London, the capital and largest city in England and Great Britain with a lot to offer for lovers of history, art and more. There is no need to convince anyone that London is a city of culture. This is confirmed by a large number of galleries and museums (over 200) – there is plenty to choose from. The sight of people lining up and waiting to enter the museum is simply unbelievable. What attracts all these visitors? Of course, London’s museums offer endless possibilities for inspiration and exploration, with their world-class exhibitions and expositions.
1. TATE MODERN
Tate Modern is one of the most important museums of contemporary art in the world. Tate Modern has been influencing the world of contemporary art for the past two decades with bold exhibitions and a broad programme. Inside, visitors can view early twentieth-century British art as well as contemporary art from around the world. Tate Modern is a collection of modern art: paintings, sculptures, displays, etc., including works by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso and more well-known artists. The Tate Modern complex also stands out when compared to other museums or art galleries because of its size.
2. VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of art and design. Its mission is to promote art and educate in the field of artistic creativity and to make works of art accessible to all, educate the working class and inspire British designers and producers. The Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings cover two thousand years of art from all areas of life and all parts of the globe. Visitors can marvel at a magnificent environment filled with remarkable and gorgeous pieces of art. The museum’s richness and diversity are explained by its history. The V&A is enormous, with over 5,000 exhibits ranging from pottery, sculptures, goldsmiths, jewellery, and metal items to furniture, drawings, paintings, and photography. Lots of beautiful objects of applied art. There is a lot for eyes to feast on.
3. SAATCHI GALLERY
For anyone looking for modern art in London, the Saatchi Gallery is a must-see. Saatchi focuses on promoting emerging, unknown artists, which indeed differentiate the gallery from others. Many undiscovered artists, just after the exhibition in the gallery, started their careers. Artworks by artists from around the world, constantly updated expositions, the opening of new talents to the world of contemporary art make the Saatchi Gallery a magnet for art lovers and one of the most visited museums in London. Very minimalist interior furnishings give this place a specific atmosphere.
4. WHITE CUBE BERMONDSEY
White Cube Bermondsey opened its doors in 2011 in a former warehouse space. It is one of the largest and the most influential private galleries in Europe, worth visiting. White Cube’s exhibitions are held in three locations: Bermondsey in South London, Mason’s Yard in St. James’s, London, and the Central District of Hong Kong, as well as online. Its interior, an enormous room with polished concrete floors and the ubiquitous white, provides an excellent backdrop for contemporary art. The idea is to provide a small space where artists can exhibit a single significant work of art or a cohesive body of work in a focused setting. It is here that Gilbert & George, Tracey Emin and Miroslaw Balka exhibited their works.
5. NEWPORT STREET GALLERY
The public art gallery in Vauxhall, London, is the product of a restoration project using ancient industrial buildings from the Victorian era. Newport Street Gallery is Damien Hirst’s gallery opened in 2016, in which the artist mainly shows collections from his private collection. Hirst’s long-held dream of sharing his art collection with the public has come true with the opening of the gallery. The place became famous for a large exhibition of new works by Jeff Koons. The architecture of the gallery is also interesting – the facade outside and the staircase inside. The renovation of an outstanding terrace of historic industrial buildings into this private gallery in Vauxhall was a passion project.
London is one of those cities where you can spend a few weeks and still discover new museums and galleries. Tourists most often visit Tate Modern, Victoria & Albert or the National Portrait Gallery. And, while these organisations have excellent collections, it is also worthwhile to visit smaller, lesser-known galleries in London, which exhibit the work of the best contemporary artists. Unquestionably, London is a city for people who love art and culture. It doesn’t matter if they prefer it in a non-commercial, tiny off-site gallery or in a popular museum, they will find everything that they are looking for.
You must be logged in to post a comment.