The AnOther team compile their top things to see and do this April
The Best of Film
There are a lot of great cinematic releases set to brighten up this month. This Friday marks the much anticipated arrival of Noah Baumbach's latest offering While We're Young, starring Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a middle-aged couple who find their stagnant lives reinvigorated when they befriend twentysomething hipsters Jamie and Darby (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried). April 10 sees the release of Bypass – Duane Hopkins's poetic follow up to Better Things, tracing the story of a young man on the edge after his mother's death. While for music fans, the 10th signals the release of Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the first fully authorised Cobain documentary following the fated musician from his early years in Aberdeen, Washington, through his rise to fame and final downfall with Nirvana.
Two award-winning Swedish comedy-dramas make an appearance this month – Cannes sensation Force Majeure, which sees the unravelling of a seemingly perfect Swedish family when an avalanche interrupts their skiing holiday; and A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence, the third film in Roy Andersson's "living" trilogy, following a pair of traveling salesmen. Finally, The Barbican is revisiting two great documentaries to tie-in with their ReCollections exhibition – Grey Gardens, the brilliant exploration into the daily lives of the two Edies, the eccentric relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis; and Jon Ronson's documentary, Stanley Kubrick's Boxes– a fascinating study of the late director via his vast personal collection of memorabilia relating to his films.
A Greater Freedom: Hepworth 1965-1975 – April 18-April 2016; Hepworth in Yorkshire – May 16-September 6
To complement Tate Britain's anticipated Barbara Hepworth retrospective (opening in June), The Hepworth Wakefield presents a duo of exhibitions celebrating the life of the artist. Documenting Hepworth’s creative developments throughout 50 years of artistic activity – from childhood drawings and work relating to her family to later bronze pieces and prints – the displays will respectively examine the early and later years of the British sculptor’s prolific career.
Things to See at Tate Britain
Tate Britain is the place to be this month. We're particularly excited about Working Progress, a chance to see Nick Waplington's brilliant photographs tracing Alexander McQueen's creative journey in the run-up to the presentation of his final collection, The Horn of Plenty (A/W09). Featuring around 100 images, the behind-the-scenes display is the perfect supplement to the V&A's Savage Beauty exhibition and runs until May 17. Meanwhile, a new ethereal installation by British artist Christina Mackie has just been unveiled in the Tate's Duveen Galleries, featuring 12-metre-high, dipped silk nets suspended above pans of semi-crystalised dye. Awe-inspiring stuff. And while you're there, don't miss the opportunity to see Tracey Emin's iconic work, The Bed, newly reinstated in the gallery for the first time in 15 years.
Paul Smith and ToiletPaper pop up store – Until May 6; Pasted at La Rinascente – April 14-20
There are two major shop/artist collaborations to look out for in April. First Paul Smith is launching ToiletPaper's brilliant new collection of porcelain plates, coffee tables, mugs, mirrors, soaps and tea towels. The result of a collaboration between Italian Seletti and ToiletPaper, the new homeware range will be on sale at Smith’s pop up store in Floral Street. While the Serpentine Galleries will take over Milan’s upscale department store La Rinascente, covering the eight large-scale windows in 13 different wallpaper patterns by artists including John Baldessari and Ai Weiwei, alongside the screening of three special films choreographed by Malgorzata Dzierzon.
The EY Exhibition: Sonia Delaunay at Tate Modern – April 15-August 9
Tate Modern guides us through the vibrant career of avant-garde painter Sonia Delaunay in the first UK retrospective dedicated to the French artist. From her early days as figurative painter in the 1900s to her powerful abstract pieces in the 1960s, Delaunay’s work explored the worlds of painting, fashion and design. Presenting Delaunay’s original and creative output, the show will offer a re-evaluation of her artistic relevance in an examination of her colourful, experimental work.
Sensational Butterflies at the Natural History Museum – April 2-September 13
Watch caterpillars miraculously transform into butterflies at the Natural History Museum's Tropical Butterfly House this April. Featuring an outdoor butterfly garden, windows displaying the magical chrysalises and surprising facts about the world’s most beautiful insects, the museum's new exhibition is a rare opportunity to see varieties of butterflies and moths from foreign lands like Africa, Asia and South America.
On Belonging at the National Portrait Gallery – April 13-August 31; Deutsche Börse Photography Prize at the Photographers’ Gallery – April 17-June 7
The themes of identity and nationality are explored this month by two exhibitions in Central London. On Belonging at the National Portrait Gallery showcases photographer Ketaki Sheth's work with the Sidi people, an African minority living in India. Meanwhile the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize at the Photographers’ Gallery examines Nikolai Bakharev, Zanele Muholi, Mikhael Subotzky, Patrick Waterhouse and Viviane Sassen's different approaches to the medium, from Bakharev’s photographs of Russian bathers to Muholi’s monochrome portraits of black LGBTI identity in post-apartheid South Africa.
Pick Me Up: Graphic Arts Festival at Somerset House – April 23-May 4
Now in its sixth edition, this year’s Pick Me Up will feature a new batch of both emerging and established talent, who will present their work through discussions and live creations in front of visitors at Somerset House. From animation to risograph printing and paper craft, the UK’s annual contemporary graphic arts festival will be an opportunity to engage with the artists while exploring different working processes.
Tali Lennox: Layers of Life – Until April 19
Tali Lennox unveils her art to the American public with a solo exhibition at the Catherine Ahnell Gallery in New York City. A reaction to the state of social media dumbness we live in, Layers of Life is a collection of oil paint “selfies” inspired by the city, depicting the raw side of human nature and the honesty of emotions. In the month leading up to the exhibition, the model-turned-artist resided within the gallery, while she transformed the space into her own art studio.
Great Places to Eat...
It's an exciting month for the culinary world. Owners Brett Redman and Margaret Crow have chosen the prime intersection of Dalston, Haggerston and London Fields for the opening of their new restaurant The Richmond, East London’s first raw bar, serving high quality raw dishes alongside a selection of ethically sourced comfort food. Chef Martin Morales' newest offering, Ceviche Old Street, provides healthy, sustainable food, with a focus on authentic Peruvian cuisine. Occupying the former Alexandra Trust Dining Rooms, the restaurant is also home to an art gallery, displaying work by Peru's top contemporary artists.
All of This Belongs to You at the V&A – April 1-July 19
As the country takes part in an important political decision, this spring sees the opening of a new (and free) exhibition celebrating the V&A’s role as a public institution. Presenting 40 new acquirements, alongside a number of loaned items – including the hard drives where the documents that Edward Snowden leaked to the Guardian were stored – All of This Belongs to You features a number of diverse installations and encourages debate through a calendar of events.
Festivals to Book
Spring has arrived and with it the thought of summer festivals. A number of exciting line-ups have recently been announced. We're looking forward to the return of the Somerset House's Summer Series (July 9-19), this year featuring concerts from Belle & Sebastian and Angus & Julia Stone among others. Then there's new London festival Citadel (July 19), taking place in Victoria Park and getting off to a flying start with support from headliners Kurt Vile, Anna Calvi and Roots Manuva. Port Eliot Festival (July 30 - August 2) is always a joy – book now for thought-provoking talks, enchanting music, and delicious food in the stunning Cornish setting. And in September Portmerion's dreamy Festival Number 6 (September 3-6) returns with Grace Jones at the helm, alongside Kate Tempest, Everything Everything and Badly Drawn Boy.
