A Herd in the Park

I was wondering what to write about and hoped a walk to St James’s might provide inspiration. Of course it did; London is a city of wonders.

This year’s Serpentine Pavilion is an elegant structure. It has crisp lines, contrasting materials (liquorice allsorts?) and a structure that invites exploration. Unfortunately it comes with a message that is frankly bonkers. I enjoyed it for what it is and I’m not interested in its message. Nor am I pleased that the philanthropic Sacklers, whose money so many organisations slavered over, have now been cancelled. The Sackler Gallery, you know the one with the mushroom growing out of it, is now the Serpentine North Gallery.

Everyone knew how the Sacklers made their money. If they needed to make reparations they did so handsomely. In the five years 2013 to 2019 the family gave some $60 million to universities in the US and UK, so the Serpentine Gallery was small change. A comparison could be drawn with the Jardines although the latter’s philanthropy has, I think, been on a smaller scale so has escaped censure so far as they are not so stupendously rich. (Wealthy is a common word.)

By the time I reached The Green Park my mind had turned to other matters. Would I have a zero alcohol Gin & Slimmers Tonic, a glass of champagne or a white wine spritz? Then I saw a herd of elephants.

It’s an unexpected and uplifting vision. If you’d like one to take home a calf is yours for £6,000; an adolescent £12,500; a mummy elephant £22,000 and a tusker weighing 350 kg, £30,000. Some of your money will support an elephant conservation charity. Most people take “elphies” of themselves with the herd.