Martin Creed: Work No. 560: Everything is Going to Be Alright on the front
of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art,  Edinburgh.
photo by Török Viktória

One of the best places in Edinburgh: The Fruitmarket Gallery. This spring, when
I was visiting Jean-Marc Bustamante had his exhibition (photographs, sculptures,
from his early years and sculptures, paintings made between 2008-2010).
The coffe shop and the little bookstore make the place cosy in the harsh climate.
Great selection of art books and magazines.The people who work there
are also very lovely. Photo by Török Viktória

Antony Gormley: 6 Times
 (landmark sculptural project in Edinburgh)
photo by Török Viktória

My first real life experience meeting an artist was in 2010 visiting Antony Gormley’s studio in London. We had to meet at the Kings Cross tube station and walk about 20 minutes to get there. I was always bad with maps and finding the right exit at Kings Cross was a bit of a challenge. They sent us a picture of it but still - it was a long way to get in to the right place. I tried to remember the way to the studio but as we had a chat with the group I hardly could look – all I remember it looked like an industrial area in the middle of London. After 20 minutes we arrived in front of a big metal sliding gate. The studio was behind – I did not know what to expect. It was a super high-tech massive space all concrete and metal. We had to wait for him in the kitchen that was enough for at least 15 people. There was a big table in the middle with chairs, all super modern. The wall was full of pictures, plans of the Horizon Fields in Austria and exhibition invitations. All excited about looking at his personal stuff. He came from his drawing studio and after offering some tea and coffee had a seat by the table with us and talked about his new book that was due end of the year. The book (One and Other) was about his 2009 Fourth Plinth project at the Trafalgar Square. At some point he stood up and stretched his arms to explain something then I realised how tall he is. For his sculptures he uses his own body shape and sometimes the process to have his own cast is very painful. One of his assistants told us that sometimes she just walks along the studio and all she can hear is Mr Gormley screaming – this is the time when they remove the cast from him. We had a real tour in the studio, had a peak in all the different rooms and in the main space too that had a couple of sculptures hanging from the ceiling. We never wanted to leave his place.     

Edinburgh by Török Viktória

In February I went to Scotland for a couple of days to visit my friends in Edinburgh. They invited me to stay in their lovely new home. We had amazing time, beautiful posh meal in the Dome, drinks at the bar of the Balmoral Hotel and a couple of art walks. One evening they took me to a little restaurant in the Royal Mile where we could bring our own drinks as they don’t have licence to sell alcohol. I never visited a place like that before. So just after drinks in the trendy Hotel Missoni we went to Sainsbury’s and bought a couple of beers and wines and with our orange plastic bags walked up to the Royal Mile. Our waiter brought the menus to us and a bottle opener with empty glasses. The food was great and we had brilliant time.

On the last day we went to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to see Karla Black’s works. She is representing Scotland in the Venice Biennial this year.  Then we had lunch in the Dean Gallery just next to Eduardo Paolozzi ‘s massive sculpture the Vulcan. We had such a great time and I almost missed the train back to London so we had to hurry up to collect my luggage and catch the train.  After the departure my phone rang. It was my friend – I forgot her keys. I took them to London with me and posted next day.