Weekend Destination: London

Presented by: Elli Egilsson, aka AC Bananas

Occupation: Artist / freelance designer

Age: 30

Website: www.acbananas.com

 

Tell us about yourself:

I’m an artist and freelance designer, born and raised in the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland. I was raised up in a very artistic home environment, my father is an artist and film maker and my mother used to run a fashion store back home when I was a kid so it didn’t take long for me to pick those titles up and to get my hands dirty and smear over my father’s nearly finished paintings and on my Osh Kosh overall with my mom’s Chanel lipstick (true story). At the moment I’m working on my first solo exhibition which will be in Atlanta, GA in June 2011, more details will be up soon on my website. 

Why do you live in London?

After living in Iceland for beautiful 27 years I found myself one day stuck in a safe routine that wasn’t that easy to get out of so it was either to move out of the country or stay in this daily routine of mine which wasn’t taking me where I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, Iceland is the most inspiring and beautiful place that this earth has to offer and I will be forever grateful to been born and raised there, but I need the challenge and to expand my work elsewhere just like any other creative mind ends up doing; leave the nest. 

London has everything and more then I love, the best galleries, really, really creative and enthusiastic people and what I love about the city is how fast the pace is and it’s so intense, it’s definitely what I needed, get out of the safe, easygoing and mellow country life of Iceland to the let’s-get-straight-to-the-point city drama of London.

What is the best thing about London?

The opportunities you can get if you work your ass off, the creative multicultural wave of open-minded people and how central the city is in Europe.

…And the worst? 

There isn’t that much I can say that’s bad about London really, some say it’s the traffic, rush hours and rain but I don’t mind all of that. I really do miss the geothermal pools and that pure natural water of Iceland tho, so shame on you London for not having that, that’s about it! 

Tell us a hidden gem outside the tourist track:

Wilton Way Café in Hackney Central, Pure Evil Gallery in Hoxton and Broadway Market near London Fields. 

Favorite bar, restaurant and store in your city:

You can usually spot me at Haggerston or at The Alibi in Dalston having a Campari on the rocks when it comes to bars/clubs. I’m a sucker for hamburgers so I’ll have to say Byron is THE spot for my hunger. After Machine-A closed down their amazing boutique, I will have to go with two another brilliant concept stores; Dover Street Market and Present. 

Describe an ideal London day for you:

Probably wake up around 9am with a mixture of my noisy alarm clock and my girlfriend Saga’s blow dryer at its max right next to me, grab a triple shot cappuccino and a sourdough toast with raspberry jam (yum…) at my number one spot Wilton Way Café, walk to my studio which is just around the corner where I live, check my emails, put on either some heavy dirty South hip hop or some smooth cheesy “Best of the 80’s” music and start my day of work which usually involves me doing an artwork for something fashion or music related or even if I have some time from my schedule: paint. That’s what I’ve been up to lately as I’m working on my first solo exhibition at the moment. 

I’ll usually come home around 8pm, cook something magical for me and wifey or just order in as London has the best Indian delivery ever! With a belly full of the good stuff I might hop early in bed and watch a ridiculous episode of the infamous Jersey Shore with our cat Keli planting himself on top of my feet while I lay in bed. Or… I crack a few Coors Light and catch up with some buddies at a local pub for a nightcap.

Might not sound like the most exciting day for some people but I love my work, my studio and my home and that’s where I like to spend most of my time. 

Any tips for visitors going there this weekend?

Do something else than walk up and down Oxford Street for hours wasting money and bumping shoulders to people every two seconds. Enjoy all of the museums especially Victoria & Albert if you haven’t been there, that’s where I get a lot of my inspiration from. Definitely go see an exhibition or even just the building at Tate Modern, walk across the public parks like Holland Park, stop by the flower market on Columbia Road. And don’t forget to LOOK RIGHT!

Photos of Elli by Saga Sig