More Than ABBA And Ikea.

In my last few days, as well have over-dosing on art and resisting the 'Post-Art-Coma' that I am prone too, I decided that I would go to Sweden. No, it's not quite the excursion you would expect as trains from Roskilde, non-direct, run almost twice at hour across the bridg to Malmö and many a Swedish-Kroner-and-Art-Themed adventure.

This would be an apt time to plug my instagram if you wanted to give photos of Sweden and my general trip a look. Malmö was very welcoming, with the language being even lovelier to listen to Danish. There is much art to see (Malmö Kunsthall, the Malmö Moderna Kunst Museum - both of which I recommend) and many coffee shops to sit in.

Okay. I was tired. Less than I had hoped to achieve today was actualised, but I can always go back. And Hej (not hey, because that's not Swedish) I accidentally stumbled upon the countdown clock for Eurovision - only 44 days if you're wondering - and have made plans to go back and explore Sweden properly because while the postcards say 'Sweden', Malmö says 'we used to be Danish and you can really still tell"...

Town hall (very Swedish..)

Kunsthall.

Jamie Oliver in Swedish!

Thoroughly enjoying the Eurovision countdown clock, as it's just a month away from being held in Malmo!!

Thank you Sweden, Malmö, and thank you Roskilde for having me. Tomorrow I set off on a 7 hour coach to Berlin for my last adventure - wish me luck.

Louisiana: Round Two. Not The State.

The Arken was brilliant, wasn't it? Well, just two days of post-art-recovery later, I headed to the Louisiana gallery which to Denmark what the Tate Modern is to Great Britain. While entry costs just a little bit more than the Arken Gallery, the collections are vast and transport to and from is very easy (it comes complete with its own train station and town) and sits on the coast of Zealand. I was taken there as a wee, uncultured 5 year old and could only briefly remember it, but oh my goodness did I appreciate it as a pseudo-art-fan at 18. The cafe is brilliant, but heaving, offering a traditional Danish buffet, and the shop is a must-see for Danish design fans.

The exhibition currently is 'Pop Art' which I really enjoyed, even though there is a distinct lack of Lichenstein due to his current retrospective at the Tate (which I was lucky enough to go to a few weeks ago) - it covered all bases including elements that I had never considered before i.e. the role of women in the pop art movement, has anyone else noticed that almost all the predominant pop art artists were men? Tara Donovan has also recently completed an exhibition for Louisiana and I really recommend her work; the installations are phenomonal.

Anyway, the highlights for me were the tiny pieces of Louise Bourgeios that featured and the permanent Kusama installation 'Gleaming Light of Souls' which is not too dissimilar from her 'Infinity Room' which featured in her exhibition in the Tate Modern last year too.

Made from pure buttons!

Louise Bourgeios *flails*

Kusama for the second time!

Who knew that Denmark was so into things other than design, herrings, and being wonderfully expensive? I'm totally kidding, but the Danes really have outdone themselves with their art. Really, really, really.

The Physical Impossibility of a Non-Pretentious Damien Hirst Piece.

N.B: 10/10 if you understand the blogpost title! If not, do some basic Wikipeadia-ing of Damien Hirst and you'll soon be sorted. These titles are becoming more and more cryptic/obnoxious as my blog progresses. Oops.

Anyway, Esther Walker - wife of the esteemed Giles Coren and keen food-blogger - once wrote an article for The Times giving her advice on blogging, with the first of many tips that I didn't agree with, being 'Never Apologise For Not Blogging' followed by 'Blog Consistently or No-One Will Read Your Blog Ever' or something along those lines. Well Ms Walker, I am sorry that I have neither been consistent and am about to be rather apologetic for the former.

While my blogging in America and my follow-up of India were both frequent and interesting, my posts have during this last leg of my gap year have been neither, and for that I apologise! This trip is running away with me, and I am already two weeks from coming home. I know; 22,360 miles, 37 plane hours, 15 art galleries, 8 months, and numerous existential-crises later, I am just 15 days from being home for a sustained amount of time.

The commitment-phobe in me is screaming loudly and frantically searching Easyjet's website for a holiday anywhere.

Though, truth be told, I am looking forward to home-based adventures, and to getting a Real Job in order to earn some money before moving up North at the end of September. As I type this, I am skimming through both my photos and blogposts from this year and wondering how I ended up here, and how, if you'd said to be this time last year that I would wind up living on my own in South-West Berlin to round off nearly 8 months of travelling, I would have made you take a drug-test and walk in a straight line, for fear of you being rather, well, let's just say 'no with it' and be done with my point.

In NY Carlsberg Glyptotek which I would also recommend!

I had a fantastic last week in Roskilde, and the inner art-fan-girl in me had a phenomenal last few days in Denmark as I explored the NY Carlsberg Glyptotek Museum/Gallery, the Arken Gallery, and Louisiana, all on the Zealand island. Last year, I really started to enjoy art, much more than I had previously, and I discovered my love for Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Judy Chicago, Louise Bourgeios, just to name a few. I have tried to encorporate as much art into my travels as I can, and often I've wandered haplessly into an exhibition hall without even realising it.

