Category: LONDON

Why pay a visit to the National Gallery in London today!

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Updated: 10/05/2025

As part of the National Gallery’s grand 200th birthday celebrations, a new chapter begins on Saturday 10 May 2025, with the reopening of the Sainsbury Wing entrance. Closed since February 2023 for an ambitious transformation, the Sainsbury Wing now re-emerges as a more welcoming and beautifully redesigned main gateway to one of the world’s greatest art collections. The renovation, led by New York-based Selldorf Architects in collaboration with heritage architects Purcell, has been a sensitive yet forward-thinking project. The changes balance a respect for the historic architecture with a fresh approach to meet the modern needs of millions of annual visitors. A Transformed Welcome Visitors will now enter through a reimagined space, where some of the Gallery’s footprint has been cleverly dedicated to the public realm. The result is a “square-within-a-square” leading to a more spacious and approachable entrance. The formerly dark glass stairs have been replaced with clear glazing, allowing sunlight to stream into the foyer while offering glimpses of the National Gallery’s historic 1830s building by William Wilkins. For the first time, passers-by in Trafalgar Square will be able to peer directly inside this iconic cultural landmark. Inside, a stunning double-height foyer awaits. The space is brighter, airier, and beautifully modernised. At its centre is a colossal 12-metre-wide, state-of-the-art 16K screen, which showcases astonishing close-up details of the Gallery’s masterpieces. Culinary and Cultural Delights The renovations also bring exciting new amenities to enhance the visitor experience. A ground-floor espresso bar, Bar Giorgio, will offer coffee connoisseurs a perfect pit-stop, while the mezzanine level… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LONDON

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The King and Queen reopen transformed Sainsbury Wing on coronation anniversary

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Updated: 07/05/2025

Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the National Gallery to officially reopen the Sainsbury Wing, celebrating the completion of its extensive two-year transformation. The occasion held extra significance as it marked the second anniversary of their Coronation, with King Charles III, the Royal Patron of the National Gallery, at the helm. The Sainsbury Wing, now revitalised with sensitive updates to its façade, foyer, and mezzanine, offers a more welcoming first impression to the millions of visitors who pass through its doors each year. The refreshed wing reopens to the public this Saturday, 10 May 2025, as part of the Gallery’s grand 200th birthday celebrations – and this is after someone sleeps in the new bit after winning a competition! During the visit, Their Majesties observed a special inscription marking their visit carved into the stone beneath the staircase of the Sainsbury Wing. This new addition sits underneath the original 1991 inscription commemorating the wing’s opening by Queen Elizabeth II. The royal couple also had the opportunity to tour C C Land: The Wonder of Art, a remarkable once-in-a-generation rehang of 1,000 works from the National Gallery collection. Spanning seven centuries of Western European art, the exhibition includes masterpieces like Mantegna’s Triumphs of Caesar on loan from the Royal Collection, which Their Majesties viewed alongside young participants from the Gallery’s Articulation program. Central Hall showcased another highlight of the day – the unveiling of the Coronation State Portraits by artists Peter Kuhfeld and Paul S. Benney, depicting Their Majesties in regal poise. On… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

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National Gallery unveils new masterpiece with a mystical past

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Posted: 05/05/2025

The National Gallery has made an extraordinary addition to its collection with the acquisition of the early 16th-century Northern Renaissance altarpiece, The Virgin and Child with Saints Louis and Margaret. Shrouded in mystery and bursting with vivid detail, this masterpiece will go on display on 10 May, as part of the Gallery’s ambitious C C Land: The Wonder of Art exhibition and the reopening of the transformed Sainsbury Wing. Dating to approximately 1510, this captivating work, acquired for £16.4 million through a private treaty sale brokered by Sotheby’s, is as enigmatic as it is wondrous. Its authorship remains unknown, with scholars debating whether the painter was Netherlandish or French. Despite its anonymity, the painting’s quality and inventive details firmly cement its importance within the Northern Renaissance canon. A Blend of Beauty and Playfulness At the center of the altarpiece, the Virgin Mary and Child are enthroned in an open-air chapel, surrounded by two music-playing angels, Saint Louis, and Saint Margaret. Margaret, magnificently dressed, emerges unscathed from the dragon that had swallowed her, a symbol of triumph over adversity. Above her, one angel plays a rare mouth harp, while the other holds a songbook with inscribed lines from a Marian hymn, Ave Regina Caelorum. But this painting offers more than solemn devotion; it’s also peppered with playful quirks. A bawdy child on a column capital cheekily exposes his derrière, and the dragon slathered at Margaret’s feet is both fearsome and faintly comical. The wooden steps and nails in the painting hint at Christ’s future sacrifice, adding… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LONDON

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New play in London: Blood Wedding blazes onto the stage

