A day trip to the "British Museum"

A day trip to the British Museum.

I was on a tube when l saw this Japanese girl with a tattoo. I found it quite strange because l had been told that tattoos were only for gang members... perhaps times are changing.

This is the amazing entrance hall to the British Museum in Central London. I was there to begin with for a talk on Oman Jewellery. It was an amazing talk, especially as l learnt a lot about the "stuff" l have from my time in Dubai.

 I really cannot get my head around this fashion of wearing hold-ups that look like stockings.......!

This was a display that children had created about Pilgrims on Parade in a workshop put on by the Museum education section.

 "The Tree of Life" created by Mozambican Artists who used weapons that were handed over in exchange for ploughs, bikes and sewing machines. Some of these weapons were then cut up to create this sculpture. It is a very emotional piece of Art.

 These are more weapons turned into sculptures.

This is a Man's Cloth created by recycled metal foil bottle-neck wrappers and copper wire created in the years 1998-2001 by El Anatsui in Ghana.

 Just love this shadow pattern.

The title of this piece is called "Knowledge is Sweeter than Honey" made in  wood and ink in 2007 by Susan Hefuna in Egypt. The title can be seen written in Arabic  but only from a distance.

This figure can be best seen from a distance. It is called "Otobo (Hippo) Masquerade". It is made of steel, paint, wood, and palm-stem brooms. The Artist is Nigerian, Sokari Douglas Camp and was made in the year 1995. It plays Hippos who are dangerous animals and are held reponsible for the deaths of travellers by upsetting their canoes. The masquerade is similarly wild and unpredictable when it performs in the town and may attack and injure spectators! A very powerful image l thought.

 There were quite a few women in the Museum with turquoise hair today... Love this one's matching glasses!

 Spent some time in the Egyptian Section, so very interesting.

This bag is an example of a distinctively shaped bag which holds Pituri. This contains a nicotine- substance that was highly valued and traded in Western Queensland. Only senior Aboriginal men in the Community could use Pituri; chewing it with ash they obtain a narcotic effect. This is one of three bags, which are rare because they still contained Pituri.

This is called a Ghost net basket. Indigenous Australians quite often incorporate new materials into their baskets and bowls. For some time in Northern Australia they have started to incorporate fishing twine found on the beaches into their twined and hooked work. The name "Ghost nets" comes from commerical fishing nets that have been cut loose and then drift freely in the ocean. They are often eaten by turtles or sharks and often get tangled up in their mouths and then they die because they cannot eat. Quote from weaver Mavis Ngallametta, "I used to make dilly bags from Pandanus, but now l weave out of ghost nets... it's amazing for me to weave from a net, a fishing net."

I had thought that the Museum was quite busy this particular day but was told "you should have been here yesterday because it was raining, the place was so full they had to close the gates twice because the Museum was SO full!".

 Love the way you can see the sky and clouds through the entrance hall ceiling.

 We decided to treat ourselves to a full English Tea... gorgeous!

First of all... like the shadow pattern, secondly love this lady's pink hair and the flowers in her hair and thirdly, the juxtaposition of the woman and the champagne bottles!

 I love this guy's dreadlocks.

At first we thought this guy had a long sleeved t-shirt on but then realised his arms were actually covered in tattoo's.

 I find the juxtapositon of the modern green and orange buildings with the old buildings in this area great.

When l saw this old non-working water fountain l thought... oh! that is an image of a religious figure....what do you think?

 Another view of the orange and green buildings in central London.

 And just as we were going to catch our bus home, we saw this car... cool!