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 February is a tres chic month with the latest trends revealed at London Fashion Week and a display of designer hats next door the V & A, not to mention the flashing of sequins as Strictly Come Dancing comes to the stage. On a less sartorial note, February 12th marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin, while the 19th sees the opening of Shah Abbas, the first of three blockbuster exhibitions at the British Museum this year.
 Destinations - The Holiday and Travel Show Earls Court Exhibition Centre, SW5 9TA 5th February 2009 - 8th February 2009 The only really sensible cure for the dragging tail-end of winter is to do some serious thinking about the glamorous spots you could be jetting off to in a few months time. From trekking across high mountains to diving through deepest seas, there is a wealth of options on display at this holiday and travel show to suit all tastes (though it's definitely aimed at those with larger budgets). Celebrity speakers at Earls Court include BBC presenters Dan Cruickshank and Kate Humble, actor and motorcyclist Charley Boorman and travel expert Simon Calder. There's also a 'Meet the Expert' theatre where you can book in for sessions with celebs as well as other travel experts. Venue: Earls Court Exhibition Centre Address: Warwick Road, SW5 9TA Phone: 0871 230 7141 Date: 5th February 2009 - 8th February 2009 Time: Thu 10am-8.30pm, Fri to Sun 10am-5.30pm Pricing: £10 (Advance), £12 (On the Door), FREE (Under 12s), £6 (Late night opening on Thu after 5pm) Nearest Station: Earls Court Tube Destinations - The Holiday and Travel Show - Information   Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour!The O2, SE10 0PE 5th February 2009 - 8th February 2009 As reality TV shows go, especially ones with Brucie "Nice to see you..." Forsyth CBE presenting, this one’s really rather good. 'Strictly Come Dancing' appeals to every generation. You can watch it with your mum and, try as you might, you can't resist having an opinion about Rachel Stevens' dress, Tom Chambers' Argentine Tango, Craig Revel Horwood's quiff, Bruce's jokes and who fancies who. If you've ever watched at home on a Saturday night and wished you could be in the studio audience, now's your chance as 'Strictly' goes on tour. The live shows, coming to the O2's vast arena (and before this, Wembley Arena for two nights) follow much the same format as the BBC series - basically, the celebs with their professional dance partners take to the floor before the judges tear them to shreds or sing their praises. Still, if you're a 'Strictly' fan, you’ll have a ball! Venue: The O2 Address: Peninsula Square, SE10 0PE Phone: 08448 560202 Date: 5th February 2009 - 8th February 2009 Time: £35, £42.50, £55 Pricing: Thu to Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm, Sun 1.30pm & 6.30pm Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour! - Information  Happy Birthday Charles DarwinNatural History Museum, SW7 5BD 12th February 2009 February 12th marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin and to honour the occasion there's a supporting series of nationwide events. In London, these celebrations focus, naturally enough, on the Natural History Museum. Among the events at the museum is a new permanent artwork called 'Tree' by Tania Kovats, and 'Darwin' - an exhibition dedicated to the life of the great scientist. Also in London, the author of the influential 'On the Origin of Species' is celebrated at Conway Hall at the annual Darwin Day Lecture, when Sir David King talks on issues that Darwin would have keenly debated, including the future of science in Britain. There's a useful website www.darwin200.org with full listings of events taking place across the country. Venue: Natural History Museum Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD Phone: 020 7942 5000 Date: 12th February 2009 Time: Darwin exhibition Daily 10am-5.30pm Pricing: Darwin exhibition £9 (Adults), £6 (Concs), £4.50 (Children) Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Happy Birthday Charles Darwin - Information  Rodchenko & Popova: Defining ConstructivismTate Modern, SE1 9TG 12th February 2009 - 17th May 2009 The term Construction Art was first used by Kazimir Malevich to describe the work of Russian avant-garde artist Alexander Rodchenko in 1917, in less than flattering terms. Tate Modern's exhibition uses over 350 art objects, largely by Alexander Rodchenko and Lyubov Popova, to illustrate the intellectual concerns of the Constructivism movement. Rodchenko and Popova, leading lights of Russian Constructivism, believed art should be used for practical purposes, to transform everyday life. Works proving their point include abstract paintings, three-dimensional constructions, posters, books, and costumes, the influence of which can still be seen in everything from cinema to graphic design today. Venue: Tate Modern Address: Bankside Power Station, SE1 9TG Phone: 020 7887 8888 Date: 12th February 2009 - 17th May 2009 Time: Sun to Thu 10am-6pm, Fri & Sat 10am-10pm | Last admission into exhibitions 5.15pm (Fri & Sat 9.15pm) Pricing: £9.80 (Adults), £8.80 (Over 60s), £7.80 (Concs). Joint ticket with Roni Horn £14.70. Booking fee applies. Nearest Station: Blackfriars Tube/Rail Rodchenko & Popova: Defining Constructivism - Information  Brit Insurance Design AwardsDesign Museum, SE1 2YD 12th February 2009 - 14th June 2009 The House of Viktor & Rolf, the Big Brother logo and Oslo Opera House are all up for discussion at the Brit Insurance Design Awards. This small selection