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#102
What's on this June:
Jane's Cultural Go-Tos
in London, Edinburgh and Dundee
in London, Edinburgh and Dundee

With galleries and museums finally opening again, it feels like there is a year’s worth of catching up to do in the world of art and design. We’ve missed being physically immersed in art and culture and are so excited to visit all our favourite spots. Below are AUTHOR founder Jane Adams’ favourites to visit in London, Edinburgh and Dundee if you’re needing a little inspiration of where to start.

Jane’s London Favourites

I LOVE London and I have a few suggestions that you may not know of when you need a little exhibition lift, a shot of inspiration, and the ability to look outward beyond the four walls of your own space and skin. Due to life, its demands, and my unrealistic expectations of what can actually be fitted into 24 hrs, I invariably find myself running around London post meetings trying to shoehorn in as much culture as possible before the stressy tube ride back to some departure lounge so this little triangle of spots works jolly well logistically.

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Connolly's London Shop on Clifford Street. Image from www.connollyengland.com

Tiny, authentic, exclusive, elegant and just intelligent in every way (all the things I’m going to be when I grow up) are packaged within the most beautiful Clifford Street, W1 building. Owned by the marvellous Isabel Ettedgui (Isabel’s husband Joe was founder of the eponymous Joseph), it is the home of Connolly, the luxury British 140-year-old heritage brand, that is all about leather and fast cars. Under the creative brilliance of Isabel, Connolly is enthusiastically leaping into a new phase, and their clothing and leather accessory pieces have a quiet elegance mixed with great British playfulness. I gave my 18-year-old a pair of their red leather driving goggles which I’m sure are modelled on Toad of Toad Hall’s style to celebrate his eventual passing of his driving test. Their stunning showroom space also houses exclusive exhibitions, and the first-floor drawing room has an ever-changing flow of stunningly unique artworks, host talks and is generally a haven of serenity and calm. A must visit, you need to ring a doorbell which frankly is always the sign of magic within.

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Interior of Connolly Clifford Street showroom, designed by Gilles & Boissier. Image by Michael Paul.

You can then nip round to Savile Row and jump into Hauser and Wirth’s street level gallery at no 23 which has recently opened with two exhibitions: Frank Bowling – London/ New York and Ellen Gallagher – Ecstatic Draught of Fishes. Just a quick stop to pour through their collection of coffee table art books before jogging down the road (possibly past Tracy Emin, I have now seen her twice when I have been doing that scoot) to the Royal Academy of Arts whose building, Burlington House, itself is worth soaking yourself in. Always a Turner and a Hockney to contemplate, they also house touring exhibitions as well as the famous Summer Exhibition. They opened on Tuesday 18th May and you can book in now for the David Hockney exhibition: The Arrive of Spring, Normandy, 2020 opening now until to 26th September. Whizz round, grab a coffee at the Poster Bar then Green Park Tube station is right there to head back to the airport.

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Poster Bar. Image from Royal Academy of Arts.

Much-loved Spots in Edinburgh

The Scottish Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh is always a must-see with both buildings now open, and is essential to run up, along, and round Charles Jencks’ grassy masterpiece…yes, run. Custom Lane in Leith is always a favourite of mine and where we hosted AUTHOR’s Edinburgh launch. They hold wide ranging exhibitions and talks and house the creators of arguably the most delicious coffee in Edinburgh; William & Johnston’s flagship café and roaster, you MUST stop by. Drop into achingly cool Kestin Hare Studio for made in the UK menswear when you’re there. The Fruitmarket Gallery, another favourite, is currently being refurbished and won’t open until July. Definitely somewhere to visit in the summer. I cannot wait to see what they have done with its redevelopment. Ingleby Gallery on Barony Street is open and will feature an exhibition of artist Jonathan Owen’s drawings and reformed marble bust sculptures from 29th May – 17th July.

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Charles Jencks' Landform, 2001. Image from National Galleries Scotland.

For something vibrant and different, Dovecot Studios is hosting an exhibition on the work of weaver Archie Brennan. Tapestry goes Pop is co-curated with National Museums Scotland and is an exhibition that explores the story and work of Edinburgh native Archie Brennan (1931-2019) who was a pop artist, weaver and former Mr Scotland to boot, I have to admit I didn’t know there was such a thing. His 60-year career as a weaver began at Dovecot and saw him travel the world, establishing and inspiring centres for Tapestry and Art in places such as Australia and Papa New Guinea. This retrospective exhibition brings together over 80 tapestries as well as archive pieces to explore Brennan’s contribution to modern art and weaving, bringing a contemporary twist to the heritage craft of tapestry. Open now until 30th August 2021 and advanced booking required.

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Archie Brennan's Muhammed Ali, 1973. Image from artfund.org

In our neck of the woods – Dundee

I can never get over the delight that we have a design museum right on our doorstep. The V&A Dundee is back with a bang, or a boogie rather, celebrating nightclub culture and design from the 1960s to today. Open now until 9th January 2022, Night Fever: Designing Club Culture delves into the history of nightclub design and explores iconic clubs from New York to Paris, Berlin to Beirut and even Detroit to Dundee. As conduits for escapism, nightclubs have always been spaces that encouraged experimental subcultures and brought together architecture, fashion, music, lighting and performance into an enveloping sensory design and experience. Not sure you can show me a better medium for levelling, barrier breaking, and immediate escapism than dance; such an uplifting shared experience and general joy giving. They have been sorely missed.

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Night Fever: Designing Club Culture. Image by Michael McGurk.

Scotland’s own distinctive club scene is explored, rediscovering celebrated club nights that were renowned across the country. As a regular of Glasgow’s Sub Club in my student days, I have so many fond memories of dancing the night away there. V&A Dundee is the only UK venue to host this exhibition that was developed by Brussels Design Museum and Vitra Design Museum. Advanced booking is recommended so get booking!

Supporting Local Talent

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DJCAD Degree Show when the AUTHOR visited in 2019

As AUTHOR is a Friend of the Show, I would also like to give a shout out to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design whose 2021 graduate showcase will be launched live and online on Friday 11th June at 6pm-8pm with the exhibition continuing online 12-20th June. The showcase celebrates the work of the art, design and architecture graduates. We love supporting up and coming talent and can’t imagine what the past year has been like for the students to try and create their work during these unprecedented times. We admire their dedication and passion to continue producing such high quality and inspiring work through it all.

Professor Anita Taylor, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone, said, “Our graduates represent the future of the creative and cultural sectors, and the future of society more widely. They have continued to produce excellent work in the most challenging of circumstances that have affected them this academic year and last. I very much hope you will support our graduates in their admirable achievements and will enjoy exploring the 2021 Graduate Showcase online.” The 2021 Graduate Showcase will be available to view online from 11 June here.

Hope you manage to get out there and immerse yourself in spectacular works of art and design at the amazing cultural spaces Britain has to offer. Let us know of any standouts or highlights that you’ve experienced recently in any galleries or museums – we want to know!

About the Author

jane

Written by Jane Adams, founder of Author Interiors. LinkedIn:

Read more about her here.

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