Visiting a special exhibition is always fun and informative. Often the exhibits on show are there only for a short while, having been loaned by museums, galleries, and private collectors worldwide. This spring, London is hosting some fantastic special exhibitions, so why not try some? Consider booking your stay at any of the hotels near Bloomsbury in London for a comfortable stay along with a visit to the spring exhibitions.
Worth considering is the fashion exhibitions at the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington. In the post-war years, Christian Dior’s New Look outfits brought colour, style, and fashion back into women’s clothing. Now the V&A is hosting an exhibition about Dior and his relationship with Britain. Fast forward to the 1960s for the V&A’s second fashion exhibition focusing on a very different style of the designer – Mary Quant. Characterized by the use of bright colours, stripes, mini skirts, and close fitting tops, Mary Quant’s designs revolutionized clothing styles. On show are over 200 garments as well as images and accessories.
Not far away at the Design Museum in High Street Kensington, the film world of science fiction and horror is brought vividly to life in an exhibition devoted to one of its greatest exponents – Stanley Kubrick. Best known for his films A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and 2001: A Space Odyssey, he set many of his films in London and found the city inspiring. This is a rare opportunity to see the props, models, and costumes from those films, and discover more about his filming techniques.
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For fans of art, there are plenty of new exhibitions being opened this spring. Among the best is a stunning headline exhibition at Tate Britain focusing on the work of Van Gogh and how he inspired British artists. It is a fantastic opportunity to see some of his most well-known works such as Sunflowers, Shoes and Starry Night.
Over the river at Tate Modern, there is an exhibition devoted to a very different artist from this same era – Pierre Bonnard, who was a contemporary of Henri Matisse. Bonnard’s landscapes and portraits are more muted in colour, but unlike his contemporaries, he did not paint plein air. He preferred to work from memory in his studio.
The National Portrait Gallery is highlighting the work of one Tudor England’s most famous painters, the artist Nicholas Hilliard. On display are fabulous miniatures capturing in exquisite detail the portraits of members of the Tudor court such as Queen Elizabeth 1, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.
Manga has been one of the dominant art styles of the past few decades, influencing books, films, and animation. You can choose to stay at any hotels near Soho in London and pay a visit to The British Museum that is all set to host the largest ever exhibition of Manga outside Japan. On display will be countless examples of manga drawings and animation, allowing visitors to see how this popular art form has developed. Many of the items have been sourced directly from Japan and have never been seen before in this country. For lovers of Manga, this is definitely the ‘must see’ exhibition of the year.
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