By Weronika Maleszewska
“After the Covid-19 period, I can vividly see how much of the attention the galleries get these days,” says Kathrine Nabral, the curator of one of the best-known modern galleries in Warsaw, Poland. “People crave an inspiration boost, and that is what we are here for.”
According to the Art Newspaper, the end of the 2020 saw a considerable drop in museum attendance (up to 77% worldwide), with many museums forced to close during the pandemic.
Thankfully, things are looking up again – and museum attendance could start to flourish once more. We are getting not only vaccinated but also getting hungrier for some “inspo”, and we are looking back optimistically to those times when scheduling a date was as easy as purchasing a museum ticket.
Curators on the hunt
Art, as we all know, is an unstoppably growing field. Curators are on a real hunt right now, starting from the freshest, post-Covid inspired exhibitions right on through the classics – and ending with the most recognizable names being rediscovered.
Now, you are probably asking the same question: where should I start? What are the galleries worth writing in my the-end-of-the-week schedule? Is The Tate Modern the only destination for these days?
Well, you came across this article for a reason, as we reveal the the most eye-catching exhibitions that are more than a MUST visit in the city.
“Honestly speaking, I have been a long-time art-lover and collector, the way I find out about cultural spots is simply by investigating the city. Annual events such as Art Basel used to help me gather all of the best spots,” said Sam Oakly, the owner and curator of the Pasman Modern Art Gallery. As the previous year ended up being a cultural break due to Covid-19, events such this one couldn’t run.
Art Basel, an international, for-profit art fair staged annually in districts such as Switzerland, Basel, Florida or Hong Kong, is back in 2021 with its unveiled list of 273 best exhibitors across 33 countries. The institution was built up to help smaller, unestablished creators grow and reach the most viewers as possible.
September’s event is going to be the first one since the 2019’s edition. Our appetites for artistic experiences need to be satisfied ASAP.
Here are some of the spots you may find interesting:
47 Approach Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9LY
“The Approach is one of the places you go, have a beer, wine, or a hot chocolate, meet with your friends or simply have a quality time with your closest at the floor’s bar, and somehow you end up upstairs, where the whole artistic venue begins,” said Cristopher Holly, one of the visitors and a long-time supporter of the Bethnal Green-based, modern art spot.
Le Coeur Encore, which means nothing else but What touches my heart, is not an ordinary exhibition. Combining works of the three artists: Stefania Batoeva, Pam Evelyn and Francesca Mollett, curators took care of our senses. Perfect for these of us who crave something to boost our deep thoughts.
This gallery has always been one of the top, most desired London-based spots when it comes to curiously selected artists. The exhibitions are mixed and matched, and what guarantees an incredible experience is the ability to get, as the curator assures, “a little bit high”.
At a time when the art world is returning to its’ pre-pandemic levels, the Gallery’s beautiful historic building have manged to gather a collection of important and unique artists.
Sol Calero (b.1982) brings her brightly coloured installations that investigate themes of representation, identity and migration, formed by her own perspective as a migrant.
Sheila Legge (1911-1949), with her pivotal archives, examines women as artists, behind the-scenes organisers, editors… women in total. A brilliant performance that captures such an important message.
The gallery is ”a definite must-visit. The Museum in Whitechapel never fails to satisfy my artistic needs. After the Covid-19 pause they came back, maintaining their brilliant, foregoing reputation,” said Caroline Cromings, an Art History student.
54 Eastcastle St, London W1W 8EF
Another one on the list of these smaller, cosier places for the art fanatics. Owned by the Oslo-based contemporary artist, who named the Gallery after herself, the 3,800 sq ft West London-based gallery is made up of two exhibition spaces (just in case one wasn’t enough).
Twenty Thousand Years of Fire and Snow by Sedrick Chrisom is the artist’s first exhibition in the UK, “illustrating his visions of a post-apocalyptic perception of reality”, says Natalie Williams, an Art History student.
“A perfect timing of subjects the artist brings up through his artworks. Having these mixed thoughts of the on-going today, going perfectly in-line with Chrisom’s exhibition just simply made me think, even overthink.”
The exhibition is definitely worth seeing, even for couple of minutes during running every-day errands. It is conveniently located right next to Oxford Circus, which means you have no excuse not to visit!
Bankside, London SE1 9TG
The core foundation of contemporary art collectors in London, the Tate Modern undoubtedly needs to be mentioned here due to its recent Auguste Rodin sculpture display. The exhibition features over 200 works, many of which have not been seen outside of France before.
According to problematic post-Covid 19 formalities, visitors are required to pre-time their visits, simply booking it via the official Tate Modern site. This is kind of understandable, especially since the museum was listed as the third most visited art museum in 2020, just after the Musee du Louvre and the National Museum of China.
Galleries are here back again. Even though some museums offered only the possibility of online guidance and visits during the pandemic, people nowadays seem to be craving a real-life experience.
At the end of a day, this is what these kinds of places are for, offering you unforgettable memories to enrich your everyday schedule, allowing you to have a break and finally have time for thinking, overthinking, dreaming… and “getting a little high”.
The Whitechapel Gallery. Photo: Weronika Maleszewska, painting by Sol Calero
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