GoMA in Glasgow

GoMA is the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, which we visited today before retiring to our hotel to watch Andy Murray's match at Wimbledon. The statue in front is of Wellington; it has become traditional to cap it with an orange traffic cone, which the authorities remove only infrequently.

The gallery is in a thoroughly renovated classical building, with key elements designed by the French artist Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002); these include the triangular decoration above the columns and a dazzling installation of mirrors around the lobby. Currently there is a wonderful exibition with nearly two dozen of Niki's works given by the collectors Eric and Jean Cass; nearby is the weird and fascinating "Altar to a Dead Cat" which she gave to GoMA in 1993. It was altogether fascinating, including information on her life, which I had been totally unaware.

Afterwards we witnessed AndyMurray's triumph at Wimbledon, feeling fortunate to be in Scotland (his home country) to do so; the upwelling of emotional joy and celebration after the final point was something to behold. (For anyone who may be unaware, he's the first British male player to win Wimbledon in 77 years; Virginia Wade won in the 1970s.)