The Xtra Diary - A sketchbook of Soho life
Published: 17 December, 2010
WEST Enders may remember this guerilla artwork depicting a Victorian street urchin (wearing thoroughly modern footwear) slumped against a doorway and enjoying a cigarette break.
The picture (above) was painted by artist Raul Guerrero on hoardings in Moor Street over the summer and lasted about two weeks before workers painted over it.
But Soho denizens who were fans of the painting will probably enjoy an exhibition of Guerrero’s art set to take place in a Frith Street gallery after Christmas.
In all, 25 of the 33-year-old’s Soho Sketchbook pictures will be on show, and many depict familiar faces from the area.
“German expressionism is very important to me and I am a big fan of Lucian Freud,” he told Diary.
“I relate to that kind of art because the people look like people tend to look when they are absorbed in themselves – like how people on the Tube tend to look.”
Guerrero’s technique is old school. “I avoid working from photographs because I like the idea of doing it how someone in the 19th century would do it,” he said.
n Guerrero’s show will run from January 5-28 at the Reading Room Gallery, 65 Frith Street, Soho.
Sex and the single scoop
ARE ice cream parlours replacing “massage parlours”?
In Soho at least, something like that seems to be happening. As the area’s seedier streets get spruced up, more and more shops specialising in frozen desserts seem to be appearing – and the names get ever more suggestive.
Around a year ago, Snog opened in Brewer Street, followed by Lick in Greek Street.
The latter offers ice creams with epicurean flavours including black sesame seed and pandan coconut and has won praise in internet forums for ice cream fanatics.
Its owner, Li Chiang, said the shop is doing a brisk business despite the cold snap.
“People have an appreciation for proper Italian gelato these days,” he said.
Lick is in competition with Scoop, also in Brewer Street and Amorino in Great Compton Street.
So, is ice cream better than sex?
Quite possibly.
Jazz from Montreux to Ronnie Scott’s
WHEN Diary last spoke to Neil Drinkwater he was taking part in a
sit-in in the tower of St Anne’s Church in Dean Street, where he and other Soho Society members were protesting at an eviction notice from the Rector David Gilmore.
Unfortunately Drinkwater, who lives and regularly gigs in Soho, didn’t have his Red Stripe Band with him or perhaps he would have treated his cohorts to some of his acclaimed music, which will be performed at Ronnie Scott’s this weekend during a Christmas singalong.
The jazz outfit – praised by one reviewer as “zany, manic... brilliant boogie woogie” – have played at virtually every jazz and blues festival in the British Isles over the years as well as abroad in France, Italy, the USA and Switzerland.
“The Montreux Jazz Festival a couple of years ago was a big highlight,” he told Diary, “and we won the Best Band Award this year at Marlborough International Jazz Festival.”
The band’s version of Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano from CD You Got What You Asked For was used by Paul Merton on opening credits of a travel documentary earlier this year and by Papa John’s Pizza in America for a TV and radio advert.
• The Red Stripe Band Christmas Hootenanny, Ronnie Scott’s Upstairs, Sunday December 19, from 8.30pm, £6 on the door and £8 after 10pm. With mince pies and Christmas outfits.