Parties: You've been framed!
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rolling around nude in vats of paint and applying the residue to canvas is one sure-fire way to catch the attention of London's socialites. As they flocked to the actress-turned-artist Meredith Ostrom's paint-spattered exhibition Naked Soul on 12 March, the thankfully turps-scrubbed artist, dazzling in a cream top, admitted she had been up until 2am, finishing up.
Turning up to a soaring art space just opened in a converted sorting office in Victoria, the wealthy, well-connected crowd mingled over vodka cocktails. Although the photographer Amanda Eliasch came and went early, the gallerist Alex Dellal and man about town Dan Macmillan hung around – fascinated, no doubt, by the, er, high-concept subject matter. An appearance by Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes set tongues wagging – he recently separated from Ostrom – but the biggest surprise of the night was the arrival of banking heir Nat Rothschild. It was his first public outing since last summer's yacht-gate affair, but none of the Russian women clustered around thought it necessary to bring it up.
Midway through the evening, a troupe of dancers – trained by Youth for Youth, a charity to which Meredith donated half the proceeds of all sales – swarmed in to perform a pulsating Brazilian dance to bongos. The crowd responded rapturously – but what did they make of the paintings themselves?
The works – featuring vibrant splodges of orange, blues and greens – received a rather mixed reception, but Ostrom's enthusiasm toward her new-found vocation was undiminished: "Life is great right now," she beamed. "I think I'm in love." Poor old Nick Rhodes – forgotten already.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments