These are the top five books in my collection. They are neither limited editions nor signed copies – but I still love them for a reason:

1.       Annie Leibovitz: At work

As I do this photography course right now this must be the number one on the list. And just opening the book I found a couple black and white pictures I took in London last Christmas– what a surprise! The book is full of great pictures and her stories about them. A lot of personal and technical information about the making of. Beautiful pictures of wars, celebrities, family members and the last picture of John Lennon.

2.       Hans Ulrich Obrist: Marina Abramovic – The Conversation Series

Marina is my old time favorite and I just love this book. I read it a few times before went to Manchester this year to see her theatre play The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic. I mean I read it a few times since I have the book. It was sort of easy to read these conversations but I had to stop time to time as I felt a little dizzy just event thinking of her performances and how she tested her physical and mental limits. She is truly amazing.

3.       ILLUMINATIONS

Illuminations is the catalogue of the 54^th International Art Exhibition, the Venice Biennale. I selected the book as this was my very first visit to the Biennale. Flicking through the pages brings back all the great memories of the press days. The 10 hours bus drive to Venice, the heat, the excitement of the very first time of entering Giardini and the mosquito bites on my arms and feet.

4.       Crossing the Channel – Friendships an Connections in Paris and London 1946-1965; Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Alberto Giacometti

However I missed the show in the Gagosian in London I decided to buy the exhibition catalogue. The book is a little treasure itself as you look at it. The vintage looking cover, the binding is so unique – and the paper inside! I couldn’t resist.

5.       Tracey Emin: those who suffer love

Messy handwritten poems and a collection of her beautiful monoprints. Not even a proper book more like an exercise-book I guess. You can get it from the White Cube.

I just arrived from London today. Well in the morning when I left London it was around 18 degrees (Celsius) there and when we arrived to Budapest it was 30 degrees. (!!!) Hell, but I don't complain.

In the coming days I will share with you what I visited - for now here you are some of the pictures. And now, I am going to sleep...

"you can cage the singer but not the song - free Ai Weiwei"
as it says on the wall next to the Lisson Gallery where
 the artist is on show. photo by Török Viktória

Tracey Emin is all over the city this summer. Her pop up shop at Selfridges.
All for sale: little mugs, limited edition prints, even wine (?) and her favourite
items from the famous department store. photo by Török Viktória

Miro - Miro - Miro. A real blockbuster at the Tate Modern. photo by Török Viktória

Little, intimate show from Cecily Brown at the Gagosian Gallery in Davies street.
Beautiful colors and strokes on the canvas. Photo by Török Viktória

Tracey Emin show at the Hayward Gallery. Huge. photo by Török Viktória

Colourful. Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.
photo by Török Viktória

And all black by the Serpentine Gallery. Peter Zumthor's Pavilion.
photo by Török Viktória

Murakami's Google Doodle

To celebrate the summer solstice Google asked the well-known Japanese artist Takashi Murakami to create the latest Google doodle titled The First Day of Summer. The multicolour cartoon will bring some fun for surfing the net today.

Last year in Versailles he had an exhibition that I visited. Here you are some pictures. Kaikai and Kiki (on the last picture) can be seen on the Google doodle, too.  His new exhibition in London is just about to start at the Gagosian Gallery on Britannia street. For more information just google!

Murakami:Kawaii-Vacances Summer vacation in the Kingdom of the Golden,
Versailles, The King's Guard Room, photo by Török Viktória

Murakami: Untitled (wallpaper)
Versailles, Loggia of the Queen's Staircase, photo by Török Viktória

Murakami: Kaikai & Kiki
Versailles, The Venus Salon, photo by Török Viktória