Royal Academy of Arts – Byzantium & Miró, Calder, Giacometti, Braque: Aimé Maeght and His Artists & Peter Freeth RA

Title: Royal Academy of Arts – Byzantium & Miró, Calder, Giacometti, Braque: Aimé Maeght and His Artists & Peter Freeth RA

Rating (out of 100): 90 (Byzantium) / 90 (Maeght) / 80 (Freeth)

Mood: enveloped in golden hues and beauty (Byzantium), whimsical, colourful and light (Maeght) & transported into a dream (Freeth)

Website: http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Timeout / Culture Critic: http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/9274/byzantium.html & http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/9114/aime-maeght-and-his-artists.html & http://www.timeout.com/london/art/event/122932/peter-freeth-ra.html / http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/exhibitions/byzantium-330-1453/ & http://www.culturecritic.co.uk/exhibitions/miro-calder-giacometti-braque-aime-maeght-and-his-artists/

I went to the two main new shows (as well as the Tennant Room) at the Royal Academy of Arts this weekend. Both are fantastic and through their contrast, they complement each other very well. Light / dark, whimsical / religious, breaking with tradition / building upon a long line of tradition.

The Byzantium show (http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/byzantium/) was beautiful. Focusing on objects (rather than paintings), the collection presents a wide range of artifacts, from mosaics and metalwork, to icons and ivory carvings. Set in a dim light, surrounded by the glow of golden objects, I almost felt as if I were in an Orthodox Church. While some of the carved objects are incredibly beautiful, they would perhaps benefit from being shown alongside a magnified copy of some of the detail. The show really picks up speed in the Icon room. The icons shown are well preserved, beautiful and evocative. Overall, a great show and limited enough in size to really let you appreciate the unique aesthetic of the Byzantine empire without becoming overwhelmed.

As a chaser to the Byzantium main course, I also saw the Miró, Calder, Giacometti, Braque: Aimé Maeght and His Artists show (http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/miro-calder-giacometti-braque-aime-maeght-and-his-artists/). Quite a mouthful of a name (or alternatively entitled Aimé Maeght and His Artists, which tells me nothing), the show was great and felt like a breath of fresh air. Especially after the darkness and golden ecclesiastical art of the Byzantium show. The rooms are light and full of paintings, sculptures and mobiles. The feeling of the show was that of exploration, whimsy, and fun. Miro and Braque shine with their works, while Calder and Giacometti also put forth some good items. My personal favourites were the three black and white panels (52-53) by Braque and most of the sculptures by Braque (especially 86, 87, and 61). The silhouette he achieves in his sculptures reminds me of Modigliani’s silhouettes – impossibly elongated and combining awkwardness and gracefulness. The last room of the show, room 4, is sort of a mixed bag of items. A bit like a collage, it mixes the interesting and the not so interesting . Overall, a wonderful exhibition.

Lastly, I stopped by the Tennant Room to see Peter Freeth RA’s My Affair with Resin (http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/the-tennant-room/peter-freeth-ra-my-affair-with-resin,219,RAL.html). The series of black and white prints (with the odd 2 colour prints) have no hard lines or edges and are as a result are soft and almost dreamlike. Focusing on a variety of different subjects (words, animal sculls), the prints are wonderful and a great way to round out my visit at the RA.

The Byzantium and Aimé Maeght and His Artists shows are both paid entrance. The Peter Freeth exhibition is free. If you go to more than 3 shows per year at the RA, it probably makes sense to become a member and get in for free (without having to wait in line). Another recommendation is to see the shows in this order (but of course this is personal preference) – first Byzantium, then Maeght and then Freeth. Enjoy.