With 2018 firmly in our rear-view mirrors, it’s high time to start venturing into the new year. It’s time to start planning out what we want to do with our weekends and days off. Well, we’ve got you covered with six must-see exhibitions in London so prepare your trips to England’s capital city everyone.
‘Bill Viola / Michelangelo: Life Death Rebirth’
In 2006, internationally renowned artist Bill Viola experienced an exhibition of Michelangelo’s drawings at Windsor Castle. Viola was drawn in by the late Old Master’s use of the body to express and convey emotional and spiritual states. He found camaraderie with Michelangelo’s works as Viola himself works with similar themes. Now, the Royal Academy of Arts will bring the two artists, born centuries apart, together in contrast to explore the cycle of birth, life, and death.
Where: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BD
When: January 26th – March 31st
For the first time in nearly a decade, Tate Britain will bring together the largest collection of paintings (45 in total) by Van Gogh in the UK. Works like Shoes, Starry Night on the Rhône, L’Arlésienne, and London National Gallery’s Sunflowers will feature in the exhibition alongside At Eternity’s Gate and Prisoners Exercising which Van Gogh created while a patient at Saint-Paul Asylum. The exhibition will explore the ways in which Van Gogh was influenced by his time spent in England and how he subsequently impacted artists including Francis Bacon and David Bomberg.
Where: Tate Britain, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG
When: March 27th – April 11th
A pioneer in Abstract Expressionism, Lee Krasner explored and reflected upon the post-war period in New York City through her monumental artworks. Though often overshadowed by her contemporary – and husband – Jackson Pollock, Krasner would create large scale works focusing on her experiences during the mid-twentieth century. This exhibition will be the first retrospective of Krasner’s works in Europe for over 50 years.
Where: Barbican Art Gallery, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
When: May 30th – September 1st
2018 saw historic moments for artificial intelligence within the art world. This exhibition will focus on the ways in which AI blurs the line between human and machine in a ‘festival-style’ manner. Guests will explore the creative and scientific sides of AI with an interactive Data Space. ‘More Than Human’ will feature works by artists including Joy Buolamwini, Mario Klingemann, Steve Goodman (Kode9, and Lauren McCarthy to name a few.
Where: Barbican Art Gallery, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
When: May 16th – August 26th
Some of you might remember Eliasson from his 2003 installation in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall The Weather Project. He’s headed back to Tate Modern this year with a massive survey of his artistic career. Through immersive installation pieces, Eliasson invites viewers to experience and engage with various environmental issues.
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
When: July 11th – January 5th, 2020
This exhibition prides itself as the first ever show solely focusing on portraits of Paul Gauguin – specifically during his later years. The show will explore the artist’s move away from Impressionism towards Symbolism during which he navigated ways of expressing meaning in new ways. ‘Gauguin Portraits’ will include approximately 50 works including paintings, works on paper, 3D works, and a variety of other mediums from both private and public collections.
Where: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
When: October 7th – January 26th, 2020
