An exhibition on Sikh leader Ranjit Singh is an opportunity to learn more about a period of history little known in the UK, while Flora Yukhnovich’s paintings add a bright contemporary note to the Wallace Collection’s historic walls. Indian Arms and Armour in the Wallace Collection It’s been much longer than I realised since I’ve […]
A relatively simple display of artistic commissions, Raise the Roof: Building for Change enables RIBA to confront some of the more problematic aspects of its history as manifested in the decoration of its London headquarters. RIBA and Colonialism/Imperialism Architecture isn’t neutral. Let’s start there. Buildings serve a functional purpose. They also convey information to us. […]
If you can’t get to Chandigarh, the Gallery of Everything’s current exhibition A Summer of Gods and Goddesses is the next best place to discover the work of Nek Chand Saini. Nek Chand Saini and the Rock Garden of Chandigarh When I visited the V&A’s exhibition on Tropical Modernism recently, one story stood out. Sure, […]
The Serpentine’s exhibition on Judy Chicago focuses on a hitherto unpublished manuscript, perhaps to the detriment of the artist’s wider oeuvre. Judy Chicago Perhaps a little sooner than planned (there was a theatre scheduling incident, don’t ask), I am back to tell you about the other summer exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery. The last one, […]
An exhibition at London’s Serpentine Gallery allows a showcase of Shonibare’s distinctive style, if not any new artistic approaches. Yinka Shonibare CBE at the Serpentine Gallery It has really been a long time since I was at the Serpentine Gallery. So long, in fact, that it was part of my Covid Diaries series. And actually, […]
A simple and small-scale exhibition, In the Eye of the Storm is a primer on art in Ukraine in its historic context, and a reminder of how history really does repeat itself. In the Eye of the Storm, Then and Now On a recent trip to the Royal Academy, I was delighted by their newest […]
There is an interesting idea at the heart of Tate Britain‘s Sargent and Fashion, but it’s easy to lose sight of in this over-expansive and somewhat diluted exhibition. John Singer Sargent I’ve seen one-star reviews of this exhibition, and I’ve seen five star reviews. I land somewhere in the middle. I have a few complaints, […]
The V&A present an exhibition on Tropical Modernism, a subject with a lot more to unpack than may meet the eye in terms of colonial and anti-/de-/postcolonial politics; internationalism and nationalism; past, present and future. Tropical Modernism As a person with interests in architecture, postcolonialism, and complex historical narratives, I have had Tropical Modernism: Architecture […]
This interesting exhibition on a lost Greenwich chocolate house includes both an atmospheric recreation and some cold, hard facts. Chocolate House Greenwich On a recent trip to Greenwich, I included my first ever stop at the Old Royal Naval College’s Visitor Centre. I’ve been to the Old Royal Naval College a few times: to outdoor […]
A first foray into the Fotografiska family of galleries introduces me to several new photographers and one old favourite in a new medium. Fotografiska, Stockholm Edition In a very unassuming way, this photography gallery in the Södermalm district of Stockholm has joined the ranks of global museum brands. The Louvre and Guggenheim are prominent examples […]