just goes to show the diversity of design considered for this prestigious prize. The awards, chaired by Alan Yentob, are divided into seven categories: Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Interactive, Product and Transport. These are designs that surround us, influence us or affect us daily. Environmentally considerate designs are especially encouraged - as last year's winner, One Laptop per Child, shows. A long-running and undoubtedly popular event for 2009. Venue: Design Museum Address: Shad Thames, SE1 2YD Phone: 0870 833 9955 Date: 12th February 2009 - 14th June 2009 Time: 10am-5.45pm (last admission 5.15pm) Pricing: £8.50 (Adults), £6.50 (Concs), £5 (Students), FREE (Under 12s) Nearest Station: Bermondsey Tube Brit Insurance Design Awards - Information  Mark Wallinger's The Russian LinesmanSouthbank Centre: The Hayward, SE1 8XZ 18th February 2009 - 4th May 2009 Football is the unlikely premise for this group exhibition at the Hayward, the first to be curated by 2007 Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger. The Russian Linesman of the show's title refers to the referee who called a controversial line decision in the 1966 World Cup final between England and Germany. In taking this as his starting point, Wallinger examines how boundaries and perceptions can shift. The artist-turned-curator uses art works spanning 800 years, including pieces by Albrecht Durer, trompe l'oeil paintings and Victorian stereoscopic photographs to make his point. Venue: Southbank Centre: The Hayward Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 8XZ Phone: 0871 663 2519 Date: 18th February 2009 - 4th May 2009 Time: Daily 10am-6pm (Fri 10pm) Pricing: £7 (18th Feb-3rd Mar), £9 (4th Mar-4th May) Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube/Rail Mark Wallinger's The Russian Linesman - Information  Shah Abbas: The Remaking of IranBritish Museum, WC1B 3DG 19th February 2009 - 14th June 2009 Following sell-out shows of the Chinese Terracotta Army and Hadrian, the British Museum has established itself as a pioneering force for blockbuster exhibitions. This year, the museum kicks things off with a display dedicated to Shah Abbas in the central, circular Reading Room space. A significant figure in the history of Iran, Shah Abbas ruled the country for over forty years, from 1587 to 1629 and is still regarded as one of country's founding fathers. Battles and trade laws established under his rule forged the boundaries of the country today. In the exhibition are four key sites: Isfahan (or Esfahan) and the three Shi'i shrine cities, Mashhad, Ardabil and Qum. On display are loans of important paintings, manuscripts, ceramics, silks and carpets, many never before seen outside of Iran. Venue: British Museum Address: Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Phone: 020 7323 8181 Date: 19th February 2009 - 14th June 2009 Time: 10am-5.30pm | Selected galleries are open late Thu & Fri | Closed Good Friday Pricing: £12 (Adults), £10 (Concs & 16-18 Years) Nearest Station: Holborn Tube Shah Abbas: The Remaking of Iran - Information  The Deutsche Borse Photography PrizePhotographers' Gallery, W1F 7LW 20th February 2009 - 12th April 2009 The £30,000 Deutsche Borse Photography Prize rewards the living photographer, of any nationality, who has made the most significant contribution to the medium of photography during the past year. The four shortlisted artists for this year's prize are: Paul Graham, Emily Jacir, Tod Papageorge and Taryn Simon. American photographer Taryn Simon has been nominated for her exhibition 'An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar' which was shown at The Photographers' Gallery in their former Newport Street home two years ago. The winner is announced half-way through the exhibition at an awards ceremony at the gallery on 25th March. Venue: Photographers' Gallery Address: 16-18 Ramilies Street, W1F 7LW Phone: 0845 262 1618 Date: 20th February 2009 - 12th April 2009 Time: Tue, Wed, Sat & Sun 11am-6pm, Thu & Fri 11am-8pm | Closed Mon Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Oxford Circus Tube The Deutsche Borse Photography Prize - Information  London Fashion Week - the ExhibitionNatural History Museum, SW7 5BD 21st February 2009 - 24th February 2009 Celebrating 25 years in its current form, London Fashion Week is where the top designers reveal the hottest trends - months ahead of when we'll actually be wearing them. The imposing Natural History Museum buildings on Exhibition Road make a suitably glamorous background for the designers' posh frocks to be flaunted to full effect. It's all wildly exclusive, of course, and the general public have no chance of getting tickets to the main event. However there's always The Exhibition at London Fashion Week where more than 210 designers flog their collections at reduced prices. London Fashion Weekend (4th-8th March) also offers a chance to visit the stalls and combine fashion with beauty consultations, hair demonstrations and shows. It's a great way to get a head start on next season's trends. www.londonfashionweek.co.uk www.londonfashionweekend.co.uk Venue: Natural History Museum Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD Phone: 020 8948 5522 Date: 21st February 2009 - 24th February 2009 (London Fashion Week 20th-24th Feb) Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube London Fashion Week - Information  The KillersThe O2, SE10 0PE 23rd February 2009 & 24th February 2009 The Las Vegas new-wavers are back in London at a venue that would fit right into their hometown. After their last gig, the Guardian described them as a band that had "reached a crossroads and made the right choice", and that sounds about right to us. It's over four years since their breathtaking set at the New Bands' tent at Glastonbury launched them in this country. The difficult second album set them up to be another bland stadium outfit, but their new material is as madly over-the-top as 'Hot Fuss' and just as much fun. The Killers are one of the best live bands in the world right now. Venue: The O2 Address: Peninsula Square, SE10 0PE Date: 23rd February 2009 & 24th February 2009 Time: 6.30pm Pricing: £35 + Booking Fee Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube The Killers - Information  The Great Spitalfields Pancake RaceOld Truman Brewery, E1 6QL 24th February 2009 In celebration of Shrove Tuesday, pancake enthusiasts leg it down Dray Walk in Spitalfields, with a frying pan and slab of batter for a relay race with a difference. All participants need is a team of four spirited souls happy to run around and toss the odd pancake. "Athletes" have to run from one point to the next, flipping the pancake successfully a few times on the way. The heats kick off at 12.30pm, followed by the finals and then the ceremonial prize-giving. There's an award for the best-dressed team too so pick a theme and don the appropriate garb - however ridiculous. It's a really eccentric occasion made only better by the wandering clowns and the string band playing in the background. To enter a team, contact Alternative Arts at www.alternativearts.co.uk. Try and get sponsorship or at least bring a donation. Apart from that, all you need is a frying pan - pancakes are provided. Venue: Old Truman Brewery Address: 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL Phone: 020 7375 0441 Date: 24th February 2009 Time: 12.30pm Pricing: Free. Sponsorship or donation welcome. Nearest Station: Shoreditch Tube The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race - Information  Hats: An Anthology by Stephen JonesVictoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, Porter Gallery, SW7 2RL 24th February 2009 - 10th May 2009 Hat designer Stephen Jones has delved into the V & A archives and pulled out 300 of his favourite headpieces. Names that come top of the hat designers' list include Philip Treacy, Mitza Bricard for Christian Dior, and Vladzio d'Attainville for Balenciaga. These modern designs are displayed along with more historic headwear including Prince Albert's top hat and a bonnet worn by Queen Victoria - the monarchs who established the museum and after whom it is named. So much more than a means of keeping your head dry, the hat is both a fashion fixture and a cultural statement. Venue: Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, Porter Gallery Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL Phone: 020 7942 2000 Date: 24th February 2009 - 10th May 2009 Time: 10am-5.45pm (Fri 10pm) Pricing: £5 (plus booking fee) Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones - Information  Picasso: Challenging the PastNational Gallery, Sainsbury Wing, WC2N 5DN 25th February 2009 - 7th June 2009 At first glance staging a Picasso exhibition at the National Gallery seems an anachronism - the National being well established as the home to Old Masters like Rubens and Rembrandt. The Times billed this venture as the "Clash of the Titians", as the National Gallery moves in on the Tate Modern's territory. Undoubtedly one of the most influential artist of the 20th century, it will be interesting to see Pablo Picasso's surreal shapes alongside works of the great artists whom he pitted himself against. Picasso was particularly interested in European artists like El Greco, Velázquez and Goya as well as Rembrandt, Manet and Cézanne. At this exhibition, displaying around 60 works by Picasso, the influence of these artists can be clearly seen thanks to the gallery's impressive permanent Old Masters collection. Venue: National Gallery, Sainsbury Wing Address: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN Phone: 0844 209 1778 Date: 25th February 2009 - 7th June 2009 Time: Sun to Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-9pm & Sat 10am-8pm Pricing: £12 (Adults), £11 (Concs), £6 (Students), FREE (Under 12s) Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube/Rail Picasso: Challenging the Past - Information  Gerhard Richter PortraitsNational Portrait Gallery, WC2H 0HE 26th February 2009 - 31st May 2009 Following a highly successful solo show at the Serpentine Gallery at the end of last year, Gerhard Richter returns to London with this high-profile exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Variously credited as one of the world's greatest living artists and described as the German Andy Warhol, there's no dispute Gerhard Richter is a significant talent. The focus here is - as you would expect at this gallery - on Gerhard's portraits. His depictions of people begin with early black and white paintings from the 1960s inspired by magazine photographs. A highlight to look out for is his '48 Portraits', a celebrated series of historic figures, painted for the German pavilion at the 1972 Venice Biennale. Venue: National Portrait Gallery Address: St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE Phone: 020 7306 0055 Date: 26th February 2009 - 31st May 2009 Time: Daily 10am-6pm (Thu & Fri 9pm) Pricing: £8 (Adults), £7/£6 (Concs) Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube/Charing Cross Tube/Rail Gerhard Richter Portraits - Information |
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