Our top picks of exhibitions together with cultural spaces and places, both online and in the real world.


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Viewing Annie Morris

Annie Morris has had a brilliant 12 months. In 2021 she enjoyed her first solo museum exhibition in the UK, as well as a solo show at Timothy Taylor London, and designed in collaboration with her husband Idris Khan the buzzy Connaught Christmas tree.

Now she’s enjoying her first solo exhibition in France in the newly completed Oscar Niemeyer Pavilion at Château La Coste. Co-curated by Gagosian Director Georgina Cohen, it features new stack sculptures — the artist’s towers of vivid colour spheres — tapestries, drawings and paintings that reflect Morris’s interest in colour, the fragility of life and the space between figuration and abstraction.

Also featured is a 6-metre tall bronze stack sculpture, her largest work to date, which was especially conceived for the vineyard’s extensive grounds. The latest addition to Château La Coste’s outdoor art and architecture trail, it stands opposite Louise Bourgeois’s menacing Crouching Spider (2007), creating a powerful dialogue between two artists exploring the themes of motherhood and birth.

‘My sculptures are about holding onto something that’s fallen, and to express the hope and defiance of life,’ Morris said ahead of the exhibition. ‘The vibrant pigment on the surface is a way of trying to freeze the moment when paint hasn’t yet dried, and is caught in its most raw form.’
If you’re cruising around Provence this summer, it’s not to be missed.

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Dates
01 July 2022

Doing This Bright Land

Step inside the magical world of This Bright Land, a new cultural extravaganza taking over Somerset House’s courtyard for the entire month of August. Created by Gareth Pugh and Carson McColl in collaboration with Somerset House, it celebrates the spirit and strength of community through a jam-packed programme of performances, music, dance, talks, workshops, interactive experiences and more.

There is plenty to see and do here — from the sensory Wonder Garden installation created in partnership with Jo Malone to free make-up sessions courtesy of MAC Cosmetics — but be sure you save time for a ride on the Observation Wheel. In addition to offering spectacular views across the city, the 35-metre-tall Ferris Wheel features an audio installation that plays recordings of Londoners from all walks of life talking about what the city means to them.

And there’s more. Those with kids should explore the family-friendly activities — we’re talking treasure hunts, story trails and garden games — while those looking for a weekend knees-up should check out the Friday Night Parties or Saturday series of open-air Vogue Balls. On Sundays, day-to-night parties will take over the courtyard, offering everything from games and workshops to live performance and art.

Food will be taken care of by Black Eats LDN, which champions Black-owned foodie businesses across London, while zingy cocktails can be found at the Bombay Sapphire bar. The festival is replacing Somerset House’s much-loved open-air cinema series, so head down to show your support. This could be the start of an exciting annual adventure for culturally curious Londoners.

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Dates
01 August 2022 — 29 August 2022

Viewing Rashid Johnson: Sodade

If you’re heading to the Balearics, make time to visit Hauser & Wirth Menorca. Located on the picturesque Isla del Rey, a small island in the Mahon harbour, Hauser & Wirth Menorca presents new work by American artist Rashid Johnson that explores collective and historical expressions of longing and displacement, while also tackling urgent issues facing society today.

As you meander around the galleries, you’ll encounter a new series of bronze sculpturers and Seascape paintings as well as a group of Bruise Paintings and Surrender Paintings featuring iconography from his celebrated Anxious Men series. Instead of violent reds, however, you’ll come face to face with hues of blues and whites.

‘Emptied out of colour, the Surrender Paintings feature white application only on raw linen canvases, conjuring a feeling of redemption and recognition,’ Johnson said. ‘There’s a simplicity and quiet nature in how these new series relate to collective experiences of the last months.’

Once you’ve had your fill, head out into the magnificent garden designed by Piet Oudolf where you’ll find a sculpture trail featuring works by Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida and Franz West, among others. Peckish? Pit-stop at Cantina, serving a menu of local, seasonal produce, before heading back to Mahon on the ferry.

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Dates
19 June 2022 — 13 November 2022
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