The first place we’ll go to when … we can

What happens to our desire for art and beautiful things when visual culture is put on hold? We begin to fantasise about the places and images that inspire us, those objects and spaces that when we’re able to, we’ll visit again. I spoke with nine creative luminaries about the piece of art or place they will visit when we’re allowed to move freely once again. 

Francesca Gavin—Writer, editor and curator of Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi at Somerset House

“When I was 17, I did my A Level dissertation on Bronzino’s Allegory of Venus and Cupid (1540) in the National Gallery in London. Apart from it containing the infamous Monty Python foot, it remains one of my favourite paintings. Created by the Medicis as a metaphorical fuck you to the King of France who had contracted syphilis, for me, today has much in common with late Renaissance mannerism. We are also living in a moment of hyperrealism and hidden truths. When I’m wandering around the West End (usually to the ICA, Thomas Dane and the big ones on Dover Street), I often pop in to say hello. The painting has survived centuries of turmoil, and for me, visiting it again will be a sign that we will too.”

Lola Olufemi—Writer, volunteer coordinator at The Feminist Library and author of Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power (Pluto Press)

“For me, the idea of moving freely is relative and always has been; the ability to map this crisis from beginning to end is dependent on economic resource and proximity to violence. It is not so much a site of inspiration or a particular place that I’m looking forward to going when this is ‘over’ more than an excitement to experience a specific kind of sociality that I’ve missed. Being around friends and those you love outside of the nuclear family is what gives places their meanings in my opinion and is for me a constant source of comfort and invigoration, no matter the location.”

Jamie Marie Shipton—Stylist and creative director

“I don’t really have just one place, and luckily enough, I can find inspiration in the virtual world—visiting places in real time, viewing ceramics, art, florists, “travelling”, so I’m quite content (to a degree) currently. BUT I will be going to flea markets and vintage shopping soon as I’m able to. I love finding trinkets, vintage t-shirts, oddities to either be inspired by, or utilise to create something to use in shoots or simply to have as talismans that inspire me!”

Thebe Magugu—LVMH Prize-winning fashion designer and founder of THEBE MAGUGU

“I am burning to revisit Nirox Sculpture Park—a 20 hectares landscape of incredible sculptures and art peppered around the gardens, owned by Benji Leiberman, who had invited me to view the gardens for the first time last year and I have been obsessed with ever since. Among all the sculptures in the gardens, sits the work of one of my favourite South African Artists, Mary Sibande, whose art piece, a variation of Right Now! (2015) stands proud. Mary channels an alter-ego in her sculptures, such as Sophie, who is a domestic worker with fantastical flights of fantasy but who challenges and brings up questions about race and gender in South Africa. I love that Mary uses the powerful tool that fashion provides to have those discussions.”

Owen Hatherley—Writer, culture editor of Tribune and author of the upcoming Red Metropolis (Repeater Books)

“As someone who travels a lot for work and rents an apartment with a balcony and a lot of trees (thanks, post-war planners), I welcomed the lockdown. I can hear birds singing, I can see what remains of street life, and the big park round the corner has not been closed, yet. When it is over I intend to walk the two miles up Walworth Road to the NFT. There, I intend to get into a windowless room with several dozen people, under a concrete flyover, as our breath circulates through the air-conditioning, and we collectively watch something long, widescreen, and in glorious technicolour.”

Luisa Dames, Co-founder and creative director of aeyde

“The minute we are allowed to move freely again, I will definitely buy a ticket for the theatre Schaubühne—and honestly, I will enjoy any play they have on the schedule then. I just love everything about this place, the building, the atmosphere, the unique mix between classical and contemporary. Watching live plays always carries me away – it’s like taking a break from everyday life. Every year, I see Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen on stage of Schaubühne—it’s one of my all time dramatic pieces. Now, during lockdown, I watched Richard III in their video archive—but the live performance is untouchable of course.”

Adam Štěch—Writer, curator, author and founder of OKOLO—a design, architecture, art and fashion collective 

“In these days, my thoughts are with my dearest Italian friends. One of them is also Fulvio Ferrari, design collector, curator, researcher and owner of Casa Mollino in Turin. This amazing apartment is probably the most magical place I have ever visited. And since a few years, I have been visiting it almost every year to feel the genius of designer, architect, driver, skier and lover of life Carlo Mollino and the unforgettable metaphysical atmosphere of Turin. I am very excited to lounge in one of Mollino’s creations once again, talk about design a life with Fulvio and go to nearby family-owned pasta bistro and cook amazing ravioli and just watch the sunset above the Turin hills.”

Annie Collinge—artist and creative director

“I really miss my local car boot sale, I usually go every weekend.  Flea markets, car boot sales and charity shops are basically where I get all my ideas for making photographs—I don’t really find inspiration by looking at other people’s art these days.  I miss the regulars at the car boot sale, the dealers, and the local weirdos and the fights over the price of an ancient pair of crusty diamante sandals. I miss the smell of fried onions, cheap burgers and rifling through sad boxes of peoples ancient cosmetics and fridge magnet collections from slightly brutal house clearances.”

Laurie Simmons—Artist

“I miss my corner coffee shop inaptly named Hollywood Diner since it’s on the corner of 16th St and 6th avenue in New York City. What makes it ‘Hollywood’ is the frieze of mismatched portraits of celebrities like Humphrey Bogart , Marilyn Monroe and John Stamos. People meet there to eat cheap, eat fast, or to pour their hearts out. New Yorkers don’t really care if someone is listening, though a true New Yorker is good at pretending they’re not eavesdropping.. The ecology of a place like that is so fragile. I keep thinking about the waiters and waitresses who supply bountiful food and therapy for loners while relying on daily tips to survive….I wonder where everybody is right now and how they’re doing.”

Steve Watson—Director of Stack Magazines

“Once this is all over, I’m heading to the magCulture shop here in London. It’s ages since I’ve been there (we’re surrounded by brilliant magazines the whole time in the office so we don’t tend to go magazine shopping all that much) but this isolation has made me realise how much I love the community that surrounds indie mags, so I can’t wait to go over there for a chat and a browse of the shelves.”