BILL
BRANDT: A CENTENARY RETROSPECTIVE
24 MARCH * 25 JULY 2004
The V&A will celebrate the centenary of the birth of Bill Brandt (1904-83),
one of the most important photographers of modern times, with a major
exhibition and an international conference. The exhibition presents 155
vintage gelatin-silver prints from the Bill Brandt Archive and is the
most important Brandt exhibition for over 30 years. Brandt's best-known
work documents the vivid social contrasts in Britain during the World
Wars. He also photographed the landscapes of 'Literary Britain' and a
pantheon of great artists and writers, as well as creating his outstanding
series 'Perspective of Nudes'. Bill Brandt: A Centenary Retrospective
is curated by John-Paul Kernot and organised by The Bill Brandt Archive.
WEDNESDAY LATE VIEW LECTURE
BILL BRANDT: BRITAIN'S GREATEST 20TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAHER
24 MARCH, 19.15 * 20.05,
Bill Brandt photographed the upstairs/downstairs world of the 1930s, the
blitz, landscape, portraiture and the nude. Mark Haworth-Booth, the curator
of the exhibition, knew him well and gives a personal view. To book tickets
call 020 7942 2211. Full price £8.50; V&A Members/patrons and
students £5.50.
BRILLIANT
CONTEMPORARY SPACE
12 FEBRUARY -25 APRIL 2004
The V&A is staging its first exhibition of contemporary lighting.
Brilliant features nine dramatic light installations and a dazzling display
of domestic lights by some of the world's leading designers.
The light installations in the first gallery are by Ron Arad, Ingo Maurer,
Sharon Marston, Tord Boontje, Georg Baldele, Francesco Draisci, Kazuhiro
Yamanaka, Paul Cocksedge and Arik Levy. The second part of the exhibition
features hundreds of domestic lights and 'light-objects' by designers
who have produced some of the most exciting and innovative products of
recent years including Tom Dixon, Marcel Wanders, Héctor Serrano,
Rachel Wingfield, Gitta Gschwendtner and Karim Rashid.
The exhibition includes lighting from the strictly functional to the wildly
ostentatious. It will show the range of new lighting forms, fabrics and
technologies from domestic lamps to futuristic lighted textiles.
TALKING DESIGN: MAKING LIGHT OF THINGS
17, 24, 31 MARCH & 7 APRIL, 19.00-20.30
This series of lectures by designers involved in Brilliant will explore
various creative approaches to light design. Designers Georg Baldele,
Tord Boontje, Héctor Serrano and Rachel Wingfield will discuss
their design process and how they draw inspiration from materials, found
objects, technologies and craft in their search for new forms of lighting.
To book tickets call 020 7942 2211. Full price £8.50; V&A Members/patrons
and students £5.50. Book any two talks: £15 or £10 Concession
NEW PAINTINGS GALLERIES
The V&A displays 200 works from its extensive paintings collection
in a new suite of five galleries. These galleries were originally built
to house the Museum's paintings collection during the 1850s and 1860s.
On display are Constable's revolutionary oil sketches donated to the Museum
by the artist's daughter, landscapes by Constable, Turner and Gainsborough,
and famous works by Blake, Landseer and Millais. One room is devoted entirely
to the collection of Constantine Ionides, a leading Victorian collector
and friend of Rossetti who collected European Old Masters and nineteenth
century paintings. To mark the opening of the new galleries, the National
Museum, Liverpool has lent one of the greatest pre-Raphaelite paintings,
'Isabella' (1848) by Millais. The painting, once part of the Ionides collection,
is on display until the end of January 2004.
OSSIE CLARK
TO 2 MAY 2004
The V&A celebrates the work of Ossie Clark, one of the most influential
British fashion designers of the '60s and '70s. This mini-retrospective,
featuring more than 60 garments, along with sketchbooks and photographs,
covers the period 1965-1974 when Clark's designs helped define the spirit
of fashionable London. From the maxi skirt to the 'nude' look and the
trouser suit, Clark's designs set new trends. In addition, his collaboration
with his wife, the textile and interior designer Celia Birtwell, resulted
in some of his best known and most popular creations.
