We love art! And what better way to spend time during the winter than going to the museums, learning new things and enjoying the carefully prepared exhibitions. And even if the winter makes you a bit lazy, just relaxing in the cosy ambiance of your home, these exhibitions are well worth the visit!
1. Francis Bacon: Man and Beast
Royal Academy, London, until 17 April 2022.
There is something both majestic and disturbing at the same time about Francis Bacon’s work. Growing up on a farm as a son of a horse breeder, the artist was always fascinated by animals, which influenced his work greatly, even in the approach to the human figure. He used to spend hours at Regent’s Park zoo, observing animals and his studio was filled with photographs of animals in motion. In this large-scale exhibition, the Royal Academy explores the artist’s fascination with animals and the influence it had on his portrayal of humans displaying 45 paintings created over a period of 50 years.
2. Piet Mondrian: From Figuration to Abstraction
Mudec, Milan, until 27 March 2022.
There are not many artists that are so instantly recognizable like Piet Mondrian – his geometrical, abstract paintings, usually consisting of grids od black lines with yellow, blue, red and white surfaces, influenced not only a number of artists but also designers who applied the patterns from fashion to appliances. Interestingly enough, Mondrian started with abstraction when almost 50 years old and this exhibition explores the work before and what led to his most popular phase – definitely not to miss!
3. Remy Jungerman, Behind the Forest
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, until 13 March 2022.
With Stedelijk Museum celebrating the Surinamese painting last year through an exhibition of work by over 35 artists, the solo exhibition of Remy Jungerman comes as an excellent continuation. Born in Suriname, Remy Jungerman is an artist who, with his sculptures, collages and installations bring his heritage of the Maroon culture to a different type of life. In the exhibition Behind the Forest, the artist, who went to art school in Paramaribo and completed his artistic training in Amsterdam at Rietveld Academy, makes parallels between Modernism and traditional textiles of the Maroon culture, connecting and interweaving the cultures that define him – the ones of Surinam, the Netherlands and the United States.
4. A Bra Ka Da Bra – The Magic of Contemporary Art
Reykjavik Art Museum, Iceland, until 20 March 2022
Located in three buildings and with over 17 thousand artworks, the Reykjavik Art Museum truly encompasses the magic of art and the exhibition Abrakadabra is the perfect setup to show the essence of today’s art, methods, subjects and materials. All the works presented are in the collection of the Reykjavik Art Museum and the exhibition and the presentation and education is aimed at a younger audience to open up a discussion of today’s art, what it means and how it is perceived.
5. “Yves Saint Laurent aux MusĂ©es”
MusĂ©e d’Art Moderne de Paris, Centre Pompidou, MusĂ©e d’Orsay, MusĂ©e National Picasso Paris, MusĂ©e Yves Saint Laurent Paris, MusĂ©e du Louvre, until 15 May 2022.
And finally an exhibition for all the fashionistas! To celebrate 60 years from the first fashion show by Yves Saint Laurent, six Parisian museums have collaborated on an exhibition across the city, celebrating the fashion designer who often sought inspiration in the very museums that are involved. For this occasion, his creations will be paired with the works of artists such as Matisse, Picasso and Mondrian, correlating with the works. For example, in MusĂ©e d’Orsay there his fascination with Marcel Proust will be thematised, which most likely inspired the creation of the first women’s tuxedo ‘Le Smoking’ while in the MusĂ©e National Picasso will show the Spanish artist influenced on the designer through Ballets Russes” sets and costumes.
