stations X of the cross. An exhibition organised by COEXIST HOUSE which is part of Kings College London and is spread across 14 destinations in London.
A friend, Anna and I started at the chapel of Kings College on the Strand. A wonderful piece of high Victorian Gothic designed by George Gilbert Scott to see Terry Duffy's 'Victim, No Resurrection?' 1981 which was made at the time of the Brixton Riots. We then walked to Parliament Square to see the moving statue of 'Ghandi' by Philip Jackson, 2015 and into Methodist Central Hall so visit 'Intersection Point', 2015 by James Balmforth - a minimal crucifix turned into an X. From there a hike to Westminster Cathedral to see Gill's 'Stations of the Cross', 1915 and then another long walk to The Wallace Collection to see a series of works including a wonderful Limoges plaque based on Albrecht Durer's woodcuts.
Our attention is directed to Station Five which depicts Simon of Cyrene helping to carry Jesus's cross - which he does, but his tiny hand is barely visible away from the central drama, placed at the left hand edge of the panel. A quiet unremarkable action.
Then onto Cavendish Square to see the Jacob Epstein 'Madonna and Child', 1950-52. Strong and unsentimental it has immense power, and strangely I had never seen it before.
The National Gallery was our next stop to see 'The Way to Calvary' 1544 by Jacopo Bassano. A strange painting - dramatic and full of contorted backs.
The church of Notre Dame de France near Leicester Square is a well kept and glorious secret. It is a circular space which once housed a panorama, but was converted to a church in the 1950s and is so French. It has a Lady Chapel with murals by Jean Cocteau, 1956.
The Courtyard outside St Giles Cripplegate in the Barbican houses 'Stations', 2016 by Roland Biermann. A dramatic wall of red-painted oil barrels.
Then onto the offices of the Salvation Army at the Millennium Bridge to see Station Ten - Jesus stripped of his garments. 'Sea of Colour', 2016 by Guler Ates made from discarded baby clothes.
I walked over the Millennium Bridge back to Waterloo Station under a new moon. Today was a 15 mile walk...