To, ‘exclusive’ door list apartment parties on the “place to be” area of Brick Lane, where people dress like they aren’t from this world (seriously a dude was wearing a mock space-man helmet) – that was stupidly cool actually (photo to come, my friend has it on his camera).
Or 5am journeys to studio apartments, hosted by a travelling French photographer who is so alternative he doesn’t believe in being gay or straight – it’s only about the ‘moment’ you share with the person in the present time, (it’s some liberal self-righteous bull-shit) it works for him.
Then thinking it is a good idea to go to an after-party at a club when dawn has come upon us, by ‘us’ I mean the Spanish bar-manager who has an intermittent Lesbian love, they love each other though they just don’t live or see one another all the time, only on a part-time basis, and apparently she was on the prowl for something more masculine that morning (just ask my male work colleague). Anyway the club with a swimming pool and spa, it’s called Aquariam, go figure, and apparently the dirtiest in London (please don’t use your imagination for this one). The lady on the door looks like a younger better looking version of English WAG Cheryl Cole, worth every penny of the 10 pound door charge, definitely not: dude’s posing and looking at themselves in the mirror while they wait for their friends to finish up snorting cocaine in the toilet booths (um hello like totally . . . that’s so 80’s).
How about First Thursdays’ (of the month) where artists exhibit, sell, and have their works auctioned off. Most of the people come for the free alcohol, or to “be part of the scene” so to speak, rather than being serious art enthusiasts or collectors, as who really knows why a few elaborated squiggles that cross-over can cost 800 pounds. The genuine ‘artist’ Charlie that I was accompanied by, noted the framing was very impressive and framing can be very expensive! What is she like in comparison (to these 'successful' artists who've made it), well squatting in an abandoned London residence, she had to do her own plumbing – she installed a toilet – that's real dawg! She wants to do art as a career, but refuses to give up her liberties to do so, as she obviously lives modestly. She dresses tom-boyish, because she is a bit of a tom-boy, not for any fashion statement – that’s who she is! She uses road-kill and old family ornaments in her art, and she doesn’t know why exactly; there is no analysis or deep musings about glorifying animals in their death, or family heirlooms holding sentimental value! She just does what feels right to her, to me that is how a 'real' artist should live their life and do their work. Therefore she mantains an honest relationship with herself, as she simply, is who she is, and doesn't care or bothers to put on a mask.
Quite seriously though, London is a hip place to be! Just ask anyone who has left everything behind to come here, they rarely regret it! All the young European people (I talk to) say so! Every night there is something to do! People from France, Spain, and Italy, say the major cities in their countries don’t compare; there is this random unstructured vibrancy which is unparalleled. Sure, there is Berlin and Amsterdam two world cities without limits. However London has young people (residing here) from just about every country in the world, it is due to its location and the fact everyone shares the world language, English. This makes it the epi-centre, the place with so much potential, making it an amazing place, so amazing! In my modified words of Jay Z: "East London we go hard"! I don't even live in the East but in my opinion, it's where it's at!
