Amazing Flamenco in London; you must see ¡VIVA!
With six bailaores (dancers) gracing the stage, ¡VIVA! pays homage to freedom while defying traditional gender norms of flamenco.
FOOD & DRINK, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFE & TRAVEL
Tag: London arts
See Saint Bartholomew by Bernardo Cavallino at National Gallery
Bernardo Cavallino’s Saint Bartholomew is an awe-inspiring Baroque masterpiece that will be on display in The National Gallery this April 2023. This painting, acquired at a Sotheby’s auction in New York and costing $3.9 million, is the only life-size work of the artist to be in a public collection. Cavallino, dubbed ‘the Poussin of Naples’ for his poetic handling of his subjects, was one of the leading Neapolitan artists of the first half of the 17th-century. No doubt influenced by Jusepe de Ribera’s naturalism as well as by Anthony van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens, Cavallino was renowned for his small, sensitive paintings. His style is characterised by harmonious colours and virtuoso brushwork with stylised compositions. At 178.8 x 127 cm, Saint Bartholomew has been described as one of Cavallino’s best works – indeed it can be said to represent the full glory and emotionality of the Neapolitan Baroque school led by Caravaggio at its height. With its exhibition in Room 32 alongside other masterpieces from Italian Baroque artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi and Orazio Gentileschi, visitors can appreciate how vital a part this painting plays in telling the story of 17th century Italian art. The gallery already has another work by Cavallino – Christ driving Traders from Temple – but it does not have such a grand scale nor show off with quite so much emotional power as Saint Bartholomew does. 30 years after we last saw it go on public display (at Metropolitan Museum in New York), let us rejoice now that we… Read More
Buying art is possible – London’s Affordable Art Fair is in town
Walking around some of London’s most renowned galleries like the National Gallery, V&A or Somerset House, it’s easy to convince yourself you’ll never own anything nice for your own walls. Until, you stumble across quaint little (read: massive) art fairs like the Affordable Art Fair, that travels around the UK, and your thinking’s shifted. The Affordable Art Fair has revolutionised and democratised the art market with its fun and accessible approach, bringing art under £6,000 to its three UK locations: Battersea Park, Hampstead Heath, and Bristol, as well as an online shop. In fact, it was the Fair’s 20th birthday in early August 2019 and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down. Every fair offers something different, with a diverse range of local, national and international galleries showcasing art in an array of styles. Pieces by household names sit alongside the latest emerging talent. The concept has become a global phenomenon with 14 fairs in 11 cities across several continents. There’s a Fair on in Battersea from 17-20 October.
Autumn literature season at London’s Southbank stars Louis Theroux, Nadiya Hussain and more
Southbank in London, right along the Thames is where the city’s cultural centre really shines. From the National Theatre, to the Southbank Centre and the current Underbelly Festival that’s on right near The London Eye, there’s a lot to choose from; and now, thanks to the Southbank Centre, there’s even more. They’ve just announced their most jam-packed literature season to date with more than 35 events taking place from September to December 2019 across its three auditoriums: the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room as well as in its National Poetry Library, Hayward Gallery and foyer spaces. It’s a whole season of non-fiction talks and discussions with leading writers and thinkers on topics from atheism to parenting to talking to strangers. It’ll also come with a raft of activities by leading authors who’ll talk about all things fiction, TV faces and comedians, reflecting on their careers with the launch of new books, live readings, panel discussions and new creative writing and poetry courses. Here are some of the highlights to look forward to: Talks and in conversation events with leading writers and thinkers including psychotherapist Philippa Perry, science writer Richard Dawkins, cartoonist Randall Munroe, writer Will Self and journalist Malcolm Gladwell Appearances from TV personalities including documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux, Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski and The Great British Bake Off’s Nadiya Hussain who launch new books Comedians Richard Ayoade, in conversation with Adam Buxton, Sara Pascoe and Lenny Henry discussing new books whilst Hannah Gadsby brings her live show Douglas to Royal Festival Hall London exclusive appearances from award-winning fiction writers Malorie Blackman, Etgar… Read More
LONDON: Frantic Assembly celebrates turning 25 with a year of projects
They’ve just been announced as one of this year’s partners for the fifth running of the National Theatre’s River Stage, but that’s not all Frantic Assembly have up their sleeve in 2019. They’re a theatre company, known for their fearlessness and ambition; a set of skills that has them game enough to announce a years’ worth of work for them to look forward to. And that’s just the start. They’ve got a new website coming in July, heading theatre arena at Latitude Festival with a new show, Sometimes Thinking – celebration of the hours invested in daydreaming and fantasising about the people we could have been, the things we should have said, and who we might yet become – which will be performed at Latitude, 19-20 July. Not to mention, thought the full line up of what’s on offer for River Stage is yet to be announced, it’ll include a combo of works like Sometimes Thinking, the Frantic Megamix (a performance celebrating 25 years of Frantic Assembly) a movement demonstration from A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Frantic Family workshops, a return of the Fatherland Chorus of Others and special performances from our Ignition Graduates such as DJ sets from Lewis Griffiths and Stefan Janik. Oh, and they’ve also formed a new creative think-tank, The Assembly, consisting of an evolving group of artists, creative practitioners and advisors invited by the Artistic Director, who will meet quarterly to discuss the vision and ambition of the company. For more on what’s to come from… Read More
London’s National Theatre is back with River Stage for 5th year running
The free summer festival, hosted by the National Theatre on London’s thriving Southbank is back again. Complete with a full line-up of performances that span the gamut of drag, cabaret, acrobatics, singing and dancing, it’s an event, inclusive of all, that really puts the National Theatre and London arts on the map. The whole festival is about celebrating the best of British and International culture, drag artists and London’s green and blue spaces, including the River Thames. River Stage is on around the city, but has partnered with The Glory (gay bar 5-7 July), Shubbak Festival (Arabic entertainment spread, 12-14 July), National Park City Festival (19-21 July), Frantic Assembly (26-28 July) and the National Theatre itself (2-4 August). Subbak Festival Shubbak Festival will be bringing an international focus to the festival with Bricklab’s ‘Geographical Child’s Play’. Bricklab, the designers of the first Saudi pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale have created a new pop-up sculpture especially for Shubbak: 22 brightly coloured units equalling in number the 22 states of the Arab League. National Park City Festival To celebrate London becoming the world’s first National Park City, the Mayor of London’s National Park City Festival features a huge array of acts to celebrate everything green and wild about the city, including family favourites The Gruffalo and living costumes walkabout, the Grass Men, plus two large-scale outdoor dance theatre spectacles: the Urban Astronaut and BLOCK, which explore themes of air pollution and the challenges of living in an urban jungle. Frantic Assembly Frantic Assembly are celebrating their 25 anniversary this year, will offer the chance for everyone… Read More