You wouldn’t even dream of showing up at a wedding of the Royal Family or any other event of British High Society without wearing a hat, a mere hairstyle just won’t do. In cases of urgent necessity, there are plenty of prestigious designers capable of solving any and all such problems - from the haute couture creations of hat designer Philip Tracey to the jewels of Laura Catchart, there’s plenty to choose. To start learning a bit more and prepare yourself, all you need to do is take a look at the website of the Victoria & Albert Museum and have a look at its historic hat collection (exclusively online) which spans an amazing 17 centuries. What you discover is that the mere hat does not exist - there are more than you could ever imagine, an infinite number of shapes, all satisfying the most far-flung needs and tastes. You’ll never again think of the hat as a simple accessory. Its magic, its charm, it all depends on the power to transmit messages of authority, affiliation, individuality, property, rebellion and, of course, style.
In Upside Down, Alex Israel presents four monumental sculptures inspired by surfboard fins at Gagosian London. A simple shift in perspective turns an icon of Californian culture into a meditation on image, design and contemporary mythology.
At London's National Gallery, Thomas Gainsborough's celebrated masterpiece meets Yinka Shonibare's contemporary reinterpretation. A dialogue across centuries that explores power, identity and the legacy of colonial history.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's iconic rock opera returns to London's West End in a new production. Sam Ryder stars as Jesus, while Boy George takes on the role of King Herod in one of the most influential musicals of the past fifty years. A classic that continues to bring together biblical storytelling, rock music and contemporary theatre.
The Wulz Sisters and the Reinvention of Italian Photography
An exhibition that explores the work of Wanda and Marion Wulz, two leading figures in twentieth-century Italian photography. Through portraits, Futurist experiments and images of life in Trieste, the exhibition reveals how the sisters combined artistic innovation with professional practice.