What: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Where: Royal Hospital, Chelsea
When: May 2014
From the perspective of someone who writes about art, it was intriguing to consider a suggestion made by one of the contributors to the BBC's coverage of this year's Chelsea Flower Show that a more curatorial approach should be taken to the display of the show gardens. Having visited the show and watched the television coverage, it is clear that the garden designers consider their gardens in the same way that artists consider their paintings or sculptures, and that there is legitimately a case for conceiving of these show gardens as installation pieces, of a kind. The word 'curate' is currently notoriously overused and overly fashionable, but in the context of the Chelsea Flower Show, it might just have its uses.
The show gardens - ranging from the stunning Telegraph garden, to my personal favourite and Best In Show, the Laurent-Perrier garden - are beautifully portrayed on television, with sweeping camera angles and close-ups of the exquisite detailing that earned them their golds. The 'Fresh' gardens are similarly beautifully televised. But in the flesh, these tranquil and intriguing spaces seem shoehorned by camera crews, thronging visitors, and commercial stands. Organising the show so as to display them to their full potential - perhaps with heightened walkways allowing visitors to gain a view from on high, or by spacing them further apart - might be just thing to allow these true works of art to be fully appreciated by those who flock to see them.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
By George! Handel's Music for Royal Occasions
What: Exhibition
Where: The Foundling Museum
When: 7th February - 18th May 2014
2014 marks the tercentenary of the accession of the Hanoverian kings to the throne of England, and a whole range of exhibitions have begun or are in the pipeline to commemorate this anniversary.
The Foundling Museum's temporary exhibition on the royal patronage of the famous and well-loved composer Handel, which closed last weekend, showcased an exciting example of where the eighteenth-century monarchy led the way in terms of cultural patronage. The music written for fireworks shows and boat trips down the Thames has stayed with us until this day. This exhibition gave a great insight into the royal commissions, including a wide range of exhibits and also allowing visitors to hear Handel's music play as they perused them. Sadly, several exhibits - which looked like real original documents - were only digital reproductions, framed to look like the real thing. Although this might be a good way to see things that, maybe for conservation reasons, could otherwise not be displayed, it feels a bit of a disappointment to the exhibition-goer who delights in the experience of engaging with real objects from the past.
The exhibition is now closed, but the Foundling is also well worth a visit for their newly refurbished permanent gallery and reopened cafe.
Find out more: http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/events/view/By-George-exhibition/
Where: The Foundling Museum
When: 7th February - 18th May 2014
2014 marks the tercentenary of the accession of the Hanoverian kings to the throne of England, and a whole range of exhibitions have begun or are in the pipeline to commemorate this anniversary.
The Foundling Museum's temporary exhibition on the royal patronage of the famous and well-loved composer Handel, which closed last weekend, showcased an exciting example of where the eighteenth-century monarchy led the way in terms of cultural patronage. The music written for fireworks shows and boat trips down the Thames has stayed with us until this day. This exhibition gave a great insight into the royal commissions, including a wide range of exhibits and also allowing visitors to hear Handel's music play as they perused them. Sadly, several exhibits - which looked like real original documents - were only digital reproductions, framed to look like the real thing. Although this might be a good way to see things that, maybe for conservation reasons, could otherwise not be displayed, it feels a bit of a disappointment to the exhibition-goer who delights in the experience of engaging with real objects from the past.
The exhibition is now closed, but the Foundling is also well worth a visit for their newly refurbished permanent gallery and reopened cafe.
Find out more: http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/events/view/By-George-exhibition/
Friday, 2 May 2014
The Glamour of Italian Fashion 1945-2014
What: Exhibition
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum
When: 5th April - 27th July 2014
This exhibition is not only a visual delight, but tells a captivating story of the rise of the Italian fashion industry in the wake of the Second World War to the present day. Beautifully and spaciously displayed pieces are accompanied by good succinct text and brilliantly evocative videos showcasing the designs and the contexts in which they were worn. The world of 1950s filmstars shooting on location in Italy is wonderfully captured through these videos, and brings vibrancy and movement to the exhibition. This is a welcome addition, as the static mannequins, whilst showing off the clothes to perfection, inevitably do not capture the garments' true essence as pieces designed to be worn and lived in.
