Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his top 5 Museum Exhibitions to see in London right now. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you. Those looking for more art should see last week’s top 5 – where four out of five remain open to visit.
Berthe Morisot: Shaping Impressionism @ Dulwich Picture Gallery
Think Impressionism and most people think of the likes of Monet and Renoir, but not one of female founding members of the Impressionist movement – Berthe Morisot. Dulwich Picture Gallery is changing that with a show about this sensational painter that shows how brilliant she was, and how much stronger than her British contemporaries that hang alongside her works in this exhibition. Until 10 September.
Milk @ Wellcome Collection
The fetishisation of human breast milk, how formula milk was directed to poorer communities and how milk been used as a symbol of white supremacy. There’s a lot more to the white stuff than you may have realised and the Wellcome Collection mixes history and art in this fascinating exhibition on milk. Until 10 September.
The Offbeat Sari @ Design Museum
Giving the traditional a contemporary twist this exhibition shows how modern saris are being fashioned into clothing for modern women – whether it’s for a party or for playing cricket. Wrapping around both Eastern and Western fashion trends, we’re treated to bold, extravagant and practical designs. Until 17 September.
Gabriel Chaile in collaboration with Laura Ojeda Bar: Usos y Costumbres @ Studio Voltaire
The walls are covered in clay inside this immersive installation that references the historic churches and houses in Argentina made with compacted earth. The paintings on these walls document sculpture held in London museum collections so there are representations of works by Alexander Calder, Jenny Holzer and other familiar artists. It’s an eye-catching blend that shows us how the artists are influenced by heritage, history and contemporary culture. Until 10 September.
Bouke de Vries – Visions in Porcelain: A Rake’s Progress @ John Soanes Museum
This may be a one work, one room display but Bouke de Vries’ ceramics brilliantly echo Hogarth’s famous series of paintings ‘a rake’s progress’. With each vase getting progressively more warped as the journey progresses, sometimes just about holding together with gold wire before ultimately falling apart – much like the protagonist in the Hogarth series that’s on show at the museum. Until 10 September.
Morisot image: © Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris. Milk photograph: Stephen Pocock. Offbeat sari photo: Andy Stagg. Studio Voltaire photo: Sarah Rainer. All images courtesy respective galleries and artists where relevant.
