Britain Can Make It was held in the November of 1946 at the V&A and was organised by the government to display consumer goods that would kickstart the economy of post-war Britain. Whilst the Hayward doesn’t make such claims, it has positioned itself as a pre-2015 election recap of how we have found ourselves in this situation: post-recession, post-referendum and post-riot, and taking a politically charged standpoint ponders, is this a tipping point for political change in Britain?

Tony Crag, Britain Seen from the North, 1981

The seven artists involved are John Akomfrah, Simon Fujiwara, Roger Hiorns, Hannah Starkey, Richard Wentworth and Jane and Louise Wilson, all of which curate sections of the exhibition, looking at particular periods of cultural history. Issues examined include the Cold War, post-Thatcherite society, feminism, BSE and celebrity culture, all of which offer a radical new way of thinking about how we got to where we are today. The exhibition brings together over 250 objects including art, documentation, everyday artefacts, newspapers and costumes to interpret key cultural moments identified by today’s practising artists.

If the 1946 exhibition was distinguished by a giant egg symbolising the birth of the egg cup and rebirth of British design and innovation, the decommissioned Bloodhound missile currently clinging to the exterior of the Hayward gallery doesn’t seem quite as hopeful. Thought-provoking stuff. (Words: Laura Thornley)

At the Hayward Gallery until 26th April.  For more info visit: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/history-is-now-7-artists-take-88866

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Although the event places itself in  response to London Fashion Week, the Africa-inspired event doesn’t stop at clothing. The weekender incorporates food, music, nail art and a gallery filled with great art. There will be opportunities to attend talks with designers, let an expert braider loose on your locks and learn some Ghanaian Azonto moves.

The artwork can be found at 50 Golborne Road and features recent work by international artists and designers. The gallery explores the socio-cultural dynamics at the heart of the modern Pan-African way of life through its regular exhibitions of designers and artists. For this special weekend,  the space will feature new work by Nigerian-British artist Tunji Adeniyi-Jones.

Refreshments can be found at a West African Chop bar (a roadside bar/restaurant and community hang out). Here they will be serving iconic African dishes as well as bagels, bentos and hot dogs with an African twist (the mind boggles!). On the Saturday night there will be a night of live performance and DJ sets by some of the most innovative African musical acts of the moment, including Taali M, Oya Bun, Mogadisco… somewhere to practice your recently perfected azonto moves perhaps? (Words: Laura Thornley)

Taking place 21 and 22 February. For more info, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/387579374729962/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

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By some strange twist of fate, the preclude to the ‘teddy bears with hearts’ day is Friday 13th, the day Jason ran riot in the campsite and unlucky things happen to unlucky people: perfect timing for those who need to celebrate with a hint of ‘My Bloody valentine-style’.

The Museum is the latest in a long line of cultural institutions to adopt the ‘late’ formula; events position themselves around specific holidays or commercial concerns of the moment and reflect on how these events have been represented in branding and advertising terms.

Thankfully this Museum’s lates sound a little less dry than the usual events offered by its more austere counterparts. Promising to appeal to both singles and couples by focusing on the tragedy & comedy of this fateful celebration, tonight’s event will take a tongue in cheek look at the loneliest and loveliest of Valentine consumerism. Rest assured its not all capitalist take, take take though, you can expect at least one free cocktail on arrival! But what else?! Well, more themed cocktails, a host of live entertainment, a Time Tunnel challenge with a goody bag prize and even a bit of dancing. Not bad for a museum night. Tickets are a must and available from the museum website. (Words: Laura Thornley)

For more info visit: www.museumofbrands.com/whats-on

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Throughout the modern period,  the medium of painting has been at odds with the development of photography and mass media. But Dumas has always believed in the power of painting and continually uses it to play with the complexities of representing the human form: painting still touches us, she believes, despite its years of turmoil.

Marlene Dumas The Widow 2013 Private Collection © Marlene Dumas

Still, while devoted to this style of art, one of Dumas’ biggest inspirations is photography and specifically the work of Diane Arbus. Her work similarly explores ideas around sexuality, popular culture, current affairs and identity. Almost always she takes her subject matter from a photograph or her images are torn from magazines. Figures are taken out of their context and isolated on her canvas.

Dumas continually references contemporary life and her subject matter is often current, and occasionally controversial: Amy Winehouse, Naomi Campbell, Princess Diana, even Osama bin Laden have all been presented in a fashion. Her work may also touch on some of the anxieties and trauma that haunt our society, but its beauty is truly moving. Not to be missed. (Words: Laura Thornley)

On until 10 May 2015. For more info visit: http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/marlene-dumas-image-burden

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“Art is the stuff you can’t say,” believes Haroon Mirza, Northern Art prize winner, Lisson Gallery artist and the man whose art work gives the exhibition its title. His work, a video installation including the ritualistic sound of Kenyan men drumming during a Muslim wedding, and a student giving a speech, offers a sense of urgency that is unmistakably politically charged. His work in this instance addresses cultural difference, even amongst those who share the same faith. Here his work reveals two different Muslim populations and there different, contradictory beliefs (music is banned by some Muslim leaders).

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In addition to Mirza, there are works from Broomberg and Chanarin, Allora and Calzadilla, Liu Xiaodong and Rashid Rana. Divine Violence from Broomberg and Chanarin features plates from the King James Bible, annotated à la Bertold Brecht and superimposed with imagery from the Archive of Modern Warfare. Artist duo Allora and Calzadilla tackle a contamination incident at a Puerto Rican GlaxoSmithKline factory in their 20-minute demolition video, complete with wrecking ball bell. Meanwhile,  Xiaodong’s paintings depict mine workers in one of China’s most politically tense regions.

