After six years of inspiration and imagination, construction upon the V&A’s new entrance on Exhibition Road opens to the public. Transforming not only the new walkway from the road into the museum, but also injecting development into the former boiler house yard to unveil three new major spaces. With purpose-built galleries just for temporary exhibitions, the Exhibition Road Quarter will showcase he best of contemporary design, in this V&A revamp which offers so much more than just space.
Championing homegrown talent, the V&A worked exclusively with Amanda Levete Architects for this project to be able to deliver the first porcelain-tiled Sackler public courtyard in the UK. Paved with 11,000 handmade tiles this new build is a decretive wonder across the board, a large success for the V&A’s largest architectural intervention in over 100 years. Amanda Levete of sterling prize acclaim, along with her team has delivered a reconfigured colonnade which now boastfully invites visitors into the museum in a sight that screams open plan modernism. The heavy reconstruction is formed from the Aston Webb screen, a listed Portland stone structure built in 1909, which was once identifiable as the face of the V&A but was largely dated. The choice of porcelain material throughout responds exactly to the fabric of the original building and its collections, which showcase numerous striking examples of 19th century decorative ceramics. It is by this approach of recognising and respecting tradition but confidently applying modernisation, that AL_A Architects have managed to achieve such an enchanting restoration of one of the UK’s best loved museums.
The V&A exhibition road quarter is a reflection of the pioneering identity of the V&A and continues its mission of innovation into the twenty-first century.
The first of the three newly designed spaces ‘The Sainsbury Gallery’ will be one of the largest temporary exhibition spaces in the UK, being a 1,100 square metre column-free scope. Giving art the stage to shine, this will ultimately improve the way the V&A designs and presents its world class exhibition program. Now working with space and not against it, the gallery sits above a floor solely dedicated to art handling and conservation, allowing for valuable spotlight to be put upon art’s keeping. With the art now in full sanctuary, the dedication of an interlinked entrance sequence allows for an integrated journey through the V&A. Continuing internally, the Blavatnik Hall leads to a new shop and this is further connected to the historic ceramic staircase. In a true elevation of perspective, for the first time since its completion in 1873 the previously hidden facades of Aston Webb’s original buildings and meticulous sgraffito decorations will be publically visible from the courtyard.
‘Reveal’ festival, the museum will host a week-long series of free public events set to introduce a new idea of what a museum space can encompass to awaiting audiences. Fusing cross disciplines, worlds such as fashion and music will meet to form digitally-themed experiences, from a night with Boiler Room to immersive light experiences by Simon Heijdens. From revamp to reveal, the V&A are looking forward like never before. Concept ‘Fashion in Motion’ will also run, excitingly showing four catwalk shows in the new Sainsbury Gallery, featuring Molly Goddard, British Emerging Talent winner at the 2016 Fashion Awards. Not just a week-long promotion of self-indulgence, the urge to visit the Exhibition Road Quarter spaces for yourself is pushed to priority, the concept of the Reveal festival being perfect reason to immerse in new experiences of art.
Summer showcase standouts
‘Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains’ at the V&A 13th May until 1st October 2017
Incredibly, this is the first international retrospective of one of the world’s most iconic British bands, musically and visually. This travel through time is imaginatively conceived, visually striking and inclusive within atmosphere throughout. Following the music, design and staging the image of Pink Floyd from the 1960s to present day is explored, given to us by the curators of the championed exhibit ‘David Bowie Is’ in 2013. Social contexts woven into displays of unimaginable set designs, this exhibition is extensive and powerful on an immensely high level. Just as they did for Bowie and McQueen, this is a fitting tribute to the best of British.
‘Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion’ at the V&A 27th May until Sunday 18th February 2018
Balenciaga is a fashion house that understands almost like no other, the close relationship between fashion resting upon art. This exhibition explores what creativity within dress is capable of creating, with over 100 pieces crafted by ‘the master’ of couture Cristobal Balenciaga. A truly brilliant retrospective, innovative designs which largely shaped modern fashion are on display, with the iconic spiral silk hat and ‘envelope’ dress taking centre stge.
‘Perfume: A Sensory Journey through Contemporary Scent’ at Somerset House 21st June until 17th September 2017
A new perfume exhibition at Somerset House takes audiences on an invigorating thrill through the senses. Leading through a tale of discovery across the last twenty years, the exhibition features ten outstanding perfumes which have radically changed our thinking of what a fragrance is and what it symbolises. Not just a room full of rose petals, this presentation of beauty surprises and outranges at times with sweet and smoke delights not just fitting for modern ‘fumeheads.’ Taken from each decade of the 20th century, from L’Origan de Coty of 1905 we progress through to CK One of 1994, which established itself as the original gender-neutral fragrance of the western perfume world, leading the ‘clean scent’ trend. This therefore inherently is not an exhibition of vanity, but a collection of key social signifiers which can teach us a great deal about our attitudes of then and now. Outside of the exhibition, perfume lab residencies are held into July, with experts such as Timothy Han, who explore the art and science of crafting a fragrance, offering a truly special insight.
To find out more about the Reveal festival at the V&A visit:
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/reveal
To book tickets for ‘Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains’ visit: https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/whatson/index/view/id/3555
To book tickets for ‘Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion’ visit: visit:https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/whatson/index/view/id/4741
To book tickets for ‘Perfume: A sensory Journey’ visit: http://tickets.somersethouse.org.uk/sales/perfumeasensoryjourney
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