Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top museum exhibitions to see across London in August. If you are looking for more exhibitions, check out his previous top 5.
Zurbarán at The National Gallery
Zurbarán was a Spanish painter who may not have the same popular renown as Velázquez and Goya, but this superb exhibition makes us realise that he should. The mastery of light and his religious paintings, including that of a hooded monk, are worth the ticket price alone. Plus his gigantic painting of a head, which has only recently been accredited to him, is unlike anything else from the period of art history, and I’m still thinking about it months later. Until 23rd August, ticketed.
Tracey Emin at Tate Modern
This is Tracey at her most vulnerable and tender. Yes, the famous unmade beds, as well as her personal paintings and sculptures. However, the strongest works are among the earliest pieces, including her grandmother’s chair upholstered with her life story, a recreation of a Margate rollercoaster track, and photographs of her stoma. It cements her place as one of the UK’s most important living artists. Until 31st August, ticketed.
Paulo Nimer Pjota: Encantados at South London Gallery
A fantastical three-headed creature that plays a different musical instrument with each head, a monkey rolls a vase and giant butterflies flutter above our heads. We’re invited into a world of colourful paintings filled with details and drawings that extend off the canvas and across the walls so that we’re immersed in his worlds. It’s magical. Until 23rd August, free.
MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like… at Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
The new Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration has opened, and it’s fantastic, and a much improved new home for the renamed institution. One of the debut exhibitions is dedicated to illustrator MURUGIAH, who has created an overload of colour, wall-mounted sculpture and drawings in a popping exhibition, which is one of three that the new venue has launched with. Until 31st August, ticketed.
Infinities Commission: nora chipaumire: Gadzi at Tate Modern
The subterranean Tanks space at Tate Modern has been livened up with musical instruments and a great soundtrack. This annual commission is based on the artist’s heritage, including revolutionary music from her childhood and man-made ‘rocks’ we can sit on, based on those from her native Zimbabwe that are natural but look man-made. It’s a great space to chill out in, explore and even dance if you feel like it. Until 23rd August.
All images are courtesy of the respective institutions. Zurbaran image: © Photographic Archive Museo Nacional del Prado. Tracey Emin image: © Tate (Jai Monaghan). South London Gallery photo: Jo Underhill. MURUGIAH photo: © Benedict Johnson. Infinities commission photo: © Tate Photography (Lucy Green).
