One of two exhibitions in London devoted to the Silk Road, the British Library’s offering, A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang focuses in on the treasures of one remarkable cave, and the insights they offer into ancient people’s lives. A Silk Road Oasis Sometimes great minds really do think alike. How else to […]
Two free displays at the Courtauld introduce different facets of art history, from techniques in reproduction through the lens of Gothic ivory to works on blue paper over the centuries. Collection Displays at the Courtauld While I was at the Courtauld recently being wowed by their exhibition Monet and London: Views of the Thames, I […]
An exquisite exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery, Monet and London: Views of the Thames captures a bygone London through the eyes of the Impressionist master. Another Once-in-a-Lifetime Exhibition Now this is more like it. I wrote recently about the National Gallery’s blockbuster Van Gogh exhibition, and how disappointed I had been by the visitor experience […]
The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975-1998 mines a rich but little-explored seam in Indian Art in which disillusionment, urbanisation and social change became inspiration for artists across this vast and varied country. Introduction: Why These Dates? The Barbican’s current exhibition, The Imaginary Institution of India, surveys Indian art between 1975 and 1998. A good […]
The artist’s first major survey in the UK, Haegue Yang: Leap Year fills the Hayward Gallery with ordinary objects transformed through the artist’s multidisciplinary practice. Introducing Haegue Yang Given that Haegue Yang: Leap Year is the artist’s first major survey in the UK, I’m going to take a punt and guess that you are maybe […]
Is Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers a once-in-a-lifetime show of the artist’s work? Perhaps. A shame then that my experience was marred by the crowds. A National Gallery Blockbuster I do fall into this trap a lot. I go to an exhibition at the National Gallery, am surprised that I find it too busy, and […]
A small exhibition of work by Peter Kennard at the Whitechapel Gallery pays tribute to the building’s history as well as the artist’s long history of combining art and activism. Peter Kennard: Archive of Dissent We’ve encountered Peter Kennard’s work at least once before, in the group show Radical Landscapes at the William Morris Gallery. […]
My first visit to Goldsmiths’ new contemporary art venue introduces me to Sammy Baloji, a Congolese artist who combines intensive research with a diverse artistic practice. Sammy Baloji In my last post, I talked about an exhibition in which interesting ideas failed (for me) to translate into a substantial and meaningful gallery experience. Today’s post […]
Nairy Baghramian’s Jumbled Alphabet at the South London Gallery is a compelling but ultimately slightly unsatisfying examination of our expectations of childhood, play and beauty. Jumbled Alphabet: Look But Don’t Touch (Much) Today’s post is a short one for two reasons. Firstly, my visit was only brief. Secondly, my visit was brief because there was […]
A pairing of exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery introduces me to two artists whose audiences are at the forefront of their work. Whether they sit successfully in dialogue is another question. A Pair of Exhibitions at the Whitechapel Gallery On a recent trip to the Whitechapel Gallery in East London I had the opportunity to […]
