Exhibitions not to miss in London this December 2020
Amongst all the uncertainty this year one thing has been certain, art has helped. Here’s our guide to some exhibitions to see in London this December, from the V&A’s exhibition dedicated to bags to the first solo exhibitions in the UK by New York-based artist Jennifer Packer, as well as the much-anticipated exhibition by Tracey Emin at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Please note, the situation is ever-changing and events may be postponed or cancelled at the last minute as a result of government guidelines, as a result, we recommend you check the relevant individual website before you visit.
Bags: Inside Out
Where?
Victoria and Albert Museum
When?
From 12 December 2020
Price: £12
Image: @vamuseum
#FLODown: The V&A presents Bags: Inside Out, an exhibition sponsored by Mulberry dedicated to bags. From rucksacks to despatch boxes, Birkin bags to Louis Vuitton luggage, Bags: Inside Out will explore the style, function, design and craftsmanship of the ultimate accessory. Definitely one for the bag lovers!
Location:
Cromwell Road London SW7 2RL
Nearest station:
South Kensington station
Opening hours:
Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am – 5.45pm
Jennifer Packer exhibition
Where?
Serpentine Gallery
When?
From 18 November 2020
Price: Free
Artist: Jennifer Packer, The Body Has Memory, 2018 via @serpentinegalleryuk
#FLODown: The Serpentine Galleries will be showcasing a solo exhibition by New York-based painter Jennifer Packer. The exhibition will include paintings and drawings from the past decade alongside some of her most recent work. Packer is known for her painting and large-scale drawings which often reveal the emotional and physical fragility of life. They also tackle loss often in response to tragedies of the state and the institutional violence against Black Americans. Packer acknowledges her choice to paint figures as political, stating: ‘Representation and particularly, observation from life, are ways of bearing witness and sharing testimony’.
Location:
Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA
Nearest station:
Knightsbridge, South Kensington or Lancaster Gate station
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Dub London: Baseline of a city
Where?
Museum of London
When?
2 October 2020 – 31 January 2021
Price: Free
Image: Museum of London
#FLODown: To celebrate dub reggae, the Museum of London is hosting an exhibition which will explore the cultural and social impact the genre has had in the UK over the last 50 years. With a far-reaching influence on other areas of the music industry such as drum and bass, garage, hip-hop and mainstream pop, dub has even inspired legendary punk bands such as The Clash. The exhibition also explores the influence dub has had beyond the music industry, including the impact on the areas of fashion, community and spirituality. Featuring a range of objects, memories and personal stories from some of dub's most iconic people and places from across London, including Hackney, Lambeth, Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove, Harlesden and Lewisham, the exhibition will allow you to delve deep into the heart of dub reggae.
Location:
150 London Wall, London, Greater London, EC2Y 5HN
Nearest station:
Moorgate station
Opening hours:
Open daily 10 am – 6 pm, Closed 24 – 26 December
Tracey Emin/ Edvard Munch: The loneliness of The Soul Exhibition
Where?
Royal Academy Arts
When?
Sunday 15 November - 28 February 2021
Price: £17 – £19
Artist: Tracey Emin, White Cube, circa 2019 Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: The Loneliness of the Soul exhibition by British contemporary artist Tracey Emin will focus on the influence Norwegian expressionist and painter, Edvard Munch has had her career. Having taken to Munch’s work at a young age, Emin was particularly drawn to his works on expressionism and his exploration of the complexity of the human psyche. The exhibition will display works from both artists including ones by Emin that will be on display for the first time, as well as neons and sculpture.
Location:
Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0BD
Nearest station:
Green Park Station
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: Fly-in League with the Night
When?
2 December 2020 - 9 May 2021
Where?
Tate Britain
Price: £13
Artist: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Image: Tate
#FLODown: Considered one of the most intriguing painters of her generation, Tate Britain presents 80 painting and works on paper by Lynette Yiadom Boakye from 2003 to the present day. Boakye's paintings of fictitious people have earned her the prestigious Carnegie Prize in 2018, and a shortlist for the Turner Prize in 2013. Expect to find perplexing paintings with poetic titles, that demand you to create your own interpretations. Boakye explains to Tate Britain: ‘I write about the things I can’t paint and paint the things I can’t write about.’
Location:
Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG
Nearest station:
Pimlico tube station
Opening hours:
Daily 10 am-6 pm
Say My Name exhibition
Where?
Signature African Art Gallery
When?
27 October – 24 December 2020
Price: Free
Artist:Giggs Kgole, Boshielo, 2020, via Signature African Art
#FLODown: To coincide with Black History Month, the Signature African Art gallery will present, Say My Name, an exhibition that will celebrate influential figures and movements in the UK and USA.
In an exhibition that resonates with the Black Lives Matter movement, 13 African artists will honour the names of black lives who have been lost at the hands of police, including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Through paintings and sculptures, they will also pay tribute to black activists who have fought for equality such as Angela Davis and Wangari Maathai. Whilst also reflecting on historical moments in black history, ranging from the transatlantic slave trade to the Windrush Scandal.
The exhibition will be curated by Khalil Akar and presented by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, whose works include the critically acclaimed films and series Selma, When They See Us and the Netflix documentary 13th.
Click here for more on Signature African Art.
Location:
20 Davies Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 3DT
Nearest station:
Green Park or Bond Street station
Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 5.30 pm
Sunday: By appointment
Holidays: Closed
