Lucy Loves: February
My round-up of excellent things to bookmark this month
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well and embracing 2024 with open arms. I’m thrilled to be back after a short break — any readers who follow me on Instagram will know that we welcomed our first tiny tot on Christmas Eve. As I am sure you can imagine, January whizzed by in a blur of sleepless nights, nappy changes, smiles, tears and a whole lot of snuggles, so I’m excited to see what February has in store. Which brings me to this month’s Lucy Loves column.
A quick recap for new subscribers (welcome by the way, I’m glad you are here), The Istanbulist is a newsletter filled with art, design and travel inspiration in London, Istanbul & beyond. Sometimes articles are personal and intimate, other times not at all. All of them, though, feature things I think you will love or be inspired by.
My Lucy Loves column does exactly what it says on the tin: it’s a monthly edit of art, design & travel bits that have caught my eye and that I think you will enjoy. This will remain free for all to read. In addition to this, paid subscribers will receive interviews, curated edits and feature stories — think art hotels to book now, design-led restaurants to save and emerging artists to invest in.
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As ever, please let me know what you’d like to see more of this year by sending me a DM or commenting below. If you enjoy The Istanbulist, please do share it with your friends and hit the like button in the banner above. Thank you again for joining me on this adventure between two cities.
Love Lucy Xx
ART THINGS
Opening just as LFW closes is Sargent and Fashion (22 February — 7 July), Tate Britain’s major exhibition dedicated to the portrait painter John Singer Sargent. Through 60 paintings, period dresses and accessories, it will reveal the artist's ground-breaking role as a stylist and the ways in which he used fashion as a powerful tool to express identity and personality. What’s not to love?
Also on my to-do list is Darling sweetie, sweetie darling (30 January — 30 March), Uman’s first exhibition at Hauser & Wirth in London. Born in Somalia and raised in Kenya, she draws inspiration from her cross-cultural experiences, notably her memories of her East African childhood, education in traditional Arabic calligraphy and fascination with kaleidoscopic colour and design. Blending elements of figuration and abstraction, her paintings are a dazzling exploration of both the physical and spiritual realms.
There’s much buzz around The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure (22 February — 19 May) at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Curated by writer Ekow Eshun, it showcases the work of 22 contemporary artists from the African diaspora — including the brilliant Claudette Johnson, Titus Kaphar and Kerry James Marshall — and highlights their use of figures to illuminate the richness and complexity of Black life.
There’s also a lot of talk about the new Yoko Ono solo show at Tate Modern (15 February — 1 September) — and for good reason. Spanning more than seven decades of her multi-disciplinary career, it brings together 200 of her most talked about artworks and performances, including Cut Piece (1964), where people were invited to cut off her clothing. Of course, you’ll also see works made with her husband and longtime collaborator John Lennon.
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DESIGN BITS
I’m still obsessing over everything at Tulu Textiles, a Turkish brand that I came across while researching my Christmas Gift Guide last year. A month on, I still want it all, especially this gorgeous hand-printed decorative pillow. Stop by Elizabeth’s shop in Sultanahmet when in Istanbul, or browse her beautiful wares online.
I’m living in nightwear atm — is it normal not to get dressed until 2pm as a new mum? — and am particularly enjoying the nighties I recently treated myself to from If Only If, a small family business based in the UK. Their simple yet elegant designs are made from 100% natural, breathable materials and are suited to every generation of women. Their no-faff nursing nightgowns are spenny, but they do make those dreaded night feeds just a little bit easier.
Ephesus, Turkey, November 2023
TRAVEL STUFF
Cold, wintry days in Istanbul have me dreaming of sunnier climes, sandy beaches and glorious pools. (The one at Bodrum Loft is a real goodie.) I’m busy plotting tot-friendly trips this year, so I’d really welcome any tried-and-tested hotels and destinations in Turkey & beyond that are good for tinies.
At the end of last year Olly and I road tripped around southwest Turkey, stopping at the vineyards of Urla, the ancient cities of Ephesus and Pamukkale as well as other little-known coastal gems. I’m thinking of writing a best-of guide to the region, which would be similar to those I’ve done for Portugal and Sifnos. Would you be interested in this?
I don’t know about you but I love nothing more in winter than holing up by a roaring fire with a good book. Turkey doesn’t do the boutique bolthole or cosy country pub like the UK does, so I am dreaming of a weekend escape in one of my all-time favourites: The Beckford Arms. It’s got everything you could possibly want from a winter weekend away — good grub, stylish rooms, said roaring fire and good walks on the doorstep. The bonus? It’s very reasonably priced. I’d love to know where you sneak off to for a relaxing mini-break as I’m always on the hunt for new places to go.
And finally…The debut photobook by the brilliant Turkish photojournalist Emin Özmen is out now. Published by Mack Books and described as his ‘tribute to the people in Turkey who marched for justice,’ Olay traces 10 years of tumult in his homeland. Expect raw, powerful images that pack a punch. Buy it here.