

Illustration by Rebecca Marks Last September saw the opening of the V&A’s latest exhibition to delve into the mesmerising world of fashion photography. ‘Tim Walker: Wonderful Things’ was a comprehensive exploration of the work of the renowned artist Tim Walker. A reoccurring name behind shoots for both major magazines and fashion houses worldwide, he is known for his distinctive image-taking that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. It was for this landmark exhibition

Ever wondered what four French citizens and a dog stranded in the Parisian suburbs looked like? Take a look at ten of the wild things I’ve been doing to get a taster... 1. Snooze, doze, slumber, shut-eye, pretend-to-meditate-in-horizontal-position, S.L.E.E.P and find out what this means to me (a lot) In non-viral times, I nap almost every day. This is, to me, a bit of a world championship for a highly skilled competitor if you will. My bed also happens to be a forest-like alc

Tower Bridge lit up in support of the NHS (Twitter: @sixcylinders) I grew up around hospitals. More specifically I grew up around Pilgrim Hospital, Lincolnshire. In my living memory, I have never lived more than a ten-minute drive away. I was born there. I have been a patient there. I have visited family members who were patients there. I got the school bus from there. I waited for my dad to finish work there. For a few summers, I even worked there myself. My parents uprooted

It’s not so often one finds oneself with absolutely nothing to do for two or three months. Wider reading? Research? I hear you, but I don’t know who you think you’re kidding. With no conceivable schedule and nowhere to go other than the kitchen, I’ve found myself staring at the wall far more often than I usually would. Being at liberty to start and end your day as you please is fun at first, but I couldn’t hack it for more than a week - for fear of never becoming a functional

Haven't read Part 1 yet? Read it here. Illustration by Vitoria Mendes Apologies for the delay, my friend. I barely know my way around this old house! I struggle to prepare a cup of coffee that doesn’t taste bitter without Etheldreda or Ari to help. So, in the meantime, allow me to pour you a glass of whiskey. Where were we? Ah! Yes… Yes. Conceiving another child with Etheldreda was not the easiest choice I have ever made. But it’s one that has brought so much joy into our liv

Artwork of the Month | April Yuanya Feng It’s a banal story. ​ The first time getting flowers for myself. The flower market hurt, the flowers hurt. The scent, the rustling sound of petals and leaves, the clusters of fresh colours – as if spring would not befall with time but burst out from buds and branches. ​ I stuffed flowers into my tote bag. There are depressing times when my body’s filled with tears that’d overflow at any moment. This  was one of them. The comic contrast