"In Flight Astro (II)" by Wolfgang Tillmans, 2010. Courtesy of the artist and Maureen Paley, London
Earlier this month, the Serpentine Gallery unveiled the newest addition to its portfolio of annual summer pavilions, a bright red, angular offering from French starchitect Jean Nouvel.
While Nouvel's temporary structure packs a visual punch, the pavilion's imprint on the capital will be intensified by a one-off event happening within its walls this weekend.
A joint effort from both the Serpentine and its burlier older brother, The V&A, the V&A Summer Camp will straddle both galleries from Friday to Saturday, kicking off with a two-part, late night extravaganza.
The Summer Camp's first installment will feature an exhibition of tents designed by the likes of Peter Marigold and Fabien Cappello (which explains England's dismal South African performance - the man at the top was too busy making temporary shelters) alongside a campfire in the John Madjeski garden and a series of workshops on the theme of "make do and mend".
The Victorian sentiment will be seen through with a selection of Queen Vic's favourite rhubarb-infused cocktails from Bombay Sapphire, served up in specially produced cardboard martini glasses designed by up-and-coming creative, Giles Miller. Open to all, the Summer Camp will take on a more family-orientated guise on Saturday, though we're imagining the morris dancing lessons will be equally popular with those of advancing years.
Though festivities at the V&A are to round off at 10-ish, a select number of guests will be summoned to a post-Summer Camp "sleepover" at Jean Nouvel's pavilion. With sleep workshops and "group craft activities" taking place throughout the night, we're most looking forward to Bombay Sapphire's "night-cap cocktails" and a specially prepared midnight feast from jelly mongers Bompas and Parr.
Serpentine sleepover tickets have now sold out, but for more information on the V&A Summer Camp see www.vam.ac.uk/fridaylate
