We look ahead to March’s must-see shows in London, plus a couple of cheeky additions from outside the M25.
1. Modern Art: Postwar Modern at Barbican
How did the British art scene change after the second world war? This major exhibition at Barbican looks at how artists made sense of the new world that came about after the global conflict, including how refugees arriving into the UK, such as Lucien Freud and Frank Auerbach, rose to become some of Britain’s most acclaimed artists. In a recovering world that still faced the potential of future wars, but also looked towards a hopeful future, the 20 years between 1945 and 1965 are covered in an exhibition that contains over 200 works portraying the world in all its beauty and brutality.
2. Time Travel: Virtual Veronese at The National Gallery
3. Delightful drawings: Hidden Masterpieces at Sir John Soane’s Museum
Who doesn’t love John Soane’s Museum; the sheer variety of esoteric objects all packed into this quirky house museum, secreted around every corner we turn. So it comes as no surprise that a lot of the collection is tucked away — and now’s the chance to check out its usually-hidden drawings. They range from Italian Renaissance works to Indian and Persian miniatures, plus architectural drawings by some of London’s most prominent architects, including Wren and Hawksmoor.
4. Big love: Robert Indiana at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
A square sculpture declaring ‘love’ is instantly recognisable as a Robert Indiana trademark, but it only touches on the surface of his deeply political work that looked at the racist atrocities committed against the Civil Rights movement and how the gay community responded to the AIDS crisis. Covering 60 years of Indiana’s work, this outdoor/indoor show charts his full range as it evolved alongside the major societal shifts that took place in the US. But the unifying message of love and acceptance is always present.
5. Evolving landscapes: Larry Achiampong at Turner Contemporary, Margate
6. Chic menswear: Fashioning masculinities at V&A
What does it mean to be masculine, how has it changed over time and how is it continuing to evolve? From Renaissance paintings to the Teddy boys of the ’50s through to the latest fashions, it’s a catwalk through time as we move from one stylish gent to the next. Including the evolution of underwear to the most extravagant outfits worn by men, there are photographs and fashion designers aplenty at V&A.
7. Plant power: Rooted Beings at Wellcome Collection
What can we learn from plants? A lot; after all we’re dependent on them, and new research is showing that plants and fungi are more interconnected and communicative than we used to think. Getting closer to plants in our daily lives can help us feel refreshed, and Wellcome Collection has plenty of ideas on how we can become more attentive and green-fingered to our leafy and fungal friends.
8. Clouds of colour: Rana Begum at Pitzhanger Manor
As the days get longer it’s time to light up your life with a colourful art installation that interacts with the light streaming through the striking architecture of Pitzhanger Manor, and offers a contrast to the building’s neo-classical stylings. This is the centrepiece of a larger exhibition of Rana Begum’s work that includes abstract pieces on the wall and a film of light filtering through a treetop canopy.
Short run events
Here’s where we round up some of the shorter run events taking place this month.
