Post apocalyptic London…

The day began bright and sunny, but it quickly became blustery.

Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall provided a brief insight of a post apocalyptic London! The current instalment “TH 2058” asked the question of what London would be like in an “incessant rain”.

Bunk beds fill the hall, as if it was some sort of World War Two air raid shelter. Books (many foreign) are scattered over the beds, and people lie about browsing them. This is a surreal experience, and one that I don’t at first understand.

A huge spider like creature towers above us, at first it is a bit spooky, but no one seems to be scared by it, and children play freely. Next to the “spider” a large red sci-fi frame also dominates the hall. At a glance one would assume it was made of steel, but on clser inspection it is actually some sort of plastic or foam!

Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster has definitely created something of real substance here – the instalment is an interesting and thought provoking experience, one that anyone should visit if they are passing by.

Outside the rain threatened on and off and the wind got stronger, heading towards Fleet Street I dived down a small alleyway: out of the bad weather. I was in a narrow passage, with dark brown walls and a lantern above me. A sign swung, creaking. This was the door to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Public House, a pub that was rebuilt in 1667 after the great fire of London.

Inside the smell of a coal fire hung in the air. Sawdust scattered on the floor soaked up the water from people’s shoes. A man sat next to the fire, a jar of beer cradled in his hands. Ahhhh, this was cosy. Entering the bar that stated “gentlemen only at this bar” I felt like I was walking through a history book. The sound of laughter drifted by and everyone seemed content and warm: they knew they were avoiding the bad weather outside. Drinks ordered the cosy and interesting evening flew past…