British Museum – Toulouse-Lautrec Prints on Tour
Takhti, West African Sculpture, Greek Art and Chinese History
Nov 12, 2009
As well as a comprehensive programme of new exhibitions to be mounted in the British Museum itself, the BM will also be taking a number of touring exhibitions to venues across England. A varied series of shows will include High Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec Prints, Made in Africa: Portrait of an Ife Ruler and Takhti: a Modern Iranian Hero.
High Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec Prints
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) was inspired by the colourful nightlife of Montmartre where he settled in 1884. His prolific output depicts the actresses, dancers and prostitutes of the area and provides a fascinating glimpse into the seamier side of Parisian life at the time.
High Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec Prints will be on view at the following venues:
- Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool – 14th May to 8th August 2010
- Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art – 3rd September to 21st November 2010
- Bedford Museum – 15th January to 10th April 2011
- National Museum Wales, Cardiff – 23rd April to 17th July 2011
Made in Africa: Portrait of an Ife Ruler
This exhibition will make links to local collections and culture. The show will also explore the relevance of Ife (pronounced ee-fay) art to Nigerian culture in the 21st century. In the 12th to15th centuries the artists of Ife created stone, terracotta, brass and copper sculptures and developed their own unique style, unlike anything else in Africa at the time.
The show will provide a taster of the British Museum's forthcoming exhibition entitled Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures From West Africa which will be open in London from 4th March to 6th June 2010.
- Made in Africa: Portrait of an Ife Ruler will be on display in Manchester from 5th December 2009 to 7th February 2010.
China – Journey to the East
China is larger than the whole of Europe and has one of the fastest- growing populations in the world. More people speak Mandarin Chinese than any other language. This exhibition spans 3,000 years of Chinese history and culture through approximately 150 Chinese both ancient and modern,
One of the highlights of the exhibition will be a 300-year-old model of a theatre. Theatre-going was one of the main ways that people learned about their history and culture. Also on display will be roof tile depicting the Chinese general Guan Yu riding his horse. The artefact was made in North China, and dates from AD 1490-1620.
China – Journey to the East will be on view at the following venues:
- Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens – 29th January to 9th May 2010
- York Art Gallery – 22nd May to 15th August 2010
- Manchester Museum – 25th September 2010 to 26th June 2011
The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece
The British Museum will be displaying more than 120 items from its outstanding collection of Greek and Roman figures. The exhibition explores the human body as seen through ancient Greek eyes.
For more than 2,000 years the Greeks strove to represent the human form in both abstract and realistic ways. One of the highlights of The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece will be a Roman copy of the sculpture known as Discobolus, the discus thrower. The original, now lost, dates from approximately 460-450 BC.
- This exhibition will be on view at the National Museum of Korea from 20th April – 29th August 2010.
Takhti: a Modern Iranian Hero
Ghulamreza Takhti, the Olympic wrestler, known for his sense of fair play, his courage and his kindness, is held in high esteem by Iranians. The Iranian artist, Khosrow Hassanzadeh's (b. 1963) portrayal of Takhti provides a modern view of Iranian history, culture and religion. Through Hassanzadeh's eyes Takhti is seen as a hero in a land of heroes.
Takhti: a Modern Iranian Hero will be on view at:
- Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester – 20th February to 25th April 2010
- Hatton Gallery, Newcastle – 25th June to 15th August 2010
The British Museum has numerous exhibitions planned for 2010 and additional information will be found at British Museum – North American Plains Indians and British Museum – Leonardo da Vinci coming Soon.
Further information about touring exhibitions for 2010 can be obtained from the British Museum. Telephone +44 (0) 20 7323 8299. Tickets can be booked direct: +44 (0)20 7323 8181.
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