From Gothic fantasy illustrations to harrowing war photography, The Arts Desk has many visual arts offerings this week; by way of an exhibition that combines a 17th century Old Master with a modern abstract artist.
Fisun Guner was in for a visual treat when she visited the British Library this week. Showcasing a new archive of drawings, sketches and letters by the illustrator and author of the 'Gormenghast Trilogy', a gallery of selected artworks is presented in 'The Worlds of Mervyn Peake'. On display are illustrations Peake drew for his own books, as well as images he produced for the likes of Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll and rather more sobering sketches he made as a war artist witnessing first-hand the horrors of Nazi concentration camps.
Combining two important names in the world of visual art, 'Twombly and Poussin: Arcadian Painters' at the Dulwich Picture Gallery was next on Fisun's list of places to visit. In an attempt to generate fresh understanding of the works by Cy Twombly and Nicolas Poussin, their artwork was put alongside each other. This provided Fisun with a greater appreciation of Poussin's sensuous, erotic side, and a wish to see more of Twombly's rich, hearty paintings, although she believed a more fruitful pairing of artists might have been Twombly and Monet.
An exhibition at the British Museum that explores the importance of relics in the history of Christianity as a means of keeping the memories of the dead alive is 'Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe'. For centuries, hair, teeth, bones, clothing and eventually whole body parts of saints and martyrs would be ritualistically salvaged and enshrined in caskets and statues that were exquisitely crafted and are powerful symbols to this day.
Marina Vaizey's art review of the Royal Academy's exhibition 'Eyewitness: Hungarian Photography in the 20th century' was extremely complimentary. This collection of 200 stunning images ranges from Brassai's artists' portraits and scenes of Parisian nightlife to Capa's famous and controversial war photographs from the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.
Fisun Guner was in for a visual treat when she visited the British Library this week. Showcasing a new archive of drawings, sketches and letters by the illustrator and author of the 'Gormenghast Trilogy', a gallery of selected artworks is presented in 'The Worlds of Mervyn Peake'. On display are illustrations Peake drew for his own books, as well as images he produced for the likes of Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll and rather more sobering sketches he made as a war artist witnessing first-hand the horrors of Nazi concentration camps.
Combining two important names in the world of visual art, 'Twombly and Poussin: Arcadian Painters' at the Dulwich Picture Gallery was next on Fisun's list of places to visit. In an attempt to generate fresh understanding of the works by Cy Twombly and Nicolas Poussin, their artwork was put alongside each other. This provided Fisun with a greater appreciation of Poussin's sensuous, erotic side, and a wish to see more of Twombly's rich, hearty paintings, although she believed a more fruitful pairing of artists might have been Twombly and Monet.
An exhibition at the British Museum that explores the importance of relics in the history of Christianity as a means of keeping the memories of the dead alive is 'Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe'. For centuries, hair, teeth, bones, clothing and eventually whole body parts of saints and martyrs would be ritualistically salvaged and enshrined in caskets and statues that were exquisitely crafted and are powerful symbols to this day.
Marina Vaizey's art review of the Royal Academy's exhibition 'Eyewitness: Hungarian Photography in the 20th century' was extremely complimentary. This collection of 200 stunning images ranges from Brassai's artists' portraits and scenes of Parisian nightlife to Capa's famous and controversial war photographs from the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War.
About the Author:
Steve Alexander works as an arts writer in London and has a good knowledge of the visual arts world. For more information and the latest art review from the top exhibitions in the UK, visit theartsdesk.com.
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