Nature V Culture
Back in Britain with grey days and falling temperatures there are always twinges of regret at leaving our rural idle in France. But never the less there are many things to look forward to this autumn and there are many cultural highlights on my agenda. There are just three that I have on my priority list.
Shunga
sex and pleasure
in Japanese art
British Museum Exhibition
3 October 2013 – 5 January 2014
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/shunga.aspx
Torii Kiyonaga (1752–1815), detail taken from Sode no maki (Handscroll for the Sleeve), c. 1785.
This work in The British Museum’s latest exhibition shows some of the explicit and beautiful erotic paintings, prints and books made in Japan between 17th and 19th centuries and came to be an inspiration and influence to many 20th century European artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Beardsley, Rodin and Picasso.
The EY Exhibition: Paul Klee
Making Visible
Tate Modern: Exhibition
16 October 2013 – 9 March 2014
Paul Klee, Comedy, 1922
The Tate Modern is showing one of the masters of twentieth centaury European modernism. The Tate’s curator, Matthew Gale says that this exhibition ‘’will challenge Klee’s reputation as a solitary dreamer, revealing the innovation and rigour with which Klee created his work’’.
Australia
Royal Academy
21 September—8 December 2013
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/australia/
Rover Thomas [Joolama], ‘Cyclone Tracy’, 1991.
This exhibition at the Academy has drawn mixed reviews, none the less I particularly look forward to seeing the work of the indigenous aboriginal artists whose minimal and bold schematic patterns very much appeal to me.