Plunge into Cambridge’s art scene this month and discover a melting pot of work – from ancient Chinese objects to Mediterranean coastal scenes, and a lockdown-inspired creation from Grayson Perry
Summer Scenes
Don’t miss your last chance to visit The Liberty of Doubt, Ai Weiwei’s exhibition at Kettle’s Yard, which shines a light on the contrasting attitudes of China and the West towards truth, authenticity and value. Dive a bit deeper with a lunchtime talk on 9 June featuring Rosie Cooper and En Liang Khong, who will unpack the complex interplay of ideas behind this thought-provoking display, open to the public until 19 June.
Meanwhile, at the Fitzwilliam Museum, a new exhibition has opened that complements its must-see Hockney show. True to Nature is a celebration of open-air painting, with over 120 luminous landscapes from the Fondation Custodia in Paris, the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and the Fitzwilliam Museum’s own collection. The display explores how artists across Europe became enamoured with plein air painting in the 18th and 19th centuries, depicting dramatic skies, rugged rocks, grottoes, volcanoes, trees and bodies of water – from the tranquil to the tumultuous.
Byard Art is riding the wave when it comes to watery landscapes with its brand-new Coastal Exhibition, running from 26 May until 26 June, perfectly setting the scene for hazy summer days. Keep an eye out for Benedict Doonan’s azure art punctuated by pastel tones, and Kate Aggett’s magnificent multimedia landscapes, capturing the stunning light only found by the coast on a blazing hot day.
Discover Extraordinary Objects’ most recent acquisitions, including ‘The Twelve Ink Washes’ from Gilbert and George, handmade by the artists to mark the Serpentine’s 50th anniversary. These bolshie artworks centre on swear words and slogans commonly heard in urban settings, enticing the viewer to theorise and explore their messages. From the urban to the suburban, Grayson Perry’s ‘England as seen from Lockdown in Islington’ conveys the stifling atmosphere of quarantine in suburbia, while depicting how our imagination allowed us to travel regardless. The works will be on display throughout June.