Ossie Clark was a key figure in the world of photographers,
designers, rock stars and other celebrities who took London by storm in
the '60s and '70s. The famous and the fashionable wore Ossie Clark's designs
including Marianne Faithfull, Jimi Hendrix and Patti Boyd. He created
jumpsuits for Mick Jagger, silk dresses for Bianca Jagger and dressed
Eartha Kitt in snakeskin. Fashion icons like Twiggy, Veruschka, Jean Shrimpton
and Penelope Tree modelled the clothes while David Bailey and Guy Bourdin
took the photographs. Celebrity outfits in the show include Twiggy's fur-lined
snakeskin coat, the dress Celia Birtwell posed in for David Hockney's
famous double portrait Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy and Talhlita Getty's
red crêpe evening dress.
****LAST CHANCE TO SEE****
PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY
ALFRED STIEGLITZ: GIFTS FROM THE GEORGIA O'KEEFFE FOUNDATION
TO 14 MARCH 2004
The special display presents 23 photographs and photogravures by Alfred
Stieglitz from the Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation. The collection is a significant
gift of modern photographs taken from the 1890s through to 1936. It includes
portraits of Georgia O'Keeffe and examples of earlier works.
The Photography Gallery highlights works from the
V&A's world-renowned photography collection, shows displays of images
by major photographers and features new acquisitions.
FRIDAY LATE
CRAFT ROCKS! * Knitting circles hit the V&A
26 MARCH
Nicole Kidman does it between takes, Cameron Diaz and the Queen swear
by it and cool Hoxtonites can't get enough of it. Knitting is fast becoming
the trendiest and fun new pastime. This recent craze has been championed
by cult knitting club Cast Off who are leading the V&A's knitting
circles at Craft Rocks! So whether you are a crochet queen, a knitting
novice or cross-stitch crazy grab your needles and get clicking at the
V&A.
EVENTS
IMAGE AND IDENTITY
10 MARCH * 25 APRIL
The Victoria and Albert Museum is working with five regional museums on
the major education initiative 'Image & Identity'. This pioneering
project aims to inspire young people to respond to museum collections,
encouraging creativity through drawing and image making in all media.
From March 10 - April 25, 2004 there will be an 'Image & Identity'
exhibition at the V&A, an opportunity to display examples of work
produced at each of the partner museums and the V&A. The exhibition
will have its official launch during a Young People's Conference at the
V&A (March 10, 2004) which will involve up to 250 young people from
across the project.
KIDS AT THE V&A
ACTIVITY BACK-PACKS
EVERY SATURDAY 10.30-17.00
Children can hoist a Back-Pack on their shoulders and embark upon an adventure
across the Museum. Back-Pack tours are full of exciting hands-on activities
related to the collections. There are eight Back-Packs to choose from:
Chinese Treasures, Metal Detector, The Explorer, The Antique Detective,
Magic Glasses, Fancy Furnishings, Murder Mystery and The Emperor's Party.
Activities can last 30-45 minutes. For children aged 5-12 years.
THE ACTIVITY CART
EVERY SUNDAY 10.30 *17.00
Explore the Museum's collections through drawing and making activities.
The Activity Cart is sited in a different gallery each weekend. Loaded
with a huge variety of activities ranging from making mosaics in the Sculpture
Gallery to designing a kimono in the Japanese Gallery. Activities are
suitable for children aged 3 to 12 years. All children must be accompanied
by an adult.
GENERAL INFORMATION
FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL.
The V&A is open daily 10am - 5.45pm and until 10pm on Wednesdays and
the last Friday of the month. The nearest underground station is South
Kensington (Piccadilly, District and Circle lines). For general information
call 020 7942 2000. Website: http://www.vam.ac.uk
OTHER V&A MUSEUMS
MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD AT BETHNAL GREEN
KHEL, TOYS FROM INDIA
To 18 APRIL
An original collection of beautiful, handmade toys, puppets and games
from the Indian subcontinent, bought directly from the makers in New Delhi,
and presented at the Museum in this exciting exhibition.
SINDY'S 40TH BIRTHDAY
A display highlighting Sindy's story as this iconic doll reaches middle
age. A rare opportunity to see how she changed, with examples both past
and present.
NEW EAST END GALLERY
A new permanent gallery devoted to the people, children and communities
of London's East End has recently opened at Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood.
World in the East End tells the childhood stories of diverse communities
of East London using objects, photographs, audio, film and interactive
games which bring to life their experiences.
THEATRE
MUSEUM AT COVENT GARDEN
A GREAT NIGHT OUT! - THE MAKING OF THE WEST END 1843 * 2010 UNTIL OCTOBER
2004 A mini-exhibition charting the history of London's West End with
models of theatres from Victorian times to today including models of new
plans for Cameron Mackintosh theatres.
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