Surrealism and the Object at the Pompidou

It must be the quietest block busting show in Paris. No queues. No block to bust. Hmm. I'm guessing surrealism might have had its day with the current art crowd. Despite the surprise that some of these things are nearly a hundred years' old, it was nice to see some favourites like Dali's Lobster Telephone, Magritte's cloud head and painting called this is a piece of cheese (Ceci est un Morceau de Fromage),  a couple of Chirico paintings and Man Ray's photographs (Woman as a hand mixer and the like).

Interestingly arranged with selected objects from the various International Surrealist shows of the 1930s and 40s, the most striking rooms were those dedicated to Miro, and Giocametti, whose abstract sculptures are less well known than his tall thin figures. Although to be fair I am not a Miro fan, so I amused myself taking pictures of men looking at a woman.

By far the most risible work is the collection of fish tank rocks, temples and bridges; a found piece that might have been best left in the pet shop. It was interesting to see some contemporary works too like Ed Rucha's simple placemat, but then I am a sucker for art with words.

Revelation of the day - that Andre Breton had very neat handwriting.

Go if you must, but not with young kids, as there are rather too many phalluses. It's on until 3 March 2014, so plenty of time to choose other exhibitions to see.

Poetry reading at the Torriano Meeting House

A hugely enjoyable reading with other Eyewear poets at the Torriano Meeting House in Kentish Town on 8 December.

Thanks everyone for coming, especially those who came especially to hear, and indeed cheer, me. It was really heart warming to have such an enthusiastic reception for my work.

Make a resolution for the New Year - let poets know how much you enjoyed what you heard. It makes it all worthwhile. That and buying our books of course!

The Foals @ Zenith

The Foals are a very good band. I like them a lot.

If you don't know what their music is like, let me try to describe it to you: take a large dollop of The Cure, stir in some Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath, and the tiniest bit of Dire Straits (can't believe I just typed that), mix vigorously into a trance and spread onto the stage with a fabulous light show. Great!

But, and here's the rub: an hour and twenty minutes does not a concert make. It was far, far too short. Musicality ten out of ten. Value for money, zero. I can only imagine that as it was the last night of their tour, they were very tired and their mothers had told them to come home as they have school in the morning.

Poetry News

A significant new anthology of poetry, just published, on Human Rights and Social Justice, includes my poem The Mattress. I am very proud.

Writing Workshop

My next Paris Lit Up writing workshop is at Shakespeare and Company on Sunday 1 December at 12h30. The theme is THE DARK. Details here

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at L'Orangerie

No cafe at the Orangerie! Why have I not noticed this before? It is a serious problem when you have been queuing for a couple of hours in the rain on a grey Paris day to get into this must see exhibit and all you want is to cup your hands around a mug of something hot. Eventually we thawed out, but it wasn't until we were half way round that we took off our coats. So be warned, dress warmly, bring your own refreshments.

Physical (dis)comfort aside, it's a cracker. The exhibition is all about creative partnership and the chiming of work: Rivera's monumental murals (reproductions of parts of, together with film footage and sketches) and portraits with Kahlo's paintings (portraits and self-portraits). Inevitably some well known works and particular favourites were not there. But it wasn't trying to collect everything into two retrospectives, there wouldn't have been space. What is there is very representative of both artists and turned up some surprises for me, who thought she knew their work.

Rivera's early Cubist and Post-Impressionist work from his time in Europe was a surprise, especially the Zapatista Landscape, a striking and brightly coloured Cubist piece of gun, blanket and landscape with volcanoes, and the Fountain at Toledo with its stunning red horse.

Kahlo's very auto-biographical works are well placed in a central room, appropriately womb-like. I find it very difficult to look at the paintings of her in hospital after her miscarriages and accident, especially The Broken Column with its nails and shroud, and her Self-portrait with a Monkey. They are so moving. I wept. Her beautiful velvet portraits of herself and Alicia Galant are perfect in their classicism. I wanted to take them both home.

There is a wide selection of drawings, photographs and film footage and a crash course in twentieth century Mexican history. It's well worth the wait, the cold and the crowd. Ten euros and you get the Monets and the rest of the permanent collection thrown in. A great way to shelter from the weather. It's on until the end of January.

Reading at Ivy Writers

Here's a little snippet of me reading on 22 October at Ivy Writers for your viewing pleasure