Must-see exhibitions
Don’t miss your chance to discover the remarkable story of one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures in the BP exhibitionIndigenous Australia: enduring civilisation, closing 2 August. This special exhibition features magnificent works of art alongside examples of practical objects of great beauty and efficiency. It’s also your last chance to see Ancient lives, new discoveries, which closes on 12 July. This groundbreaking exhibition has amazed visitors with fresh insights into life and death in the Nile Valley, presented using cutting-edge technology. Plus book now for our first exhibition of the autumn, Drawing in silver and gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns.
 |
Until 2 Aug 2015
‘fabulous’ ★★★★★ The Guardian
‘a wonderful journey’ ★★★★ Evening Standard ‘riveting... illuminating’ The Times
Discover the fascinating story of one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures. Indigenous Australian culture has continued for over 60,000 years in diverse environments, from lush rainforest and arid landscapes to inland rivers, seas and urban areas today. This exhibition is the first major show to explore Indigenous culture though objects, telling the remarkable story of how an ancient civilisation has endured and whose story is still unfolding today.
You can also enjoy a programme of related events, including films, curator introductions and lectures.
Look out for a special exhibition-themed set menu from 5 July at the Great Court Restaurant.
Supported by BP
Logistics partner IAG Cargo Organised with the National Museum of Australia |
 |
Until 12 Jul 2015
★★★★ The Telegraph
‘a revelatory show’ The Times ‘I was absorbed and utterly transported’ The Independent
Come face to face with eight people who lived in ancient Egypt and Sudan through the latest digital technology. Discover new information about each mummy, unravel the mysteries of mummification and gain an insight into their lives.
Sponsored by Julius Baer
Technology partner Samsung |
 |
10 Sep – 6 Dec 2015
Explore the development of the artistic technique of metalpoint from the Renaissance to the present, and discover how the technical challenge of the medium has inspired generations of artists.
This exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see around 100 exceptional drawings created using the exquisite metalpoint technique. It features works by some of the greatest artists working from the late 14th century to the present including Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein the Elder, Rembrandt, Otto Dix and Jasper Johns.
Organised by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in association with the British Museum
|
 |
 |
Marvel at Renaissance treasures in a new gallery (Room 2a). The Waddesdon Bequest is the superb collection left to the Museum in 1898 by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild. He originally displayed it in the New Smoking Room at his mansion, Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, after which the Bequest is named.
The Bequest consists of nearly 300 exceptionally important and beautiful medieval and Renaissance pieces, as well as a number of 19th-century forgeries, which tell fascinating stories about the development of the art market.
Funded by The Rothschild Foundation
|
|
 |
Until 16 Aug 2015
Printed propaganda that either reviled or glorified Napoleon.
Until 16 Aug 2015
This display features a magnificent 19th-century lyre from Nubia.
The Asahi Shimbun Displays
Until 15 Nov 2015
Explore the extraordinary medallic history of Louis XIV of France.
Until 6 Dec 2015
Discover a selection of clothing from the Pacific made of barkcloth.
|
|
 |
Fri 3 Jul, 18.30
Art dealer Rebecca Hossack chairs a panel discussion considering contemporary Indigenous Australian art and collecting. The panel includes Arjmand Aziz, SOAS, and art collector Dennis Scholl, founding chair of the Tate American Acquisition Committee.
£5, Members/concessions £3
Fri 10 Jul, 18.30
David Mabey and Anna Last from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine relate the history of trachoma in Africa, its cultural links and whether we are winning the battle against this disease.
Free, booking essential
Sat 11 Jul, 14.00
This film draws from the rich tradition of Indigenous Australian storytelling and uses music by the Pigram Brothers. With an introduction and Q&A by Lorraine Mortimer, University of Sydney.
£3, Members/concessions £2
Fri 17 Jul, 18.30
Turi King, University of Leicester, will discuss the rediscovery of Richard III, from the start of the project through to the various strands of analysis which led to the identification of the remains.
£5, Members/concessions £3
|
|
 |
Every year more than 3 million people see British Museum exhibitions and objects on show as part of touring exhibitions, spotlight loans or through work with partnership galleries. Catch these touring exhibitions and spotlight loans around the UK:
A Walk on the Wild Side includes some of the Museum’s world-famous prints and drawings by artists such as Rembrandt, Dürer and Goya. It’s on at Tunbridge Wells Museum until 20 Sep.
Contemporary Prints from Indigenous Australia features four dramatic and large-scale prints which depict aspects of the history and environment of the area that each artist comes from. This spotlight exhibition is at Bede’s World, Jarrow, until 6 Sep.
Food for Thought offers a new look at food in Roman Britain that brings together unique objects from the British Museum, Cirencester, Silchester and across the Roman Empire. The exhibition is at the Corinium Museum, Cirencester, until 5 July.
The Glenlyon and Breadalbane brooches are on spotlight loan to Perth Museum and Art Gallery until 20 Aug.
|
|
|
Also this month
|
 |
Barbican Centre
27 Jun – 26 Jul 2015
This summer you are invited to Doug Aitken’s ‘living exhibition’, bringing the creative worlds of visual art, music, dance and design together with more than 100 free events over 30 days and special ticketed evening events every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Royal Academy
4 Jul – 27 Sep 2015
Joseph Cornell created some of the most original art of the 20th century. Step into the spellbinding miniature worlds of his ‘shadow boxes’ at this landmark exhibition.
Almeida Theatre
Until Nov 2015
Inspired by the Festivals of Dionysos, the Almeida Theatre will host a festival of Greek-inspired drama, music, poetry and discussion. Highlights include a complete reading of Homer’s The Iliad by more than 50 artists, in association with the British Museum.
|
