We went to a wonderful exhibition not long after Christmas about the home in Renaissance Italy, specifically Tuscany and Venice, and it was filled with the objects from daily life which, through time, have attained a value far beyond their original banal and everyday use. Clothing, linen, glass, plates, cutlery, all incredibly crafted in exquisite detail were in one section. Venetian glass blown in the 1600's (what was Australia up to in the 1600's??) was pure simple beauty. There were large furnishings as well, beds, chairs, lounges, again all hand crafted and beautifully made. One of the most striking pieces was from a gentleman's study, and was a statue of two lizards fighting a snake, which had in fact been cast from the real (presumingly dead and posed) animals. Every scale could be seen, the level of detail was astounding. The craftsman during the Renaissance really were of breath-taking ability.
After the exhibition we wandered the V&A for a while and came across an installation in the courtyard outside. I don't usually have any appreciation (or patience) for modern art, but every now and then I find something that does move me or excite me, and this installation was one of them. It responded to movement by sweeping different coloured lights up and down bars erected into the ground, as well as playing melodious sounds which intermingled harmoniously and altered depending on the movement around each bar. It was a wonderful experience moving around and watching how the lights and sounds altered with your presence, whilst still meshing with the lights and sounds of the other bars. There was never a discordant note, and it enchanted both the young and old who braved the heavy rain to walk amongst this modern day musical stone henge.
It was a lovely relaxed weekend away, and it was good to see the kids and everyone again. Though why do the weekends always go so quickly?? 
