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Viewing Matthew Smith and Patrick Heron at Charleston House

Matthew Smith, the post-modernist painter who was taught by Henri Matisse, was described by the painter Patrick Heron as ‘easily the most important English painter of his generation.’ Smith’s influence on Heron was profound – traceable today in still lifes as much as in Heron’s later abstract paintings.

This jaw-dropping display at Charleston tracks a scintillating dialogue between the two English painters of two different generatons, revisiting Smith through the eyes and appreciation of Heron. Both were trailblazers who were obsessed with colour, and used in in expressive and dynamic new ways on canvas. Heron would become a key contributor to the post-war art scene in Britain, as a critic as well as an artist, a prominent figure in modernist painting who pushed ideas of making use of the entire canvas.

Presenting works by each side by side, the connections are dazzling: both, for example, painted Cornish landscapes – Heron lived in Cornwall all of his life – and both were influenced by Fauvism, but suffused it with their own uplifting and refreshing style and palettes. A joyous celebration of two artists who are widely considered two of the most important colourists of the 20th century.

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Dates
01 May 2024 — 12 October 2024
There Is Light Somewhere Bahamian-born conceptual artist Tavares Strachan’s radiant first institutional exhibition explores light, knowledge and human resilience through an array of captivating multimedia installations. Playing with light and shadow, neon sculptures that pulse with energy, intricate glassworks that capture the ephemeral beauty of light – it’s all meticulously crafted to play with the senses and challenge the stability of perception, asking poignant questions of the viewer.

There’s a vast new piece, Intergalactic Palace, which houses the sound and light installation, Sonic Encyclopaedia. It teems with cross-cultural energy: materially, it makes allusions to East African minerals and the surface of Mars, to traditional thatched structures found in Uganda. This exhibition demonstrates Strachan’s expressive and inexhaustive use of materials, often using them to blur borders and draw metaphors.

Drawing on the artist’s ongoing research into the intersections of art, science, and history. One of the highlights of the exhibition is the immersive installation Encyclopedia of Invisibility, an ambitious project that catalogues 17,000 entries of forgotten figures of history, shining a light on the invisible and the marginalized. Another standout piece is The Astronaut’s Diary, a tribute to Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first African-American astronaut. The installation’s luminous quality evokes a sense of wonder, paying homage to the spirit of human endeavor. Strachan shines light where it’s most needed.

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Dates
18 June 2024 — 01 September 2024

Viewing Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail at V&A

Calling all the Swifties out there: step into the melodious world of the award-winning American artist at the Victoria and Albert Museum South Kensington this summer. An enchanting journey invites you to experience the storytelling genius of one of the most influential artists of our time through her costumes, accessories, instruments and outfits – and it’s free.

Presented through various galleries at V&A, the trail offers an intimate glimpse into Swift’s poetry and power as a storyteller, with thirteen stops, each showcasing a chapter in the songbook of Swift’s illustrious career to date, growing from a country prodigy to a pop powerhouse.

“Taylor Swift’s songs, like objects, tell stories, often drawing from art, history and literature. We hope this theatrical trail across the museum will inspire curious visitors to discover more about the performer, her creativity and V&A objects”, says curator Kate Bailey.

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Happenings Chain of Hope at Saatchi Gallery

Happenings
The Wick Culture - Daniella Celine Williams and Yube Huni Kuin from the Amazon. Photo by Nick Harvey.

Happenings Sacred Land at Saatchi Gallery

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The Wick Culture - Comedian, Maurizio Cattelan

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The Wick Culture - David Bailey, Mary McCartney and Brandei Estes at Claridge's ArtSpace

Happenings 'DOUBLE EXPOSURE: David Bailey & Mary McCartney' at Claridge's ArtSpace

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The Wick Culture - Courts and Fields 4 ©Ishkar
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Object Courts and Fields 4 rug, by Christopher Le Brun

Design
The Wick Culture - Viewing Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail at V&A
Dream & Discover

Discover Roy Lichtenstein, Paper Shopping Bag