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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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London-based artist Rana Begum’s giant puffs of colourful mesh are always irresistible – more so in this latest, cascading installation titled Rana Begum: No.1367 Mesh at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, where they take over the gallery’s historic 18th century staircase, injecting vibrant colour into the space, with multiple possible perspectives and interactions with the light. The monumental No.1367 Mesh was designed specifically for Pallant House Gallery.

The British-Bangladeshi artist said of the work: “I’m interested in making colour feel tangible, giving it a physicality that accentuates how one tone interacts with another… it’s always important that the relationship between colour, geometry and texture creates a feeling of calm and tranquillity. I am fascinated by this duality – how the experience of exhilaration and meditation can coexist.”

“By bringing the relationship between form, colour and light into focus, I hope my work can extend beyond a gallery context and encourage the viewer to become more attuned to their everyday surroundings, more sensitive to the varying ways these three elements interact and the moments when they align to create something beautiful.” If you miss this one – Begum has a solo exhibition forthcoming in September at Kate MacGarry’s East London gallery.

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Dates
20 July 2024 — 31 July 2026
Dualities in Monochrome marks a comeback for celebrated photographer and filmmaker Simon Frederick who has been absent from the art world for 12 years as he has focused on broadcasting and television – with projects such as the documentary series Black is the New Black and his role as a judge on the Sky Arts series Master of Photography. The acclaimed artist has photographed everyone from Naomi Campbell, Sir Trevor McDonald and Thandie Newton to musician Jazzie B and footballer Les Ferdinand in his career to date.

Dualities in Monochrome at Leica Gallery gives the sense of a ceaseless creative vision – stunning portraits of the striking form of actor and muse, Welket Bungué. Shot, as the title suggests, exclusively on black and white, Bungué inhabits a series of expressive poses, from majestic to tender. Sculptural in effect, the images pay homage to the magnificence of Bungué’s physique, offering a multitude of perspectives that evoke, strength and vulnerability – but they also transcend the realm of the personal, a rallying cry for looking at bodies with greater compassion, kindness and nuance. Frederick’s much-needed voice makes a welcome return.

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Dates
26 July 2024 — 22 September 2024
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