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Updated: 25/04/2025

Barney Norris’ gripping adaptation of Blood Wedding is set to dazzle audiences at Clapham’s Omnibus Theatre, opening on Wednesday, 30 April and running until Saturday, 24 May. Presented by Two’s Company and Karl Sydow in association with Tilly Films, this London premiere reimagines Federico García Lorca’s passionate Spanish classic, bringing its timeless intensity to the heart of contemporary England. A Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Fate Set in a rural village on the edge of Salisbury Plain, Blood Wedding explores heightened emotions, unfulfilled longings, and the clash between choice and destiny. Georgie, a 22-year-old bride-to-be, finds herself torn between her fiancé, Rob, and her ex-lover, Lee. What begins as a wedding filled with joy and anticipation quickly takes a dark and ominous turn, as Norris weaves a tale of dreams, heartbreak, and the inevitable consequences of following one’s instincts. Taking inspiration from Lorca’s original 1932 play, Norris infuses the story with a uniquely modern perspective, capturing the dreams and fears that resonate with young couples today. Reflecting on his adaptation, he muses on the role of comedy within the tragedy, stating, “Comedy makes us feel things more deeply. Comedy activates us. And comedy is the English ‘duende’. Lorca’s ‘duende’ comes from the soil of Spain to the soles of people’s feet. Ours is made of laughter.” The Stellar Creative Team and Cast Crafting this layered production is director Tricia Thorns, alongside a talented creative team that includes Alex Marker on set design, Carla Joy Evans on costume design, Neill Brinkworth on lighting design, and Dominic… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON, THEATRE

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National Gallery London offers ‘Pay what you wish’ Fridays

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Posted: 25/04/2025

Art lovers in London are in for a treat, as the National Gallery launches an inspiring new initiative as part of its NG200 celebrations. For the first time, visitors will have the chance to pay what they like to experience the critically acclaimed exhibition José María Velasco: A View of Mexico. Every Friday from 10am to 9pm, until 17 August, you can book a ticket for as little as £1 to immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind showcase. A Historic First for the National Gallery This initiative marks the first time the National Gallery has offered ‘Pay What You Wish’ access throughout the entire day on Fridays for one of its ticketed exhibitions. Previously, this scheme ran only during evening hours for blockbuster exhibitions like Lucian Freud, Frans Hals, and After Impressionism. Now, it’s available all day, giving more people the opportunity to experience the art of José María Velasco, one of Mexico’s most celebrated 19th-century painters. The exhibition, which is the first UK monographic display dedicated to Velasco and the Gallery’s first-ever show centred on a historical Latin American artist, coincides with two significant milestones. It celebrates the 200th anniversary of UK–Mexico diplomatic relations and is part of the NG200 festivities, commemorating the Gallery’s bicentenary. Velasco’s masterpieces embody a unique cultural and historical perspective, offering a fresh addition to the Gallery’s longstanding tradition of showcasing global art beyond Europe. Who Was José María Velasco? José María Velasco (1840–1912) is a colossal figure in Mexican art, known for his extraordinary depictions of the Valley of Mexico…. Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LONDON

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2025 World Press Photo Contest has a winner

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Posted: 20/04/2025

The World Press Photo Contest has long been a beacon for showcasing some of the most striking and impactful visual storytelling in photojournalism. This year’s winners, announced on April 17, 2025, continue this vital tradition, shedding light on pivotal global issues through exceptional images. The prestigious 2025 World Press Photo of the Year award has been granted to Samar Abu Elouf, a Palestinian photographer based in Doha, for her deeply moving portrait of resilience in the aftermath of conflict. Two other finalists were also selected, highlighting critical topics of migration and climate change. Together, these images offer both a window into the complexities of the modern world and a call to action. The Photo of the Year: Mahmoud Ajjour, Aged Nine The winning photograph by Samar Abu Elouf, taken for The New York Times, captures a quiet yet deeply evocative moment in the life of Mahmoud Ajjour, a nine-year-old boy recovering from devastating injuries sustained during an Israeli attack on Gaza in 2024. The image depicts Mahmoud facing a window, a soft light warming one side of his face. At first, one might notice the innocence in his expression, but the full weight of the photo is revealed as it becomes clear he has lost both arms. The scene is haunting in its juxtaposition of his tender age and the irreversible scars of war. Mahmoud’s story is one of both unimaginable loss and remarkable strength. During an attack in Gaza City, an explosion claimed one of his arms and mutilated the other as he tried… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

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London theatre: The Psychiatrist premieres at The White Bear

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Posted: 12/04/2025

This April, The White Bear in Kennington will host the world premiere of The Psychiatrist, a powerful new play by Julian Bird. Running from 8–26 April 2025, this two-hander sheds light on the unseen struggles of psychiatrists, with Bird drawing on his decades of experience in the field to craft an authentic and thought-provoking story. The Psychiatrist explores the challenging dynamic of mental health professionals balancing their personal wellbeing with their demanding roles. Based on real events, the play portrays a psychiatrist caught between inadequate resources at work and deep personal loss, leading him to seek therapy himself. The audience sees the main character alternately as a therapist and a patient, uncovering the emotional complexity of working in mental health care. Bird not only wrote the play but also stars in the title role. After a 40-year career as a psychiatrist and physician, he embarked on an acting career in his sixties, training at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His acting credits include acclaimed roles in theatre (Freud’s Last Session at the King’s Head) and TV (EastEnders, The Tudors). “From my own experience, I am well aware that at times of stress, the mental health of psychiatrists can be a critical factor in the treatment of their patients,” said Bird. The Psychiatrist offers a vivid glimpse into these often-unseen tensions and provides a unique perspective on the mental health struggles faced by those tasked with caring for others. The play is directed by Kenneth Michaels, who returns to The White Bear after… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON, THEATRE

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Who the new artist in residence is at the National Gallery London

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Updated: 28/03/2025

Renowned for his interdisciplinary practice, Wong explores the politics of identity and representation through film, performance, painting, and installation. His works often re-stage iconic scenes from world cinema to examine the construction of individual and national identities.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

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