Mad for two days off

Weekend Combo: Dostoevsky’s doppelgänger, Oasis and a 300-year-old boozer
By Thomas Davis | Art | 11 April 2014
Above:

Still of Jesse Eisenberg in The Double, © 2014 – Magnolia Pictures

This article is part of Weekend Combo – What to do this weekend

We bring you our guide to living well in the world’s capitals, from exhibitions to cinema, food, drink, fashion, music and beyond. Just call it culture and take it, it’s yours.

LONDON, FRIDAY 11th APRIL – SUNDAY 13th APRIL 2014

Seeing Double
First up this week we have an innovative screen adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s celebrated novel The Double. Transposing the action from 19th century Russia to a surrealist modern-day America, Richard Ayoade directs out the story of a downtrodden office clerk working in an ominous government organisation, Simon (Jesse Eisenberg), whose life is destroyed by the sudden arrival of his exact double in his office.

The doppelgänger climbs the corporate ladder and attracts the attention of Simon’s sole love interest along the way, sinking him further into mediocrity and uncontrolled  madness. 

Darkly emotive and gripping as expected but, thanks to Ayoade’s touch, it’s unusually heartwarming in parts.

The Double, book tickets online here

Chasing the Sun
 2014 is the 20th anniversary of Oasis’ debut album. Whether you missed out on the Gallagher’s bulletproof swagger during Britpop or you’re still mad for it, you need to head to Londonewcastle on Redchurch Street.

Where else can you see fly-on-the-wall backstage photography, instruments played by the band, sleeve artwork and videos alongside a lifesize Definitely Maybe room you can get your picture taken in? The answer’s nowhere – this is the very first exhibition dedicated entirely to some of Manchester’s finest. Nice one, our kid.

Chasing the Sun: Oasis 1993–1997
Londonewcastle Project Space, 28 Redchurch St, London, E2 7DP
Until 22nd April

Anglo Italiano
Over at the V&A recently there seems to have been an exploration into the relationship British architects, artists and designers have had with European style through the centuries and this month’s new exhibition, based solely on the legendary William Kent, is no exception.

The show brings together over 200 examples of William Kent’s work, including mind-blowing fine furniture, and explores how the British tastemaker set the style for an age when Britain defined itself as a new nation whilst taking inspiration from Italian style. 

William Kent: Designing Georgian Britain
Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

A tug of war on canvas
Mayfair’s Hauser & Wirth gallery presents another brilliant exhibition starting this week exploring the decade-long collaboration between artists Dieter Roth (1930–1998) and Arnulf Rainer. From 1972, Roth and Rainer worked together intermittently, producing pieces in tandem or exchanging works in progress which were then completed independently, creating artworks with an inharmonious rivalry which can be seen in the voracious mark making spread over their shared drawings, collages, prints, and over-worked photographs.

A battle of egos never looked so good.

Ma with the Ki, 1981—1983
© Dieter Roth Estate, Arnulf Rainer

Ma with the Ki, 1981—1983, © Dieter Roth Estate, Arnulf Rainer

Dieter Roth, Arnulf Rainer – Collaborations
Hauser & Wirth Gallery, 
23 Savile Row, 
London, 
W1S 2ET

If you were 300 years old you’d need a facelift too
The Cat & Mutton has been a staple of Broadway Market for very long time – 300 odd years to be precise. After closing late last year for renovation, it’s been reopened by Tom Gibson, the man behind Ruby’s in Dalston, who’s restored its period features to glorious result.

Split between traditional boozer on the ground with a cocktail bar upstairs, food comes courtesy of Licky Chops’ Ben Denner – spot on for summer BBQ cravings. Once you’ve had the pulled pork roll with American cheese and coleslaw you probably won’t settle for a pack of ready salted with your pint again.

The Cat and Mutton
76 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ

 




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