Needless to say, the exhibition contains some provocative stuff which the language of art addresses with a suitable, vital tone. Not to be missed. (Words: Laura Thornley)

From 30th January to 7th March.  For more info visit: www.lissongallery.com/exhibitions/cross-section-of-a-revolution

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Taking the title of Peter Fryer’s seminal text as its moniker, this exhibition includes photographic work from iconic practitioners whose photographic journalism recorded the changing cultural landscapes of the time. The exhibition draws on oral histories from the photographers and the wider community to understand where identity and representation collide.

The breadth of work is impressive and comes from the likes of Dennis Morris – infamous for his work with the Sex Pistols and Bob Marley – Charlie Phillips, best known for his imagery of Notting Hill in the 1960s and the iconic work of self taught Colin Jones who recorded youth culture.

More recent representation of the Black British experience comes from the work of Ingrid Pollard, a photographer and art practitioner whose social practise work focuses on representation, history and landscape with reference to race and Jennie Baptiste whose work explores fashion and style as expressions of black British identity.

The exhibition comes as a wider project spanning five years under the same title, so watch this space for further events. (Words: Laura Thornley)

On until 30 June. For more info visit: bcaheritage.org.uk/programme/exhibitions/staying-power/

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Whitechapel director Iwona Blazwick OBE, and Magnus af Petersens, Curator at Large, take on the curatorial task of transforming the Whitechapel into a space devoted to abstract form as it collides with political thought. They begin with Kazimir Malevich’s radical ‘black square’ paintings which first made bold, manifesto-esque claims to the idea of non-representational art as a tool that leads to Utopian life.

Dóra Maurer Seven Rotations 1 – 6, 1979, collection of Zsolt Somlói and Katalin Spengler © Dóra Maurer

The concept of non-representational art took hold beyond the Russian movement when a series of artists including Wassily Kandinsky, Robert Delaunay and František Kupka broke away from tradition and made artwork with no recognisable subject matter. The movement evolved over the 20th century and into the 21st century, and its effects are included in the work in the show.

The show wanders through history, separated by four themes: Communication; Architectonics (how abstraction can underpin socially transformative spaces); Utopia and The Everyday, bringing the show right up to date with abstraction in corporate logos and textile design. The rest of the Whitechapel spaces are filled with displays, commissions and special events including work by David Batchelor and Bart Lodewijks. A vital exhibition, don’t miss it! (Words: Laura Thornley)

From 15th January to 6th April. For more info visit:www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/abstract-art/

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For those not in the know, the Gandini collective has been on the scene for 20 years, leading  the marriage of contemporary dance and juggling, as well as incorporating mathematics into their art. Their latest production  4 x 4 Ephemeral Architectures follows the international success of their Pina Bausch-inspired sensation Smashed and features an unlikely mix of juggling and classical ballet.

The new show may sound like an unusual combination (maths, juggling and ballet?!) but rest assured that Sean Gandini’s elite jugglers, working alongside four classical dancers choreographed by former Royal Ballet First Artist Ludovic Ondiviela, will be a sight to behold.

The blending of the two art forms echoes a trend that brings together traditional and more contemporary practices and the new conversations that come as a result. The Royal Opera House’s rolling programme in the studio space offers interested parties just this kind of thing; circus performances and hip hop ballet collaborations are just some of the things recently shown there – so it’s likely 4×4 Ephemeral Architecture will follow in their success.  (Words: Laura Thornley)

From 13th-15th January.  For more info visit: www.roh.org.uk/productions/london-international-mime-festival-by-various

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Jazz Re:freshed  have been a vital and influential presence in jazz-influenced music since 2003 and has had input and support from a broad range 0f collectives – so the likes of Blactronica, Amplified and Handson family will be playing on New Year’s Eve, setting the night up to be one big  musical reunion which makes it sound pretty special to us!

Jazz Re:freshed’s partners in crime Uprock have been at the core of what they do, with members Justin McKenzie and Adam Moses captaining the night in the early days. Uprock will be part of the NYE line up – and with a philosophy of focusing on good, positive music, they’ll make it a night to remember.

Another line-up highlight will be Run Dem Crew’s Charlie Dark, who used to be involved in the legendary Blactronica night, specialising in eclectic music from the past, present and future. This evening is gearing up to be an essential event for New Year, perfectly hosted at  The Flyover warehouse space in West London. Tickets are cheap at £10 too and the musical standard is guaranteed to be mind blowing. (Words: Laura Thornley)

For more info visit: http://www.jazzrefreshed.com/

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Okay, so Vauxhall isn’t well known for its magical Christmas vibes, but like many areas in London, its making use of its heritage and breathing new life into its communal spaces. Reviving its name previously used in 1859, the Vauxhall Pleasure Garden has become a leisure space enjoying music, festivals and events all year round. Bringing a forest into London is no mean feat but the organisers have managed to arrange a 500 square metre section in a maze-like fashion for you to escape and quite possibly lose yourself (temporarily) amongst the smell of the twinkling Christmas trees.

The Pleasure Garden Christmas calendar is also running craft markets, food stalls and an ice rink, if you fancy showing off your double spin edge jumps or death spiral this advent. Or if steering clear of A&E is more your thing. then there’ll be a quaint Alpine-esque log cabin to warm up and sip a smoking bishop instead. Now we all we need is some snow! (Words: Laura Thornley)

For more info visit: www.iceskatevauxhall.co.uk/attractions/

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