So now you're leaving? I'm not that impressed

I like looking at random pictures and drawings on the Internet. Whilst doing that, I stumbled upon a fascinating artist called Dmitry Maximov. He's a young Russian photographer and graphic designer who's done a lot of really cool things in his still short carreer. My favourite pieces by him, however, are his two-dimensional images that combine illustration and photographic techniques. The results are micro worlds populated by special, super-cute creatures that live in magical landscapes characterised by human emotions like loneliness, wonder and sadness. Here are some examples - enjoy! (definitely check out more of these pictures by Maximov, they are all over the internet)

Here I lie far from close enough to you (London 3-4)

Wednesday morning I took the bus to Camden. I had a fantastic banana milkshake in a place called Inhabition. I'd read about it on that 'Secret London' Facebook group (yes, it's not that secret anymore, really) and I can only agree with their enthusiasm. After finishing my drink and having a chat with the lovely woman who worked there, I walked around the stables market and took some pictures.

In the afternoon I took up Alan's advice to go to the National Portrait Gallery near Leicester Square. I don't really know why I hadn't been there before, as it is a great collection of 18/19/20th century paintings and modern photography. Quite touristy, of course, but worth the visit anyway!

Back home I found Alex and Alan cleaning up their living room, transforming their closet in a bar (right side of the closet) and a eh, farm for Alex (left side), consisting of a plastic horse and a stone duck. Alex prepared us some delicious pasta, but had to leave shortly after. I stayed in with Alan, who introduced me to his favourite blogger Momus (who sadly quit blogging earlier this week) and Momus's music and lyrics. I usually tend to go out quite a lot when I'm London, but I must say I've really enjoyed my cosy nights in with Alan. Shortly after midnight, we were joined by Christina, an Austrian girl who'd be my fellow couch surfer from that night on. She turned out to be a very nice girl with a delightful sense of humour.

The day after, I met up with Rob. After doing some shopping on Oxford Street, I told Rob I wanted to look for a toy animal. Rob was quite surprised, but after telling him about Alex's farm, he was happy to help me find a suiting addition to the farm. We went to a children's shop and found a lovely cow. Afterwards, Rob and I went for a drink or two, three before I returned home. Alex was pleasantly surprised when he received the cow.

When everyone was back home (me, Alex, Alan, Nikos and his girlfriend Abi; only Christina was away, she was attending a couch surfing 'drawing' event), we took off for a pub quiz. I was quite excited as Alan had taught me everything one should know about British pubs, including the tradition of the pub quiz. I'd never been to one before, so this was my chance! Unfortunately, the quiz was cancelled, so we ended up just having drinks for a while. Alan had to go to work that night, Nikos and Abi went to their room, and Alex, Christina (who got back by then) and I watched Curb Your Enthusiasm and chatted about Belgian and Austrian music for hours and hours.

But there is someone I'd like to see, she never mentions a word to me (Liverpool 1-2)

...
I woke up early to catch my coach to Liverpool at Victoria Station. It was a 5h30 drive, which could've been rather boring, but turned out to be not that bad after all. I had my iPod, my book and the company of two lovely South-American girls that were sitting next to me. I'm also really fond of the break in the middle of the trip that gives you the opportunity to spend all of your money on snacks in one of those road shops. Hm, chocolate croissants. :)

Once in Liverpool, I went looking for my hostel, got myself installed and then took off again. I spent the rest of the day walking around through the city centre and the Cavern Quarter, where I of course visited the legendary Cavern Club. By coincidence, I walked in when this Australian edition of John Lennon, Marcus Cahill got on stage. I heard him sing, got myself a drink, sat down and stayed there for two hours. I'm usually not really a fan of cover acts, but this guy was absolutely amazing. He looked liked John (incl. the nose) but he even more sounded like him. After the show I got introduced to him by a local and we had a nice chat. Afterwards, the local guy took me to another Beatles related bar that didn't make it to the tourist guide.

The plan for the evening was meeting up with my very long-term internet friend Liam, but that plan sadly got cancelled last-minute. Instead, I went back to the hostel, had a chat with my roommates (two Spanish girls) and then went to sleep rather early.

After breakfast I immediately walked to the Albert Dock. First up was a visit to the Beatles museum, which I absolutely adored. The shop at the end of the visit was just as great. I liked the fact that so many schools with 8-year-old kids were visiting the museum as well, I don't think that could ever have happened in my old school or in any Belgian school, really. The next museum on my list was Tate Liverpool, where I mostly enjoyed the DLA Piper Series (sculptures). Then it was time to catch my coach back to London, where I'd spend the rest of my trip.

China Town Liverpool

one of the many Beatles shops

Cavern Pub

John & I

Cavern Club

Marcus

hostel

Albert Dock

Virgin offices

Beatles museum

Sometimes I think I can smell light

On Friday, I finally made it to the art exhibition "It's not only rock 'n roll baby!" at the Bozar in Brussels. It's an exhibition showing a variation of arts (paintings, drawings, installations, photography etc) by a quite extensive amount of musicians, for example the likes of The Kills, Chicks on Speed, Pete Doherty (the famous blood paintings) and many more.

I had been wanting to go there for already quite a long time and was pleased to hear Phara was glad to join me. The exhibition turned out to be really ample, so we've spent there quite some time. Some artists' work was a bit too pretentious for me to really like it, but I've also discovered a lot of beautiful and inventive work. A couple of exhibits I really liked were those by Riceboy Sleeps (project of Jonsi from Sigur Rós and his partner Alex Somers from Parachutes), Pete Doherty (I appreciate the fact that he put the focus on his drawings, not on the blood - that would've been too "let's make some shocking morbid paintings and show everybody what a freak I am". It did struck me that he has loads of blood, though), Bent Van Looy (Das Pop), Nick Zimmer (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Fischerspooner (at least they put up a party).

Of course we finished our Bozar trip by (searching and) visiting the shop. I bought a book about the exhibition and a The Kills button.

In a week or two there's the finissage to this exhibition - be there!

(you couldn't take pictures there, so I just made photographs from my book - excuse the quality)

Bianca from CocoRosie

Pete Doherty
Pete Doherty (I've bought a t-shirt with this print when I was at the Babyshambles gig in Brussels earlier this year)

Brian Eno's light trip ("just like MSD") - took a while before we got it

The Kills' polaroids

Miss Kittin - made me laugh a bit ("where is royksopp?")

Kembra Pfahler
Kembra Pfahler

Riceboy Sleeps
Riceboy Sleeps

Patti Smith

Bent Van Looy

Alan Vega

Nick Zimmer

the entire list of musicians who were part of the project

my Kills button