Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top 5 exhibitions to see in London that are open during the festive season (though not on the bank holidays). If you are looking for more exhibitions, check out his previous top 5.
This is a fantastic exhibition that examines how hippies and punks used the ‘dirty’ aesthetic and how discarded objects, such as bottles and broken plates, can be used to create fashionable outfits. Plus, it features truly experimental works in which dresses are buried and unearthed to explore how the earth itself can be part of the collaborative practice of making fashion. Finally, the exhibition doesn’t shy away from the environmental footprint of fashion and how repurposing objects can help the industry reduce its carbon footprint. Until 25th January, ticketed.
Laurence Edwards‘ monumental sculptures are often solitary and outdoors, and his gallery Messums has given us a chance to see many of them together under one roof in this cavernous exhibition space. The bronze works appear as if carved from wood and are brilliantly captured as they stand and ‘stride’ in the space. It’s also a great chance to see his smaller-scale sculpture alongside the larger pieces. Until 15th January, free.
Circular map of the world, washed in green, brown, blue and red, with text, including rubrication.
Airfields removed from aerial maps, secrets on how to build ships, and a beautifully detailed cross-section of a Kowloon district in Hong Kong before it was demolished are all part of this excellent exhibition. There are contemporary references as well, including a library created in Minecraft, a Where’s Wally battle of Troy and details from the student who was sued for tracking private jets of celebrities. War is a big part of the show, and it shows how spies communicated, how maps were used to justify the invasion of Iraq and how they have been used as tools of colonialism. Until 18th January, ticketed.
GB. London. Wellcome Collection. Thirst, In Search of Freshwater. Exhibition. 2025.
Another top-drawer exhibition from Wellcome tells the history of the quest for clean water, from the early days to contemporary photography documenting droughts worldwide. I particularly liked how much it focused on the Global South, where this is becoming a real issue. It also features a great mix of artefacts and artworks that cover why water is already becoming scarce and will likely become scarcer. Until 1st February, free.
Welcome to Christmas, Gary Card style. Yes, we have silver baubles, but they are amongst surreal caricatures and surrounded by screens that feel very trippy. It’s nothing like the Christmas shopping out on the street. So head downstairs in Flannels and descend into a festive world that’s unlike any other Christmas-themed show you’re likely to see. Until 7th January, free.
All images are the copyright of the respective artist and venue. Barbican photo copyright David Parry. Laurence Edwards’ image courtesy of Messums. Secret Maps image copyright of the British Library Board. Thirst photo: Benjamin Gilbert.
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Art Critic for both FAD and Londonist. See as many exhibitions as possible and write reviews, opinion pieces and a weekly top 5 for FAD.