The TMH Edit: five things to do this April
April is here: it’s the midst of spring and if that’s not lifting your spirits, our list of brilliant things to do and see throughout the month ought to do the trick. There’s exhibitions to enjoy come rain or shine, food for the heart and music for the soul under one roof, and most delicious Easter treat. Hop to it.
Henry Moore: The Sixties at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
In Hertfordshire, the wonderful Henry Moore Studios & Gardens is hosting a new exhibition that hones in on the artist’s career throughout, as its title suggests, the 1960s. This important decade of work saw Moore experiment with materials such as polystyrene and fibreglass, resulting in abstract sculptures on a behemoth scale. Subsequently, Moore, who was once thought of as avant-garde, reached celebrity status, which raised the eyebrows of other artists. Henry Moore: The Sixties dives into this controversy and displays 30 sizable sculptures, alongside other works including more than 20 bold and colourful drawings and graphics. If you visit on one of spring’s sunnier days, be sure to stroll around the glorious gardens. From 1 April to 30 October 2022.
Henry Moore, Six Reclining Figures with Buff Background, 1963, lithograph in two colours. Photography Michael Phipps. © Henry Moore Foundation.
Hot cross buns by Flor
Yes, we’re partial to an Easter egg (or two), but there’s something just as delightful about the sweet spice of a hot cross bun – particularly when they’re freshly made by our friends over at Flor. The bakery’s spin on the seasonal treat includes a concoction of British-grown wheat, sourdough, homemade candied orange, currants, raisins and a bespoke house spice blend. If you’re in London, you can pick up your buns (and other goods, such as delicious laminated brioche buns, which launch this April) from Flor’s new outpost in Spa Terminus in Bermondsey on Friday and Saturday. Or, for those who live further afield, order them to be delivered straight to your door.
Cellars Presents at Peckham Cellars
Here’s a fun way to start the bank holiday weekend if you’re in London: with good food, music and a spot of dancing at Peckham Cellars. From Thursday 14 April, the neighbourhood wine bar and small-plates specialist is launching a monthly series of summer parties, which will see some of the team’s most loved local chefs taking over the kitchen, and DJs on the decks. First up, Sam Tarneberg, chef and founder of Taco Queen, will be creating the menu, while DJ Miche spins disco and soul. Cellars Presents is free to enter from 5pm until late.
Nancy Kwon at Francis Gallery
Over in Bath, Francis Gallery is getting ready to present its forthcoming exhibition on Nancy Kwon. The Korean artist’s preferred palette spans ceramics, textiles and glass, which she uses to craft pieces inspired by ancient tradition and ceremonial objects: Neolithic petroglyphs, hemp burial grounds, ancient stoneware. Often cast in soft neutral tones and raw natural materials, Kwon’s work is perfectly at home against the backdrop of this beautiful gallery. The self-titled exhibition is the artist’s first in the UK and runs 28 April-2 July.
Radical Rooms: Power of the Plan at RIBA Architecture Gallery
Also launching on 28 April is Radical Rooms: Power of the Plan at RIBA Architecture Gallery. The brainchild of architect Charles Holland and visual artist Di Mainstone, the immersive exhibition explores three domestic buildings – the 16th-century Hardwick Hall, 18th-century A la Ronde and 20th-century Hopkins House – and the way in which power structures inherited in their layouts. It simultaneously highlights the impact women had on each space’s design and development through a series of artistic performances, with costumes created to match the historic buildings. Until 30 July.
Detail of spiral staircase at Hopkins House, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, London. Courtesy of Joe Low/RIBA Collections
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