Particular highlights not to be missed include the section on tailoring, and the final room showcasing pieces from contemporary Italian collections. For any lover of the Gucci Museum in Florence, this exhibition will not fail to disappoint.
Find out more: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-the-glamour-of-italian-fashion-1945-2014/about-the-exhibition/
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum
When: 5th April - 27th July 2014
This exhibition is not only a visual delight, but tells a captivating story of the rise of the Italian fashion industry in the wake of the Second World War to the present day. Beautifully and spaciously displayed pieces are accompanied by good succinct text and brilliantly evocative videos showcasing the designs and the contexts in which they were worn. The world of 1950s filmstars shooting on location in Italy is wonderfully captured through these videos, and brings vibrancy and movement to the exhibition. This is a welcome addition, as the static mannequins, whilst showing off the clothes to perfection, inevitably do not capture the garments' true essence as pieces designed to be worn and lived in.
Particular highlights not to be missed include the section on tailoring, and the final room showcasing pieces from contemporary Italian collections. For any lover of the Gucci Museum in Florence, this exhibition will not fail to disappoint.
Find out more: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-the-glamour-of-italian-fashion-1945-2014/about-the-exhibition/
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Trerice Manor
What: Historic house
Where: Cornwall
Who: National Trust
Trerice is an Elizabethan manor house situated in a quiet corner of Cornish countryside. The architecture is breathtakingly beautiful, especially when the stone of the building is bathed in soft sunlight. Dappled with the patina of age, this house speaks romantically of the passage of time whilst also evoking the Elizabethan past. One must remember, on seeing this house for the first time, just how strikingly modern it must once have seemed. The Dutch gables are some of the earliest surviving in this country; and the magnificent window to the Great Hall would have spoken of immense expense to contemporary visitors. Today the window rewards visitors not necessarily with a show of status, but with the charming and artistic manner in which it reflects the sunlight from outdoors and the view it offers to the beautiful gardens from indoors.
The house is a great sleeping beauty, and one whose delights speak for themselves. The interiors, whilst lovely, did feel a little muddled in their presentation. The guide book showed a picture of a beautifully furnished Great Chamber, but this is now stripped of its loans and undergoing conservation work. The interpretation showcasing the Trust's preventive conservation work provided a good substitute for visitors. However, combined with a Tudor-focused Great Hall and rooms upstairs furnished in a twentieth-century style, it did feel as though there were too many competing layers of interpretation. Perhaps slightly more coherent curation might benefit this house; but, ultimately, its intrinsic beauty is delightfully showcased and is well worth sampling.
Find out more: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice/
Sunday, 6 April 2014
A Very British Renaissance
What: TV documentary series
When: March - April 2014
Where: BBC Two
Presented by: Dr James Fox
In 1986, the famous art historian and curator Sir Roy Strong published a book entitled 'Henry, Prince of Wales and England's Lost Renaissance'. Almost thirty years on, the belief that England - or Britain more widely - missed out on the cultural phenomenon that enveloped continental Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries has more or less been surpassed by an understanding that Britain instead experienced its own, unique, Renaissance. This understanding was beautifully showcased in this three-part series written and presented by Dr James Fox, who brought us the stylish and original 'A History of Art in Three Colours'. It also builds on the messages of excellent recent exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery, such as the 2012-13 revisionist show on the aforementioned Henry, Prince of Wales - the focus on which was on his sad status as the 'Lost Prince', rather than the 'Lost Renaissance' - and the recent exhibition 'Elizabeth I and her People'. Both have brought a renewed focus and attention to this important period in British art.
In true Renaissance fashion, these three episodes focused not only on art, but also on architecture, science, philosophy, music and literature. The most successful moments were those accompanied by breathtaking visuals - such as sketches by Holbein from the Royal Collection; Thomas Tresham's astonishing Triangular Lodge; and Inigo Jones' beautiful pen-and-ink designs for Jacobean masques (though the masques were more or less dismissed as elitist, which sadly precluded a more nuanced engagement with these fantastical court theatricals.) Regardless, Fox's enthusiasm for the subject matter and brilliant storytelling technique, combined with some sophisticated arguments - particularly in the second episode, on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' - made this series unmissable for any lover of art and culture.
