Is London no longer the U.K's 'it girl' ?
I’ll be honest; I shudder at the thought of going beyond zone 5. Simply put; I’m obsessed with London. I’ve tried to get rid of my city snobbery, I’ve tried elsewhere - I even had a brief stint in the countryside. It was decidedly not for me - I personally love the fact that taking the northern line is the equivalent of smoking a cigarette. It adds a real spontaneous zest for life ! If rolling hills, fresh air, open vistas, cheaper rent and fresher produce are your jam, then go off, live your best life, you do you, but I will die on a (primrose) hill for London.
But I realise that everyone and their cat is moving out of London amid the pandemic and me and my very questionable, with little to no grounds, die hard position, are not in the majority. In fact, in 2020, ‘73,950 homes were bought by people moving out of London.’*
There is much to think about, and perhaps it’s time for long-standing views to change.
What is London without pubs, bars, restaurants, and most importantly what is London without its galleries and museums open?
Is London no longer the U.K’s it girl? Is it actually Surrey? or Margate? Or Brighton?
But maybe my London centric dreams are as short-sighted and narrow minded as literally everyone keeps telling me. Should I not broaden my horizons? I need to recognise that the digital space adds a whole new dimension. I have my fingers crossed the internet is the great equaliser.
Which leads me to think; How will these two factors in particular; countryside emigration and the rise of the digital presence, change the very much London- centric art world?
What will happen when the element of geography is removed from the artworld? Infinite possibility? I think so.
On theVOV Season One we bring 15 U.K art galleries and museums to you, so you don’t have to live or come into the melting pot metropolis to see great art. We have united great art from many diverse Museums and Galleries and you can travel with us up and down the U.K, visiting Scotland, Nottingham and many more, all from the comfort of wherever you find yourself.
It looks like the it girl is headed for theVOV, where it doesn't matter where you are; if you are watching in empty London, a beach in Bali, or a field in France, you have everything you need in one place.
*
(https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/26/number-of-people-moving-out-of-london-reaches-four-year-high-in-2020-13810547/?ito=cbshare )
Lottie @ theVOV