Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his Top 5 Art Exhibitions to see in museums in May. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you.
Placing the Black every-men and women by Thomas J Price in among the classical statues of the V&A creates an important contrast – Price wants people to be able to come into museums and see themselves. The sculptures are composites of multiple individuals so they don’t represent any one person, in contrast to the way statues historically have been created. Until 27th May, free.
The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure @ National Portrait Gallery
Whether it be Thomas J Price’s statue of an oversized composite average woman, Amy Sherald’s depiction of black figures in grey or Noah Davis’ painting of the horrific black wall street massacre, almost every work leaves an impact on the viewer. It’s a fantastic collection of Black artists from the UK and the US. Until 19th May, ticketed.
Zineb Sedira: Dreams Have No Titles @ Whitechapel Gallery
Enter the gallery and be confronted by a stage set, time your entrance right and an impromptu couple will engage in a tango that’s mesmerising – make sure you book a ticket to coincide with this event as you won’t want to miss it. It’s the heart of Zineb Sedira’s exhibition that draws from her own heritage – it was the highlight of the Venice Biennale 2022 and now it’s been expanded upon at Whitechapel Gallery. Until 12th May, ticketed.
Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art @ Barbican Art Gallery
Over 50 artists are in this major exhibition that includes the narrative quilts of Faith Ringgold to the immersive wire sculptures by Igshaan Adams that reference the paths people carve out by walking over them repeatedly in South Africa. It’s a material we associate with comfort and in many cases here it’s used to deliver punchy political messages in an extensive exhibition filled with powerful stories.
Until 26th May, ticketed.
William Blake’s Universe @ Fitzwilliam, Cambridge
Often seen as a quintessentially British artist this exhibition reframes his work among his European contemporaries who covered similar themes of war and spirituality. It’s an angle that’s more interesting in a post-Brexit world and it also shows that his development as an artist wasn’t in isolation even if he then did go on to form his own unique surreal style that’s well represented in the show. Until 14th May.
Thomas J Price image: © Thomas J Price. Courtesy of the artist and Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Photograph: Mishko Papic. The Time is Always Now image – courtesy Amy Sherald and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Joseph Hyde. Zineb Sedira image – courtesy Whitechapel Gallery. Photo: Damian Griffiths. Unravel image – © Jemima Yong / Barbican Art Gallery. William Blake image – © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
