BEAUTY WEEK AT THE V&A
24-28 January 2005
In association with Estée Lauder

Celebrate beauty at the V&A this January with a week of lectures, performances and events that will be provocative and stimulating.

Beauty Week culminates in a glamorous mid-winter Friday Late Masked Ball with dancing, live music, DJs, workshops and an Estée Lauder beauty parlour. From Romeo and Juliet to the Phantom of the Opera masks have been used to hide the face and create a new identity. Conceal, reveal or enhance your beauty by wearing your own mask to the ball or join the workshops to create your own at this free Friday Late event.

The week of events ties in with 'Beauty' a special tour through the V&A's world-renowned permanent collection. Acting as a 'guest editor' of the collections, design consultant Stephen Bayley has selected 26 objects, from Canova's Sleeping Nymph to a 1920s Wagenfeld desk lamp, to explore the concept of what people find beautiful and the different ways beauty is expressed.

Debate - 24 January
The week starts with a challenging debate 'Future Perfect' about the future of beauty. Chaired by Stephen Bayley, the debate's panellists include Dr Armand Marie Leroi, Reader in Evolutionary Developmental Biology at Imperial College, Elaine Scarry, Professor of Aesthetics at Harvard University and Tiffanie Darke, Editor of The Sunday Times Style.

Lecture - 26 January
The Wednesday Late View Lecture 'Ugliness is Superior to Beauty: It Lasts Longer' will be given by Stephen Bayley.

Talks - daily
Throughout the week there will be free daily talks by V&A curators which will look at the Beauty Tour in greater detail.

Late Night - 28 January
The week ends with a Friday Late Beauty Night, a glamorous mid-winter Masked Ball questioning, exploring and celebrating beauty. This free late-night event features special guests and performers, beauty treats by Estée Lauder, dancing, live music and DJs. Bring your own mask or join in the workshops to create your own.

EVENTS

Monday 24 January
15.00 Curator's talk on Architectural Model of Chiswick House designed by Lord Burlington in 1729

17.30 Beauty Debate: A critical debate about the future of beauty
Tickets £8.50, concs available

Tuesday 25 January
15.00 Curator's talk on 'The Day Dream' by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Wednesday 26 January
15.00 Curator's talk on London Transport Typeface designed by Edward Johnston in 1913

19.15 Ugliness is Superior to Beauty: It Lasts Longer
Wednesday Late View Lecture by Stephen Bayley
Tickets £8.50, Members £6.50, concs available

Thursday 27 January
15.00 Curator's talk on the Head of Buddha From Gandhara

Friday 28 January
15.00 Curator's talk on the Egyptian Rock Crystal Ewer

18.30-22.00 Friday Late Beauty Night Masked Ball
Free late-night event