Posted by Shane Scanlon
Hello to our lovely readers, it’s been a while. We’ve been swamped over here at DOUK. However, we haven’t forgotten about you (don’t worry). Is it too late to say happy new year? Probably…
With so many new and exciting things set to happen this year, we thought we’d shine a spotlight on one of our favourite attractions in this post. The V&A has so many great and interesting exhibits coming out this year, so we thought it only fair to share our insider knowledge with you, and let you know what’s coming up in 2018.
The V&A, or the Victoria and Albert Museum, has been around since the late 19th century, and is rich with history and intriguing exhibitions too. The museum has changed so much over the 100+ years it’s been around, with a host of almost 5,000 years’ worth of human creativity and innovation under it’s roof. The building itself is a marvel and is strikingly beautiful.
Below, you’ll find our top 5 exhibition picks coming to the V&A this year…
First on our list we have the Videogames exhibition, which runs between September 8th, 2018 into the new year of February 24th, 2019. This exhibition dives into the world of video games, and the resurgence happening within the expansive genre. Looking at a new wave of designers, players and critics who are enhancing and advancing the platform in new and exciting ways. This unique exhibition looks at videogames as a platform of design, art and experience (as opposed to being ‘a waste of time’ as cited from parents around the world).
This exhibition will look into the changes undergone since the mid-2000s, when this gaming renaissance began, and look at all the technological advancements that have happened over the past 18 or so years. Exploring the impact videogames have on the internet and social media too, with how this directly effects how games are played, discussed and designed. There’s loads of hands-on stuff to get involved with, and surely, you’ll find a few games to play as well.
For more information on this exhibit, you can click HERE.
This exhibition, sponsored by Viking Cruises, looks into the history of ocean travel. From Brunel’s 1859 steamship to the launch of the QE2 in 1969, this exhibition sheds a light on ocean travel like you’ve never seen before. This exhibition is already underway, and runs until early June this year, so be sure to hurry down to the V&A soon!
Featuring stories of the ships’ designs and all the innovative architecture behind the luxurious ships, there are more than 250 objects to see and learn about. Some of the highlights of the exhibition include a panel fragment recovered from the infamous Titanic’s first-class lounge and some art deco interiors of an early 20th century ship (Normandie) too.
Click HERE for more info on the current exhibit.
Up third, we have an exhibit that explores the relationship between fashion and nature. Fashioned from Nature looks at fashion from the early 17th century up until the modern day. Looking at fashion inspired by nature, as well as the raw materials that are in the fabric of the very clothes we wear. In this UK exhibition first, you will dive into and explore the relationship between fashion and the environment, looking at the impact of mass production and sourcing these materials has had on the natural world. Throughout this exhibit you’ll see items from the past 400 odd years, with some beautiful pieces of clothing as well as objects of protest against fashion’s ‘environmental crimes’.
Learn about the current research behind developing fashion fit for the modern ages, from eco-friendly sources materials and recycled food waste fibres too. It’s an exhibit that’s not one to be missed, and its prevalence is of the utmost importance in our current age. The exhibit includes work from designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and many, many more.
To find out more about this upcoming exhibit, click HERE.
From one of the most widely recognised, and most innovative, painters of the 20th century, Frida Kahlo is an icon of both art and fashion, crafting herself through dress and self-fashioning. For the first time outside of Mexico, this exhibition will be hosted by the V&A and will feature Kahlo’s clothing and personal possessions too. All of these items were discovered back in 2004, in the Blue House, following the opening of storerooms which have previously been sealed for fifty years. This ground-breaking exhibition will feature Kahlo’s iconic style, and how it presents her complex duality behind her Western and Mexican identity.
Highlights of this exhibit include some stunning hand-painted corsets, and iconic paintings such as My Dress Hangs There and The Love Embrace as well. This exhibition will run from mid-June until early November, so see it while you can!
For more info, click HERE.
We’ve previously written about this exhibit in another blog post, however we can’t get over how amazing this exhibition is going to be! This exhibit is the first of its kind for the V&A, as it looks into technology and how it is shaping the future and our current age. All of the items on display, are either in development or at prototype stage, so the future doesn’t seem so far off (you might say the future starts here…). From aerial unmanned drones to laundry folding robots, this exhibit has so much to see.
You can read our full post covering our exclusive press preview by clicking HERE. As for more information on the exhibit? If you want that, click HERE.
And that’s it from us! Hope you enjoyed our 5 V&A exhibits coming this year. If you want anymore information about upcoming events from the V&A and any of our other wonderful attractions, click HERE.
Shane loves the outdoors and travels around the UK visiting and reviewing all the top attractions.
