London is the city where I feel like home.This time, after a busy week in Paris, Kyu and I were planning to have a holiday week visiting art galleries and theatres, and live life in London. Our favourite hotel :) Taking a Eurostar train from Paris to London was so much more hassle than we expected.The station was packed, the train was delayed and the seats were not like what we remembered.After the train ride and bad traffic around King's Cross Pancras station, we finally arrived in the hotel. Since we skipped lunch, our first destination was a pizzeria nearby.Then we walked all the way to the city central from Brick Lane. London College of Fashion : Cordwainers building in Golden Lane. When we were about to pass Golden Lane, I asked Kyu if we can stop by somewhere.My old school, Cordwainers college.The school has a long history of teaching shoemaking to the best designers in the world- including Jimmy Choo, Camilla Skovgaaard, Nicholas Kirkwood and so many more. The Golden Lane building was full of shoemaking machines and workshops,I used to spend a whole day there drawing, sewing and hammering - it was the happiest time of my life. When we went there though, the gate was locked.A man came out and asked if I needed anything, so I told him that it is my old school, which I graduated 10 years ago.He was surprised and opened the gate for me.He said the building is not sold and University of the Arts London is still the guardian.He kindly let me take a picture, which might be the last piece of record I can have about Golden Lane. This lovely view from Tate Modern, towards Saint Paul's Cathedral. The next day, we headed to Tate Modern - our favourite spot. We signed up for the membership and spent almost a half day there.There were many exhibitions going on - including Frida Kahlo, Julio Le Parc and Ana Mendieta.I didn't know we were going to see them all on the same day. New work was about to be installed in the Hyundai commission hall.I love this building so much. RITA is what I chose for the Tate visit, they're made of silky Italian nubuck.Simplicity, with well-made details and thoughtfully placed lines.They are almost like long, sleek socks extended to feet.Beautiful from every angle.the wide square toes.RITA Black 'Frida: The Making of An Icon' exhibition was more about how she became who she was,rather than focusing on her original works.We could see many of her early works and photographs of her taken by other artists.She was very clever and charming.Her romantic life sometimes seemed a little distorted, but it also became a part of her art.Even before the accident, she suffered from polio at the age of sixwhich left her right leg remain painful for the rest of her life.Her life has always been a fight against pain, protecting herself from it and creatig her own character which let her speak through her work and public image. Self Portrait (dedicated to Jacqueline Lamba), 1938.Still Life with Prickly Pear Fruit (1938)Hammer and Sickle (and Unborn Baby), c. 1950Kiki Smith, 'From Heart to Hand' (1989)The Dove Was Mistaken, c. 1953 - from her diaries. We had to miss out on some of the shows we wanted to see,but there are always something to see at Tate! A new discovery, Julio Le Parc's work was so delightful.He created remarkable spaces with light and movements, using simple materials. Julio Le Parc, "Continuel Lumière Mobile Carré Alvéolé" (1960) Kyu was very impressed by Ana Mendieta's work.I first encountered her work through a book, and it was about her performance work using real blood, inspired by prehistoric themes.My initial impression of her was a little scary, but she is such a lovely person indeedexploring elements from mother nature,human interactions, villages, park and other surroundings of our lives. Sitting on the rooftop café of Tate Modern, one of the happiest moments. After the long trip to Tate, we nourished our body with some good Indian foodand took some rest. SUSIE Wind day. The next day began with our regular breakfast whenever we visit London:a big, good granola bowl. I wore my soft, blue sheepskin sneakers to be ready for another long museum tripand to stay outside all day walking.Our plan was to spend a half of the day at Tate Britainthen head to Globe theatre to watch 'Much Ado About Nothing'. I've never been to Globe to watch a play before, so I was very excited about it. SUSIE Wind An amazing British carrot cake.For real, they should receive a prize for the Best Breakfast. After a big breakfast, we were heading to Old Street station by walk. Taking a quick glimpse on Shoreditch Town Hall, my eyes suddenly opened wide.They are JOANNE!JOANNE is in a poster, and that poster is on Shoreditch Town Hall,where all of the East Londoners are passing by! 'Unfortunately' at Shoreditch Town Hall, 22-26 September 2026.and JOANNE Camel was in the poster! This is our JOANNE Camel. At Tate Britain, Chris Ofili's mural work was on display. Titled 'Requiem', the work was created to commemorate the victims of Grenfell Tower Fire, in 2017.Chris Ofili first met Khadija Saye in Venice while showing their works at the Biennale.Shortly after they met, Khadija Saye lost her life in Grenfell Tower Fire, aged 24. Paying an hommage to her work, 'Anduchurai' from 'Dewlling: in this space we breathe (2017)',Ofili placed the image of Saye holding the Gambian incense potin the centre of the space - as a "powerful creative force of transformation". Chris Ofili "Requiem"Chris Ofili "Requiem", a man's tears become the ocean.Chris Ofili "Requiem" - music for the souls. I always loved Chris Ofili's bold and joyful use of colours.His characters and figures are always unforgettable. This time painting the tragic event across the whole wallas if it was a scene from a great mythology,he made it to be engraved in people's minds forever. 'Vita Veritas Victoria (2007)' by Hew Locke After going through Tate Britain's permanent collectionsand also another major exhibition about James McNeill Whistler,we were spiritually fully charged but physically totally exhausted. We headed to Borough Market to nourish our body,before watching the performance at Globe. SUSIE really goes with everything, I love this combination of colours and details.Something we never miss, they even toast the falafels in front of us.Monmouth Coffee. There was a sign "professional thieves are in this area, mind your bags". Surprisingly, I've never been to Globe Theatre before.I love Shakespeare and I love going to theatres, I went past this wonderfully historical site numerous times and I haven't thought about entering!I'm so grateful that Kyu booked a ticket for us to watch the play, 'Much Ado About Nothing'. At first, it was not easy to hear the actors' voices - but I gradually got used to it.They were modern costumes instead of traditional ones, which gave the show a fresh perspectivebut honestly, I would have preferred classic costumes.The actors were amazing, even the audience was lovely. Globe Theatre at nightA scene from 'Much Ado About Nothing' (photo: Globe) We also watched Cate Blanchett playing in 'Electra/Persona' with Nina Hoss.When we watched, Cate Blanchett was Clytemnestra/Alma, and Nina Hoss played Electra/Elisabeth.Their performance was phenomenal, both of them were very powerful and charismatic.The play didn't tell much stories, it was more about the characters and the emotional battles between them.On simple set and costumes, they captivated all the audience only with their acting and camera play. Electra/PersonaElectra/PersonaCate Blanchett, Nina Hoss and Ella Lily Hyland. We've been to so many places in one week,and there was one the day when we went to V&A and walked all the way to Bond Street.Sometimes these walks that we take without knowing where we are headed is the best part of a trip. Originally we went to see Schiaparelli exhibition at V&A, but tickets for the day were all sold out.So we bought our tickets for the day after, and began to explore the museum. "Was this building a palace before?" Kyu asked.I love it when he says things like that, because he actually meant it.He fell in love with the beautiful building full of treasures. We checked out their Jewellery collection, then moved on to the Glass room.And then finally, we decided to get out of the building and just keep walking - until we reach the city central. ALEX White For AW26 season, I made a small collection of boots: RITA, MEG and ALEX. The White version of ALEX is made after the Taupe version,and I think I personally like this one better :)I made them as high top, pull-on boots so you can play with them easier for your styling.Simply slide into the boots, whether if you're wearing a skirt, a dress, or even loose jeans.This is my favourite way of wearing them, tucking my jeans inside.I even bought one to wear with ALEX, because I didn't have any blue jeans before. Happily on our way to another wholesome breakfast.ALEX & MARIO together🤍MARIO looking good. We arrived at Higgins' Coffee.It used to be my secret spot, but I think it's become so much more popular than before.I used to come here on weekends or in the morning to buy beans.They have the best coffee beans in the world. Fun part of carrying cameras, taking random pictures.British way of serving coffee.Talking to Kyu about different angles of taking pictures of shoes.The coolest part of this store, the scale...! This beautiful angel survived from 15th-century France. Gabriel delivering God's message to Mary.I love. We went to art exhibitions until the last moment.I thought we missed the Anish Kapoor one, but it turned out that I misread the dates!On the day we left, early in the morning, we went to Hayward Gallery to check this one out. I love how he interprets his visions through materials and scale.Everyone can enjoy his work, but I think everyone must feel them differently. This one made me cry. I felt such raw form of life was captured in this strong force, suffocating.A chunk of organ full of blood.Anish Kapoor, 'Ha Makom', 2026. A Sky Hole. It was such an unforgettable 2-weeks. Every time I go to London, I feel like I am sent back to the happiest time of life,when I first encountered what I would love for the rest of my life.The curious girl who loves art, who spends all of her time in the studio and in her room, digging into pages of books, magazines, and sketchbooks. This trip is going to charge me for another year, and will be remembered forever.