I hadn't heard of the 'Arken Gallery' until Hanne and Mogens (the very kind, very lovely, very Danish friends whom I stayed with - a shout out to you both, thank you!) mentioned it over dinner last Tuesday, and mentioned in passing that there lies, in said gallery, the biggest collection of Damien Hirst in Northern Europe, due to a recent donation. A tear or two may have been shed at the suggestion that we go later in the week, and I was so utterly impressed with the collection. Having been to, and fallen in love with, his retrospective at the Tate Modern last Spring (almost a year to the date) I was really lucky to see his work again, including some pieces that I'd never heard of.

While it is a bit in the middle of nowhere, I would absolutely recommend this gallery! The other collections (including the current exhibition on Carl Henning-Persden and their permanent exhibitions featuring Grayson Perry  amongst others) are brilliant too, and entrance costs just 95DK (£10). I may have taken a few sneaky photos but shhh, let's not tell the gallery(ies).

Damien!

Just a little bit excited about the Grayson Perry tapestry..

My formaldehyde friends - 'Love's Paradox (Surrender or Autonomy, Seperateness as a Precondition for Connection)'

'Art'

I Will Never Be An Art Critic.

Today's city trip was a little different and while I went with good, cultural intentions, I ended up exploring the underground tunnel system, getting some breakfast, then walking around Hermann Park for the majority of the afternoon, discovering the Japanese Gardens, the Tiffany's Bridge, and the lake. In the Houstonian sunshine, it was flawless. It's hard to believe that such a beautiful place can exist in the 4th largest city in the States. I headed into a new area of Houston too, heading into Montrose to the Rothko Chapel, the Menil Collection, and an opening at the Sicardi Gallery (owned by a friend of the family).

The Rothko Chapel, whether you're religious or not, is a feature of Houston's art scene which is not to be missed. When the Menil collection was established (a gallery with art donated from a private collection owned by two philanthropists - the Menils), this particular part of the gallery was commissioned and completed by the artist Mark Rothko. It is an electronic device free zone, and is completely silent. Religious texts are provided if you feel so inclined, and the atmosphere is impenetrable and sobering in the centre of the city.

Just wandering through Montrose, I found a local record shop where I treated myself to Simon and Garfunkel's 'Wednesday Morning 3AM' vinyl for all of $3.00, and a bakery who had served George Bush, Sarah Palin, and Bill Clinton, among others. I was very impressed, especially when I bought a cookie for just $1.00. I was similarly impressed when I quite literally stumbled (damn my two left feet) upon a huge Obama Murial! Needless to say, I stopped the first unfortunate passer-by I could find to take a photo.

After navigating myself half successfully from the Muriel to West Alabama Street, I had a wander around the Menil Collection which was really great. I have seen more art in the past two months than I have maybe ever? So much art. There was a great exhibition to celebrate the gallery's 25th birthday that featured letters of gratitude from various artists (all of whom seemed farely eccentric) including Andy Warhol, which was surreal to read. To follow this, in the evening, we went to an opening of Gabriel de la Mora's work at the Sicardi Gallery in Montrose, which was lovely and I really enjoyed. Modern Art is something that I struggle to understand, and it's safe to say that I have seen enough modern art recently to help persuade me further to never, ever be an Art Critic.

Looks remarkably like Washington..

Hermann Park - stunning.

The Japanese Gardens.

Rothko Chapel - unfortunately photos are not allowed inside.

Forever stumbling across cool shops.

Who me? Politically biased? Don't be silly.

Obama needs you to fight racism, homophobia and the econmic crisis.

In the Arcadian Bakery.

Outside the Menil Collection.

In the Sicardi.

Between city visits, I've been helping lots with the kids and taking up residence in the local Starbucks, cycling the 5 miles there and back with ease. I also returned to the Elementary school to help out some more, and attended the Veteran's Day concert which was great. But, being British, you can imagine how awkward I felt when the audience were asked to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance AND the nation anthem. Safe to say I mouthed what looked like words and tried not to look to shifty.

Veteran's Day, which takes place on Sunday, is the American equivalent of Rememberance Sunday, and while we don't have poppies or wreath laying, it's still a well respecetd day on the American calender. Anyway, my cycle ride is beautiful and gives me time to appreciate where I am and how this is all really happening. I'm becoming more and more nostalgic about my time here as it progresses, as I realised that I have only three weekends or so left.

Plans have been finalised for NYC and this time next month we'll be back in Baltimore after our long weekend in the Big Apple. I am comforted by the knowledge that I will always have a home here and am welcome back, but I will miss the family so much. But hey, I'm thinking too far ahead and not focussing on the exciting things at hand, such as our weekend away next week where I am going to Austin and San Antonio, and how soon Thanksgiving and our trip to Louisiana is! I still have tons of exciting things to look forward to, including Air Soft guns and Paintballing. Yes, you did read that correctly. Me. Paintballing.