Things to do and see across the UK in August
Summer is in full swing and rising alongside the temperature is the number of galleries and museums opening to visitors: this month’s Cultural Diary is brimming with physical exhibitions, from an ode to Impressionism to a celebration of Pop Art’s crowned king. Bookworms will delight in an online festival and the publication of first-rate works of fiction and non-fiction. Plus, there’s a handful of virtual workshops to get stuck into. Read on for our round-up of things to do and see across the UK in August.
Masculinities: Liberation through Photography, Barbican Art Gallery, London
The Barbican Art Gallery is open again and so too is its exhibition on the ways masculinity has been socially constructed, performed and subverted since the 1960s. Bringing together more than 300 photographs and film clips by Catherine Opie, Isaac Julien, Laurie Anderson and others, it considers the often contradictory representation of masculinities and how manliness has changed over time. The subjects range from the personal to the impersonal and touch on themes of power and patriarchy, tenderness and the family. Extended until 23 August.
Andy Warhol, Tate Modern, London
If you didn’t manage to catch this major retrospective before lockdown, now’s your chance. Tate Modern has assembled Warhol’s most iconic images, from the portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Mick Jagger to the Brillo boxes and Campbell’s soup cans. It looks at the man behind the masterworks too, taking into account his family’s journey from eastern Europe to the US (with albums and tapes) and his identity as a gay man (with portraits of past lovers). At times the biographical element is a tad overbearing – we could probably do without the artist’s snow-white wigs, on display in a glass case – but on the whole, this is a show you don’t want to miss.
John Newling: tillage, Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft, East Sussex
Known for his site-specific projects that unpick the shifting relationships between people, places and cultures, Birmingham-born Newling makes public art that serves a social purpose. A new exhibition at Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft collates work from across his 40-year career, including new pieces that respond to the climate crisis: Ditchling Leaves features foliage gathered by local gardeners, while several families from the village have contributed outdoor materials to Exchange. The conceptual artist describes his work as a “collaboration with nature”.
Cao Fei: Blueprints, Serpentine Gallery, London
Be sure to book a free time slot for the latest instalment of the Serpentine’s exploration of virtual reality and artificial intelligence: this awe-inspiring exhibition of Chinese multi-media artist and film-maker Cao Fei’s work reopens on 4 August. New and existing films, photographs and objects come together as part of an immersive installation that explores virtuality and how it has changed the way we live and work. Sparking discussions about the pace at which technology is advancing, the show makes a case for human contact in the modern world.
Gauguin and the Impressionists: Masterpieces from the Ordrupgaard Collection, Royal Academy of Arts, London
Also opening on 4 August is the Royal Academy of Art’s exhibition of treasured works from Copenhagen’s Ordrupgaard Collection, which was compiled in the early-20th century by a Danish couple with the help of French art critic Théodore Duret. Paintings by the leading lights of Impressionism – from Claude Monet to Berthe Morisot – will hang alongside works created before and after the 19th-century art movement, culminating in a series of post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin’s most vibrant pieces. The collection is on loan while the Danish museum is closed for refurbishment.
Intimations by Zadie Smith
Understanding the world can be a challenge, particularly in an unprecedented situation – which is why having a writer as astute and level-headed as Zadie Smith lay out her thoughts and feelings on our current predicament is so invaluable. Written during the early months of lockdown, Intimations is a slim volume of timely personal essays that explore human relations and experience. Royalties from the book will go to the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for New York and the Equal Justice Initiative.
Summer by Ali Smith
Summer is here and so too is the finale of Smith’s masterful seasonal quartet: four multigenerational, political novels written in real-time. Summer, which is published by Hamish Hamilton on 6 August, is set during lockdown. There’s talk of events as recent as the death of George Floyd and the wildfires in Australia. It follows teenage siblings Sacha and Robert, whose parents are having trouble – something the wider world is experiencing too. It’s a story about change and the connection between people and places, as well as the power of friendship.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
From one of Scotland’s most beloved authors to one of its biggest annual literary events. If you’re home from 15 to 31 August, you’re in luck – this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival is taking place online. The fortnight-long festival will feature more than 100 free-to-view events, including both live and pre-recorded conversations with celebrated writers and poets from around the world. For full details on the packed programme, as well as booking information, visit the website.
TOAST Virtual Workshops
Finally, if you fancy learning something new, or simply brushing up on an old skill, TOAST is hosting various virtual workshops throughout August. Join textile artist Natalie Stopka to practise the art of natural indigo dyeing or textile repairer Molly Martin to discover how to rework fabrics through patching and stitching. Tabara N’Diaye, the founder of La Basketry, is also on hand to unlock the secrets of basket-weaving techniques. Workshops are free to attend, but donations to Crafts Council UK are much appreciated.
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