Apologies for so many museums but it’s the holidays and what better break from stressed out teenagers revising for exams could possibly be found.
Yesterday I went to see an art exhibition at the British Museum that pulled together a lot of the work I’ve seen recently at other sites in London, from Rauschenberg to Hockney. Since I’m not a member, but she is we just walked through the crowds in the main museum and into the quest, almost serene Sainsbury wing using her card but
I’d recommend the show even if you have to pay. If you just want to see the main exhibitions (which are free though a donation is requested) then come with a plan ie. print off the maps from the website (they cost £2 at the gallery itself), choose 5-10 objects that you’re interested in and stick to them. The museum is vast and at holiday time positively heaving with people.
If you have a child in tow, consider asking for one of the children’s trail maps. I’m often tempted to ask for one even without a child – they’re that engaging – but haven’t quite got the courage.
To see the British Museum, you need a plan. Wander aimlessly and you will see nothing. If you’re interested in the “big ticket items” i.e. Rosetta stone, Elgin Marbles etc arrive at 10am to minimise the crowds.
Anyway, pop art….
The past six decades have been among the most dynamic and turbulent in US history, from JFK’s assassination, Apollo 11 and Vietnam to the AIDS crisis, racism and gender politics. Responding to the changing times, American artists have produced prints unprecedented in their scale and ambition.
Starting with the explosion of pop art in the 1960s, the exhibition includes works by the most celebrated American artists. From Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg to Ed Ruscha, Kara Walker and Julie Mehretu – all boldly experimented with printmaking. Experience this extraordinary history through their eyes.
Taking inspiration from the world around them – billboard advertising, global politics, Hollywood and household objects – American artists created highly original prints to rival their paintings and sculptures. Printmaking brought their work to a much wider and more diverse audience.
The sheer inventiveness and technical ingenuity of their prints reflects America’s power and influence during this period. Many of these works also address the deep divisions in society that continue to resonate with us today – there are as many American dreams as there are Americans.
This exhibition presents the Museum’s outstanding collection of modern and contemporary American prints for the first time. These will be shown with important works from museums and private collections around the world.
