Weekly Recommendations: Top Selections Made by Our Website Editors
In the world of art and culture, there has been a flurry of intriguing events that have captured the attention of many. One such exhibition, **"The Curious Case of Mary Toft"**, held at Wild Trumpets in Notting Hill, London, offers a thought-provoking exploration of a bizarre historical story. This exhibition, created by London-based artists Diogo Gama and Catarina Moura, delves into the tale of Mary Toft, a woman who, in 1726, famously convinced Britain that she was giving birth to rabbits, causing quite a stir and even deceiving the King’s doctors.
The exhibition, which ran from July 5 to July 13, 2025, aimed to unearth and interpret this curious and almost unbelievable story through contemporary art. The artists used their work to revisit this remarkable historical moment and its cultural implications, blending art with this extraordinary historical event to provoke reflection and intrigue[1][2][3][4]. The show presents "The Curious Case of Mary Toft" as a medical farce, using unusual, mildly unhinged new work to bring this remarkable story to life.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Cologne, Anna Solomon, Digital Staff Writer, spent a day working at Valentyns, a new office concept that reimagines the workplace as pleasant. Designed by Ferdinand Stahl and architect Thomas van den Valentyn, this innovative workspace features lighting that mimics natural daylight, acoustic ceiling and wall panels, and Le Corbusier and USM Haller furniture. Members of Valentyns have reported a 30 percent drop in sick days since moving in, attesting to the belief that the environment impacts productivity[5].
In addition to its work-focused amenities, Valentyns also offers breath-work and yoga sessions, cold plunges, Finnish and infrared saunas, HydraFacials, and IV drips. For those seeking a break, there's Sino, an intimate Ukrainian restaurant nestled on All Saints Road in Notting Hill. Tianna Williams, Staff Writer, had a meal there and was impressed by the stunning ceramics and nods to its heritage in the food[6].
On the other side of the continent, Sofia de la Cruz, Travel Editor, visited Wolfgang Tillmans' exhibition "Nothing Could Have Prepared Us - Everything Could Have Prepared Us" at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The exhibition took over the entire 6,000 sq m of the museum's Bibliothèque Publique d'Information, offering captivating and powerful art[7].
Lastly, Ellie Stathaki, Architecture and Environment Director, visited Luma Arles in the South of France, where the temperature soared to 38°C during her visit. Luma Arles offers a site of fascinating architecture, captivating art, and a pretty cool park[8]. Charlotte Gunn, Director of Digital Content, also made a trip to Luma Arles, but her visit was marked by a visit to Teresa Tarmey's Notting Hill salon, where she had a facial that left her with a lighter wallet and was advised to drink more water[9].
These cultural events offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of art, history, and the modern workplace, each presenting unique experiences that engage, provoke, and inspire.
[1] https://www.wildtrumpets.com/exhibitions/the-curious-case-of-mary-toft [2] https://diogogama.com/ [3] https://catarinamoura.com/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/jul/05/the-curious-case-of-mary-toft-review-a-medical-farce-at-wild-trumpets [5] https://www.valentyns.de/ [6] https://www.sino-restaurant.co.uk/ [7] https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/exhibition/wolfgang-tillmans [8] https://www.luma-arles.org/ [9] https://www.teresatarmey.com/
The exhibition "The Curious Case of Mary Toft" in Notting Hill, London also delves into the realm of lifestyle, offering an art and history fusion that provokes thought. Meanwhile, in Cologne, the new workspace Valentyns redefines the work-life balance, incorporating fashion-and-beauty amenities such as breath-work sessions, HydraFacials, and IV drips.
On a travel note, the Centre Pompidou in Paris showcases the famed artworks of Wolfgang Tillmans, while Luma Arles in the South of France offers a blend of architecture, art, and a touch of home-and-garden with its cool park.
