Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his top 5 Museum and Gallery Exhibitions to see in London in September. If you’re looking for more exhibitions check out his September and outside London exhibitions where all but one remain open to visit.
Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King @ The Wallace Collection
A child who lost his sight in one eye, who would go on to form a Sikh empire that battled with both the Mughals and the East India Company. Ranjit Singh’s fascinating story is brought to life with ornate weaponry, a golden throne and beautiful artwork. Until 20th October, ticketed.
In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900–1930s @ Royal Academy of Arts
This exhibition has a great story about how these works are on loan from Ukrainian museums to share them with the world and keep them safe. However, it’s important to remember that there are some amazing works on view including colourful theatre costume sketches by Vadym Meller and gritty grey interior scenes by Anatol Petrytskyi. Until 13th October, ticketed.
The Nature of Things @ Castor Gallery
The gallery space in an old church is jam-packed with fantastic surrealist works by contemporary artists – whether that be a ceramic hand that appears to come out of a mirror by Serena Korda or a head in a fountain with taps for eyes by Dominic Watson and that’s all in the first room. It’s a fun group show of over a dozen artists, curated by artist Jane Hayes Greenwood. Until 28th September, free.
Marc Quinn: Light into Life @ Kew Gardens
It’s hard to miss the shiny and reflective leaves and orchid sculptures outside but the strength of Marc Quinn’s work lies inside. Cut flowers are refrigerated and kept in a state between life and death, and his famous work of filling a cast of his head with his blood is recreated with coconut oil in the galleries, and large-scale bonsai trees are perfectly replicated in bronze in the temperate house. Until 29th September, ticketed.
James Capper: Curve-based Syntax at Albion Jeune
James Capper uses a robot arm to create these circular and speckled paintings. It raises questions of authorship: is he or the machine the creator, or both, and how should that be split? Bringing engineering into it he uses marine paints and has named works after confiscated Russian super yachts – with names like Galactica and Nirvana. Until 3rd October, free.
All images courtesy and copyright respective artists and institutions. Ranjit Singh image copyright The British Library archive. In Tne Eye of the Storm image from National Art Museum of Ukraine?© The Burliuk Foundation. Castor Gallery photo: James Lomas. Marc Quinn image: © RBG Kew by Ines Stuart Davidson.
