Exploring the Abyss with Emin: A Homoerotic Saint and Bold Political Art – This Week’s Highlights

Highlighted Exhibition

Entering the Shadows
Curated by Tracey Emin, this exhibit delves into the realms of despair and the intense emotion of sadness, showcasing works by Goya, Munch, Bourgeois, Baselitz, and other renowned artists.

Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate, debuts Sunday

Additional Exhibitions

Ming Wong
The National Gallery’s current artist in residence offers an interpretation of homoerotic depictions of Saint Sebastian.

National Gallery, London, ongoing until 5 April

Remembrance
Curated by artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, this exhibition pays tribute to the bygone era of London during the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring works by Michael Bracewell, Sal Pittman, and others.

Fitzrovia Chapel, London, ongoing until 8 February

Storytellers and Imagery
This exhibition explores the intriguing connection between narrative and imagery, with contributions from artists like Julian Bell, Gala Hills, and Jane Griffiths.

St John’s College, Oxford, from 20 January to 2 February

Voices of Unity
Showcasing community-crafted posters, collages, and other art forms, this exhibit highlights the enduring spirit of collective activism in north Edinburgh.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, ongoing until 30 April

Featured Image

This week’s spotlight is on Paulus Potter’s The Bull at the Mauritshuis in The Hague. Recent studies revealed that the bull’s testicles were significantly reduced in size by the artist to adhere to the modesty standards of the 17th century. Abbie Vandivere, a conservator at the museum, noted significant changes in the bull’s anatomy to meet these standards, particularly mentioning the reduction in size of the testicles.

Insights of the Week

Ian McKellen will perform a lip-sync to previously unknown recordings of LS Lowry

Performance artist Tehching Hsieh’s extreme acts included living in a cage and leaping from a building

David Bowie spent time with outsider artists at a psychiatric clinic in 1994

Joseph Beuys’ artwork involving a bathtub reflects the traumas of modern history

Piet Mondrian’s success may be linked to a cross-dressing lesbian artist from Cornwall

Abstract artist Sean Scully draws inspiration from personal losses and challenging education experiences

Donald Trump’s policies have threatened the stability of museums and galleries in the US

Martin Roemers’ photo series Homo Mobilis explores personal identities through vehicles

Masterpiece Highlight

Saint Cecilia by Pietro da Cortona
This baroque period piece highlights the prominent use of female figures in early 17th-century religious art, a style which was vividly dramatic and often grandiose, aimed at captivating the faithful. Pietro da Cortona’s depiction of Saint Cecilia aligns with the era’s norms, portraying her as an icon of virtue and obedience, a narrative that supported the church’s influence over women during that time.

National Gallery

Join Our Art Weekly Newsletter

Don’t miss out on our regular updates covering art and design news. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Contact Us

For inquiries or feedback regarding our newsletters, please contact us at newsletters@theguardian.com