Over heard: Sandra Barwick at the Rebecca Horn exhibition

Scene: Inside the Serpentine Gallery. 12 white high heeled shoes are rotating underneath what seems to be an ink pot in which two implements are dabbling. Shoes and wall are splattered blue.

Enter an American couple. The man has his grey hair tied back in a pony tail. The woman has a smart page boy and black pants. 'This really has a feeling of humanity.' she says. 'Those shoes feel very human.' 'Oh really?' says pony tail. 'That's interesting.'

They leave the rotating shoes to inspect two pairs of binoculars inspecting one another. A small woman with very white trainers enters, looks at the shoes, says 'Oh]', walks quickly away.

A very normal looking middle-aged woman in a black car coat with flat shoes comes in. 'This supposed to represent drunken ladies?' she asks a thin woman dressed all in black.

'The guidebook says it's a fetishistic orgy,' says the thin woman. 'Looks as if they've got into an awful mess.' says the car coat.

'I've never been to an orgy myself.' She goes to the wall and reads out a caption. 'It's called the Prussian Bride Machine.' she says. 'Still doesn't make sense, really. Prussians. They're more passionate than the English, aren't they? I danced with one once.'

Scene: the main gallery of the Tate. Two men in Tate Gallery uniforms are gazing up at the piano hung upside down from the roof, its innards hanging out.

'Hasn't been working since he left.' says one to the other. 'Half the things here aren't working' says the other. 'German engineering for you.' says the first.

Two art students, one in a black jacket and glasses, the other in jeans and a grey T shirt, are looking at a tangle of iron beds and piping.

'Very cold, innit?' says the bespectacled student. 'Something only a woman could do, definitely.' says his friend. 'It's that cold passion.'

(Photograph omitted)

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Arts & Ents blogs

The Fall ‘Darkness Visible’ – Series 1, episode 2

There is a good many moments in the second episode of this psychological thriller that deserve refle...

‘Vicious’ – Series 1, episode 4

The opening titles squeal ‘Never Can Say Goodbye…’. Oh Lord how I wish I could heave this series off...

Game of Thrones ‘Second Sons’ – Season 3, episode 8

Even though there was a complete absence of our favourite odd couple Brienne and Jaime, we got anoth...

       
Independent
Travel Shop
India and Shimla
14 nights from only £1899pp Find out more
Prague city break
Three nights from £199pp Find out more
4* Soreda hotel break, Malta
Seven nights all-inclusive from £399pp Find out more

ES Rentals

    Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

    Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

    A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
    'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

    'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

    Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
    Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

    Plenty of sleaze

    Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
    Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

    The Freemasons’ Code

    Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
    Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

    Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

    Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
    How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

    How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

    Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
    Why clubs are keen to take a stand

    Why clubs are keen to take a stand

    There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
    In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

    In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

    Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
    James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

    James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

    British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death
    Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

    Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

    Lions' cub, 20, joins long line of players from Scottish borders club Hawick given opportunity to make his mark at highest level
    Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch

    Steve Bunce on Boxing

    Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch against Mikel Kessler
    'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

    Masculinity in crisis?

    'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
    Have US shock jocks gone too far?

    Have US shock jocks gone too far?

    An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
    The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

    The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

    Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
    Heavenly Bodies

    Heavenly Bodies

    Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell