1000 Baskets

The weather was so bad today, we abandoned all ideas of getting on with the gardening or going for a nice walk. Instead, we went off to Cambridge to visit Kettles Yard, one of our favourite art galleries and one we haven't been to since its 2-year closure for major a extension and refurbishment. It is now better than ever. The original house, where Jim and Helen Ede lived from 1958 to 1973 and housed an amazing personal and intimate collection of artwork by some of the leading artists of the early 20th century, is just as wonderful as it always was. However, there is now more associated gallery space and a new four-floor Education wing and cafe.

The neighbouring ancient St Peter's Church has been incorporated as an exhibition space and currently it is housing this rather amazing installation by the Bangladeshi sculptor Rana Begum. It comprises a thousand bamboo baskets, hand woven in Bangladesh, connected together to form a wave-like structure. These simple domestic objects, common to every society on earth, become complex and mesmeric when brought together like this. The extra is one of my favourite corners of the house, with a wonderful large triptych collage by Italo Valenti.