On the peaks of the Andes or in the scorching desert heat, from as early as 2500 b.C., the populations of Perù gave life to blossoming civilisations, until the arrival of Europeans in the XVI Century. In occasion of the bicentennial of Peruvian independence, the British Museum celebrates the South American’s millennial culture with a grand exhibition. From the first indigenous people to the refined Incas, discover how the civilisations of the past developed in symbiosis with some of the most inhospitable environs of the planet, shaping remarkable living landscapes. The weather, agriculture, economy and systems of government are just some of the spheres in which Perù has expressed the uniqueness of its culture. This exhibition at the London museum offers a detailed analysis in an itinerary that moves from history to religion, highlighting the cultural conquests that, one by one, transformed the lives of the local population. Helping narrate are archeological finds chosen from the collection of the British Museum or brought in from Perù for the occasion. On display, ceramics, textiles, ritual accessories, jewellery and objects hewn from precious metals, but also photos and videos from iconic sites like Nazca and Machu Picchu, still-vivid witnesses to the splendour of Andean culture.
Platform is a new initiative to expand our exhibition programme with free annual exhibitions showcasing the work of a designer or studio that is impacting contemporary design discourse. The inaugural exhibition features the work of Bethan Laura Wood.
In London, at the unusual setting of the Royal Albert Hall, over 40 of Japan's finest maku-uchi rikishi (wrestlers) will compete, bringing with them the legacy of 1.500 years of Sumo.
The exhibition begins in the 1920s, when swimsuits began to be marketed for swimming and when seaside holidays became popular and explores the role of swimming in modern life up to the present day.
In 1924, the V&A received a gift of over 80.000 playbills, programmes and objects from collector Gabrielle Enthoven. The gift marked the beginning of the museum's collection of theatre material, which has since evolved into the UK's National Collection of Performing Arts.