New exhibitions | Edmund de Waal: library of exile

Free exhibitions March 2020

Edmund de Waal: library of exile Until 8 September 2020 Room 2   Created as a 'space to sit and read and be', library of exile is an installation by British artist and writer Edmund de Waal, housing more than 2,000 books written by exiled authors.  Alongside the books hang de Waal's own vitrines, psalm, I-IV, holding pieces of porcelain, marble and steel. The external walls of the installation are painted with liquid porcelain onto which de Waal has written the names of lost libraries of the world.  From performances and festivals to lectures and a series of panel discussions in collaboration with English PEN, there is a rich and diverse series of events accompanying the exhibition. Find the full programme here › Supported by AKO Foundation

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More to see for free

Currency in crisis: German emergency money 1914–1924 Until 29 March 2020 Room 69a   Notgeld, or 'emergency money', from the early Weimar Republic, is a powerful illustration of the turbulent social, political and economic landscape during and after the First World War in Germany. Decorated with richly illustrated designs featuring regional landmarks and folk narratives, the temporary currency responded to a national crisis, with patriotic and sometimes subversive messages.    Supported by Arts & Humanities Research Council

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French Impressions: prints from Manet to Cézanne Until 9 August 2020 Room 90 As Paris exploded with life and creativity in the 19th century, Impressionist artists experimented with printmaking, producing striking images of city life which reflected the vibrant world they lived in and the exciting possibilities of the medium.  Drawing on the Museum's rich collection of prints – from Manet and Morisot to Cassatt and Cézanne – explore the flourishing french print movement of the 1800s in this exhibition.  Supported by Ronald E Bornstein

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Piranesi drawings: visions of antiquity Until 9 August 2020 Room 90 Step back in time in this landmark exhibition, showcasing the Museum's collection of drawings by the artist, from 18th-century Rome to the ruins of Pompeii. Immerse yourself in a fantastical world, and track Piranesi's evolution through chalk studies and ink sketches, as well as his atmospheric etchings. Supported by Tavolozza Foundation

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Geoffrey Clarke: a sculptor's studio Until 19 April 2020 Room 90a Celebrating the life and work of the prolific post-war sculptor George Clarke, this new display will explore the artist's creative process through his medals, prints, sketches and notes.  Clarke was a hugely influential sculptor in the mid-20th century, and worked on prestigious projects of the period including Coventry Cathedral and the Festival of Britain. Learn how the artist translated his ideas from paper to bronze, and viewed a print not as a flat object but as a three-dimensional work of art in this free display.

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