When: March - April 2014
Where: BBC Two
Presented by: Dr James Fox
In 1986, the famous art historian and curator Sir Roy Strong published a book entitled 'Henry, Prince of Wales and England's Lost Renaissance'. Almost thirty years on, the belief that England - or Britain more widely - missed out on the cultural phenomenon that enveloped continental Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries has more or less been surpassed by an understanding that Britain instead experienced its own, unique, Renaissance. This understanding was beautifully showcased in this three-part series written and presented by Dr James Fox, who brought us the stylish and original 'A History of Art in Three Colours'. It also builds on the messages of excellent recent exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery, such as the 2012-13 revisionist show on the aforementioned Henry, Prince of Wales - the focus on which was on his sad status as the 'Lost Prince', rather than the 'Lost Renaissance' - and the recent exhibition 'Elizabeth I and her People'. Both have brought a renewed focus and attention to this important period in British art.
In true Renaissance fashion, these three episodes focused not only on art, but also on architecture, science, philosophy, music and literature. The most successful moments were those accompanied by breathtaking visuals - such as sketches by Holbein from the Royal Collection; Thomas Tresham's astonishing Triangular Lodge; and Inigo Jones' beautiful pen-and-ink designs for Jacobean masques (though the masques were more or less dismissed as elitist, which sadly precluded a more nuanced engagement with these fantastical court theatricals.) Regardless, Fox's enthusiasm for the subject matter and brilliant storytelling technique, combined with some sophisticated arguments - particularly in the second episode, on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' - made this series unmissable for any lover of art and culture.
Sunday, 30 March 2014
The Sunflowers
What: Display
Where: The National Gallery, London
When: 25 January - 27 April 2014
'Compare and contrast' is the mantra of old-school art history, and the opportunity currently on offer to compare and contrast two of the five versions of Van Gogh's iconic Sunflowers paintings is too great to miss. Much can be learnt from an investigation into the artistic context in which Van Gogh produced these works, and the recent material analysis into the paintings sheds further light on their production. However, old-school art history would also implore its followers to learn through looking. On visiting this display, fully expectant of having to crane my neck amongst the crowds for a close-up view of the paintings, I was struck by the gravitation of my fellow viewers to the wall texts on either side of the room, and the gulf of space that existed in front of the two Sunflowers. For those yet to visit, I would recommend a preliminary perusal through the excellent web resource below (perhaps even during the queue time). Then, spend the majority of the gallery time actually looking at the works. You will be rewarded.
Find out more:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/the-sunflowers
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/learn-about-art/paintings-in-depth/the-sunflowers-feature/*/viewPage/1
Where: The National Gallery, London
When: 25 January - 27 April 2014
'Compare and contrast' is the mantra of old-school art history, and the opportunity currently on offer to compare and contrast two of the five versions of Van Gogh's iconic Sunflowers paintings is too great to miss. Much can be learnt from an investigation into the artistic context in which Van Gogh produced these works, and the recent material analysis into the paintings sheds further light on their production. However, old-school art history would also implore its followers to learn through looking. On visiting this display, fully expectant of having to crane my neck amongst the crowds for a close-up view of the paintings, I was struck by the gravitation of my fellow viewers to the wall texts on either side of the room, and the gulf of space that existed in front of the two Sunflowers. For those yet to visit, I would recommend a preliminary perusal through the excellent web resource below (perhaps even during the queue time). Then, spend the majority of the gallery time actually looking at the works. You will be rewarded.
Find out more:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/the-sunflowers
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/learn-about-art/paintings-in-depth/the-sunflowers-feature/*/viewPage/1
Kylie 'Kiss Me Once'
Artist: Kylie Minogue
Title: Kiss Me Once
What: Album
When: released March 2014
For all that we are told to avoid sugar, sometimes one needs a dose of sweetness - and this record delivers a dizzying hit of high-GI pop exuberance. Listening to this album feels a little like indulging on empty calories and ignoring the pile of worthy and wholesome alternatives on offer on one's iPod, like that current affairs podcast, perhaps, but the sugar rush is undoubtedly uplifting. Highlights include the new single 'Into the Blue', the endlessly catchy 'Million Miles' and 'Sexy Love', but special mention must go to the fresh and fun collaboration with Pharrell Williams, 'I Was Gonna Cancel'. These upbeat, sunny tunes make one long for the bright carefree excitement of summer days, walking barefoot on hot pavements, ice cream. Life is sweet.
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