Culture journal: six things to do in September
From 500 years of Pacific culture to campfire cooking sessions soundtracked by Norman Jay… here’s what we’re looking forward to this month…
Of course, this September sees the return of the London Design Festival (15-23 September) – which is so wide-ranging it requires its own recommendations. Look out for our highlights (including London Design Fair’s British Craft Pavilion, curated once more by Hole & Corner) later in the week. In the meantime, here’s what’s getting us excited over the coming month…
Oceania
Royal Academy, from 29th September
Following on from their masterful Summer Exhibition, the RA in London continues the celebration of its 250th year with a packed autumn schedule, including a retrospective of the architect Renzo Piano and their thought-provoking Festival of Ideas; but we are most excited about Oceania, which brings together 200 works celebrating over 500 years of art and culture from the Pacific, incorporating sacred objects, navigational maps and contemporary artworks (New Zealand and Kingdom of Tongo passport holders go free).
The Good Life Experience
Hawarden, Flintshire, 14th-16th September
Mixing craft demonstrations, explorations of the great outdoors and campfire cooking sessions alongside the usual music and talks programme, The Good Life Experience always offers that little bit more than your average festival. This year highlights include DJ sets from Norman Jay MBE and Trevor Nelson, and live music from H&C favourites Darren Hayman, Bill Ryder-Jones, Erland Cooper and Gwenno, plus a fascinating conversation between punk legend turned ‘memoirist’ Viv Albertine and our contributing editor Jude Rogers (all courtesy of our friends at Caught by the River, bringing their good vibes to Flintshire once more).
Beijing Design Week
Beijing, 26th September – 5th October
It’s not all about London this month: China’s biggest design even returns with a celebration of one of the world’s most exciting emerging artist communities, with events and exhibitions spread across the city, from its famous hutongs to its growing number of industrial warehouses.
Charleston Barns and Galleries
Charleston Farmhouse, East Sussex, from 8th September
This autumn finally sees the opening of the newly renovated barns and galleries at Charleston. Once home to Bloomsbury artists Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, the charming Sussex farmhouse has never had the space (or indeed the security) to host major exhibitions – despite its influence in introducing some of the major figures in modern art to the UK.
The inaugural exhibitions include Orlando at the Present Time (inspired by the novel Orlando by Bell’s sister Virgina Woolf) and Bell and Grant’s Famous Women Dinner Service – a set of 50 plates, each depicting the portrait of a famous or influential woman throughout history, commissioned by the art critic Kenneth Clark in 1932 – the first the set has returned to its spiritual home.
The Marvellous Mechanical Museum
Compton Verney, until 30th September
A last chance to see this fascinating celebration of automata and clockwork sculpture, covering five centuries-worth of ingenuity and frivolity including works by Pierre Jaquet-Droz, Jane Edden, Rowland Emett, Ron Fuller, Rebecca Horn and Paul Spooner.
Homo Faber
Venice, 14th – 30th September
A major exhibition showcasing the very best in European craftsmanship and its link to the world of design, Homo Faber preaches many of the values that Hole & Corner holds dear: ‘As today’s technology-driven society pushes us to move faster, consume more and think less, Homo Faber invites you to slow down, take a breath, and meet the people choosing a different approach…’ we couldn’t put it better ourselves. Watch this space for our review later in the month…
