Samurai Secrets & Glowing Words: This Week's Must-See Art Exhibitions
This week's art scene offers a remarkable journey from Japan's warrior past to contemporary political statements, with exhibitions across the UK showcasing everything from exquisite samurai craftsmanship to pioneering digital art.
Exhibition of the Week: Samurai at the British Museum
A tremendous and awe-inspiring exploration of Japan's legendary warrior class opens at the British Museum in London. The exhibition presents an extraordinary collection that goes far beyond the battlefield, revealing the sophisticated cultural world of the samurai.
Visitors will encounter sublimely crafted armour that appears almost darkly alive, alongside exquisite landscapes, delicate artworks, and even samurai erotica that entertained these warriors between conflicts. The show provides a comprehensive look at the artistic pursuits that delighted Japan's military elite, running from 3 February to 4 May.
Contemporary Highlights Across the UK
Julia Phillips presents unsettling sculptures at the Barbican Curve in London until 19 April, featuring uneasy conjunctions of metal and flesh that incorporate casts of the artist's own body.
Jenny Holzer, the pioneering political artist, brings her signature glowing text installations and searing statements to the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe from 31 January to 13 June.
Quentin Blake offers delightful portraits and whimsical images of flight at The Sherborne in Dorset until 12 April, showcasing the beloved illustrator's charming style.
Meanwhile, New Contemporaries at the South London Gallery until 12 April features emerging artists including Kat Anderson, Hadas Auerbach, and Deborah Lerner at the beginning of their promising careers.
Image of the Week: Richard Avedon's Working-Class Portraits
A new exhibition curated by Richard Avedon's granddaughter presents powerful portraits from his celebrated series In the American West. The collection captures diverse working-class subjects, from crying miners to birthday celebrants, body therapists, and meat packers.
One particularly striking image shows Petra, photographed on her birthday, posing with money gifted by family and friends to mark the occasion. These photographs continue Avedon's legacy of documenting American life with remarkable intimacy and respect.
Masterpiece Focus: Erminia Takes Refuge With the Shepherds
Currently displayed at the National Gallery in London, this painting from the Circle of Annibale Carracci depicts a scene from Torquato Tasso's influential poem Jerusalem Delivered. Created during a period when the Catholic church sought to revive Crusade-era passions, the work presents complex themes of love and identity across religious boundaries.
The painting shows Erminia, a Muslim woman who falls in love with Christian knight Tancred in Tasso's epic. Dressed in Roman-style armour rather than Crusader chain mail, she has removed her plumed helmet to reveal her long hair and feminine identity. The peaceful landscape, reminiscent of the Tiber River near Rome, offers sanctuary from the poem's wartime setting.
This Week's Art World Insights
- Robert Crumb continues to explore sexual themes through his distinctive artistic lens
- Photographer Don McCullin has shifted focus from war documentation to classical subjects
- Sibylle Fendt captures intimate moments of caregiving and mortality
- Pierre Huyghe introduces elements of uncertainty to Berlin's renowned Berghain club
- Former YBA Sue Webster celebrates her punk heritage in new paintings
- Níall McLaughlin receives architecture's highest honour for his exceptional work
- Artist Anne Imhof releases her debut musical album
- A new £1.5 million awards scheme launches to support visual art education across the UK
- Nature photography demonstrates therapeutic benefits for practitioners
From historical warrior culture to contemporary political commentary, this week's art offerings provide rich experiences for enthusiasts across the United Kingdom. Each exhibition tells a unique story, whether through centuries-old armour that seems to breathe with history or glowing words that challenge modern society.
