Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his Top 5 Museum Exhibitions to see in London this Summer. Check out the previous top 5 if you’re after more shows to visit.
José María Velasco: A View of Mexico at The National Gallery
Big sweeping landscapes and open skies. So far, it’s on par with what you expect to find at The National Gallery. However, the cacti and stepped pyramids tell you this isn’t the Western European landscape you usually see here. It’s the work of Mexican painter José María Velasco, the first ever exhibition here dedicated to a Latin American artist, filled with spectacular landscape paintings. Until 17th August, ticketed.
Claudio Parmiggiani at Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
I’m a massive fan of his bookshelves, which show the outlines of books made from ash. They are compelling and stress the importance of knowledge and education, and the impacts of their absence are even more relevant today. It was also a chance to get acquainted with his wider portfolio of work, including his sculptural and figurative works. Until 31st August, ticketed.
Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy of Arts
Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. You’ve probably heard of Victor Hugo as a novelist, but did you know he was also an impressive draughtsman? From gothic castles to an animated octopus, here’s a chance to disappear into the fantastical worlds he created on paper, and it’s a show that’s well-suited to the RA’s smaller exhibition space. Until 29th June, ticketed.
Jonathan Baldock: 0.1% at The London Mithraeum
This maximalist installation by Jonathan Baldock includes a winged being, a giant mother goddess, tapestries, and ceramics. Inspired by folklore and paganism, he uses natural materials like hessian wool, clay, wood, and metal to make his works. I love how they always have a spiritual installation that ties into the ancient temple underground. Until 5th July, free.
The Power and The Glory at Newport Street Gallery
What do you pair with a selection of photographs of nuclear testing? In the case of Newport Street Gallery, it’s their collection of scholar’s rocks – rocks that have been naturally formed but look like they’ve been sculpted by hand. It’s a vast collection of both, and while the pairing sounds odd on paper, it works well to juxtapose the power of nature with that of the natural world. Until 31st August, free.
Velasco image: © Oliver Santana. Parmiggiani photo: Francesco Corsini. Victor Hugo image courtesy Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Jonathan Baldock photo: Marcus Leith. Newport Street Gallery image: Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. Artworks © The artist/artist’s estate, All rights reserved.
