The Rubell clan was out in force to support Jennifer Rubell’s latest show at Stephen Friedman Gallery, appropriately titled Not Alone. As usual with Ms R, interaction was the order of the day. Visitors were invited to cradle a life-sized glass sculpture of a newborn baby, based on Jennifer’s second child Max, now three years old. They could consume a hard-boiled egg and season it with one of the kitsch salt and pepper shakers from the artist’s personal collection. And they could even disrobe and stand naked—in a private locked room—in front of a film of Rubell having her portrait painted whilst sitting nude on a horse.
With impressive parental loyalty Don and Mera performed all of the above, allegedly even the third component, though not during the opening. It is up to the Friedman gallery staffers to maintain the daily egg supply for the show’s month-long run. Apparently 120 free-range organic specimens have been ordered to arrive hard-boiled from a special company every day. And if they are not consumed within four hours they are then replaced by a new batch at 2pm. So expect a surfeit of eggy dishes on offer every afternoon in Old Burlington Street this autumn.
Goodies ahoy at Apollo
Having long passed my fourth decade, I felt somewhat like the spectre at the feast amongst the youthful throng at the rammed Apollo 40 Under 40 party held last night (3 September). The festivities were held in the underground vaults of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) just off the Strand. But while it was elevating to peruse the latest list of fresh-faced luminaries brought together by the illustrious magazine, equally impressive, and widely remarked upon, was the astonishingly lavish goodie bag. The treasure trove was pulled together by the event’s partners, and art world head-hunters, Sophie Macpherson Ltd. Over more than a decade the recruiting company has become renowned for placing some of the biggest honchos, both public and commercial, in their posts. And in the current climate of austerity, such a groaning sack of freebie goodies—including organic wine from Tuscany, a weighty scented candle and an array of Floris and Rituals smellies—is testament to their pulling power extending beyond the art world. As the departing guests staggered out into the Strand barely able to carry their swag, the overwhelming view was that Christmas had indeed come early…