insideKENT Magazine Issue 54 - September 2016 | Page 20

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT ART IN THE CAPITAL London, our fabulous capital city, is considered one of the best places in the world for finding exceptional, beautiful, quirky art. Whatever the medium, whoever the artist, no matter what the cost, as long as it evokes some kind of emotion, art is sure to find a home in London. Tate Modern There are an estimated 1,500 gallery spaces within the city itself, as well as a huge number of art museums, so whether you’re into expressionism, cubism, paintings, photography, sculpture, or anything else, you will find an exhibition letting you find out even more about it. And best of all, the majority of these galleries and museums are completely free to enter, allowing everyone to enjoy and experience art in the way its creator intended. So where are these museums, and what will you find there? Here are some of the best… National Gallery The National Gallery is one of the most iconic art museums in London. Open 361 days a year, this is where the public can go if they want to see some of the most famous paintings in the world. Works of art from the 13th to the 19th century are housed here, showing how diverse the different artists’ styles were over the years. It is fascinating to compare these styles and spot the tell-tale signs of who painted what. September is a great month for exhibitions at the National Gallery, including Painters' Paintings: From Freud to Van Dyck and George Shaw: My Back to Nature. Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN 020 7747 2885 www.nationalgallery.org.uk Victoria & Albert Museum There are over 4.5 million objects within the walls of the impressive and unforgettable Victoria & Albert Museum. These objects represent every kind of art, and every kind of artist, offering the public a unique chance to see many different versions of what someone calls ‘art’ under one roof. Apart from the permanent exhibitions, there are always a number of temporary ones on show. In September 20 this includes Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery and Engineering the World: Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design. Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL 020 7942 2000 www.vam.ac.uk Tate Modern London’s Tate Modern, part of the phenomenally exciting and famous Tate group, is home to some of the most thought provoking, evocative and provocative pieces of art in the world. This is where those who think just that little bit differently (and want others to think that way too) can show their creations, and it is where discussions can take place between complete strangers who want to talk about the incredible art that they are seeing. The museum itself is a stunning building, based in the former Bankside Power Station, and it is one of the largest museums of modern art in the world. In September, there are some wonderful exhibitions taking place including Georgia O’Keeffe and Living Cities. Bankside, London SE1 9TG 020 7887 8888 www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern