Hello Lovestruckers! Bluffer’s calling, here to help London’s sweethearts. Are you a little out of sorts now that opportunities for alfresco dining and strolls through Regent’s Park are more than ever subject to the vagaries of the weather? Listen up for some great autumnal date ideas.
Paul Klee at the Tate modern.
WHERE SHOULD I TAKE THEM?
To Tate Modern to see Paul Klee: Making Visible. This is the first UK exhibition of the artist’s work in over a decade. Don’t forget to drop this fact into conversation; it’ll prove your impressive knowledge of the art world at large. But perhaps don’t dwell too long on your first trip to see Klee, this will either remind your date how old you were 10 years ago – or even how young you were…
WAIT, WAIT?
Paul Klee was a 20th century Swiss-German artist famed for his use of abstraction, colour and shape. Think Henri Matisse, Joan Miró and Wassily Kandinsky. Indeed Kandinsky and Klee taught alongside each other at the Bauhaus. This was the arty university of 1920s Weimar. It was here in 1922 that Klee painted ‘Die Zwitscher-maschine’ (Twittering Machine). Don’t suggest that Klee produced the blueprint for Twitter. But do point out that Adolf Hitler declared it ‘degenerative art’ in 1933. He was a painter too (of houses).
WHERE IS IT?
Tate Modern, London, SE1 9TG. Southwalk tube (Jubilee line) is the closest. But London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern, and National Rail) is also within walking distance. If you’re coming from London Bridge, walk past the Globe theatre, under the no-longer-wobbly bridge and turn to your left (it’s that huge building with chimneys past the weedy silver birches).
HOW MUCH?
Ideally you’d be a member of Tate and then a quick flash of your membership card would grant you and your date free entrance into the exhibition. If you’ve ‘misplaced’ yours then an adult ticket will set you back £16.50 (£14.50 for concessions). This includes a suggested donation of £1.50 (£1.40 for concessions) but unless you’re the sort of person who removes the ‘optional’ 12.5% service charge in restaurants then see this suggestion as mandatory. Everyone loves a philanthropist.
WHAT ELSE IS NEAR BY?
The Mulberry Bush pub (89 Upper Ground Street, SE1 9PP) is just round the corner, opposite the ITV studios. Or, if perusing all that art brought out the Charles Saatchi in you, head up to the giddy heights of the 8th floor of the OXO Tower for fantastic food at sky-high prices. Lucky for you, Bookatable are a running an offer for the London Restaurant Festival. Until 21 October you can wangle two courses for £25 in the restaurant and a mere £20 in the brassiere. Perfect for bluffers.
MAXIMUM BLUFFING VALUE
You might assume that all artists are the type of people who forget to save phone numbers under names, but you’d be wrong. Paul Klee was more OCD than zany creative type. He assigned each of his works with a serial number, which detailed the date it was finished and its place within that year. This is important to note because the exhibition’s curator Matthew Gale, Matthew Gale, Matthew Gale (they say you have to repeat a name three times before you commit it to memory) has used Klee’s slightly obsessive compulsive numbering system to organise the 130-plus paintings and drawings.
DO SAY ‘His ‘magic square’ paintings are still my favourite.’
DON’T SAY ‘The Tate’. Tate have tried hard to stop people using the ‘the’, so those in the know always drop the definite article. It’s OK to add Modern, Britain, Liverpool etc. (but only to differentiate them.) Otherwise it’s just Tate.
