Things to Go See — Exhibitions for Summer
By Lucy Wilkinson
A season for more than simply lounging. Here, a collection of exhibitions that warrant an hour out of the heat, featuring Ruth Asawa, Hilma Af Klimt, Cecil Beaton and Sonia Delaunay, among others.
Corps et Âmes, at Bourse de Commerce, Paris
Some one hundred works drawn from the Pinault Collection exploring representations of the body in contemporary art. From Irving Penn to Wolfgang Tillmans, and Phillip Guston to Marlene Dumas.
Ruth Asawa: Retrospective, at SFMOMA, San Francisco
Artist, educator and civic leader. An unmissable retrospective which presents six decades of Ruth Asawa’s groundbreaking practice, including her signature hanging sculptures alongside lesser-known objects including her sculptural “miniatures” — the smallest measuring just over 2.5cm. This is the show’s first venue; it will tour to MoMA, New York in October.
Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction, at MoMA, New York
“Threads are among the earliest transmitters of meaning,”Anni Albers said, in 1965. This exhibition examines the link between textiles and abstraction. We are visiting to see some of our all-time favourites: Sonia Delaunay, Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Rosemarie Trockel.
Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party, at Garden Museum, London
Designed by Luke Edward Hall, this is destined to be a visual delight. Hailed for his iconic fashion photography, this exhibition focuses on Cecil Beaton’s obsession with gardens and botany.
Paula Rego and Adriana Varejao, at Gulbenkian, Lisbon
Subtitled Between Your Teeth, this exhibition draws surprising parallels between these two artists who worked across different generations and continents. Marked by the dynamics of power and oppression, especially in relation to women, these violent and erotic works will unsettle, provoke and empower.
Hilma Af Klimt: What Stands Behind the Flowers, at MoMA, New York
Jewel-toned watercolours that Hilma Af Klimt worked on almost every day, en plein air, in the spring and summer of 1919 and 1920. These works are taken from a portfolio recently acquired by the museum.
Seeing Each Other: Portraits of Artists, at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
Intimate portrayals of artists by artists — friendship, emulation and homage. Over 130 works by British artists spanning 125 years, including Tracey Emin as Frida Kahlo, by Mary McCartney.
Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, at V&A, Dundee
A history of modern garden design and the role that gardens play in our lives. Debuted at the Vitra Design Museum, this exhibition highlights the work of outdoor visionaries like Duncan Grant, Derek Jarman and Piet Oudolf. Don’t miss the beautifully designed catalogue!
Lucy Wilkinson is Arts Editor of Patter. @lucycwilkinson
