Out and About: RA Summer Exhibition 2021
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is back… well more of an autumn / winter exhibition this year. The annual open submission exhibition, now in its 252nd year, presents visitors with an eclectic collection of prints, sculpture, painting, architecture, photography, film and textiles (and much more!)
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021
We took a trip to the Royal Academy last month to take a look at this year’s Summer Exhibition, coordinated by Yinka Shonibare and a panel of artists, under the theme of ‘Reclaiming Magic’. Over 16,000 entries to the Summer Exhibition are received and around 1,000 of those make it to the hang, through several judging stages.
What does the Royal Academy say about the exhibition:
“Held every year without fail, the Summer Exhibition is a celebration of contemporary art and architecture. Anyone can enter their work – leading artists, household names, new and emerging talent – and it provides a platform for the artistic community to showcase what they’re doing.”
And this year was no different… artists from all stages of their careers can enter works into the exhibition and see their work hung alongside some of the great names in contemporary art. From the weird to the wonderful, the silly to the serious, this exhibition really has it all. Of course, it wouldn’t be a post-pandemic exhibition without paying homage to Captain Sir Tom too (sculpture by Richard Mossman, pictured above).
I always find the architecture room particularly interesting (partly because I would love to have the skill and patience to make such intricate scale models)! Particularly in recent years, the projects on show really address the environment and sustainability and I’m always amazed by the inventive ways they use their materials. Pictured below are the 3D card and bamboo models of ceilings that have been designed by Foster + Partners for the new Phnom Penh VVIP International Airport.
Bamboo Ceiling designs by Foster + Partners for Phnom Penh VVIP International Airport
What I also love about visiting the RA Summer Exhibition, especially in my last few visits, is spotting the artists I know and this year was no exception (although with the vast number of works and rooms to explore it’s sometimes requires a bit of searching!) It was lovely to see three of the artists who had been shortlisted for the inaugural Fen Ditton Gallery Contemporary Printmaking Prize were exhibiting in the summer show; Ellie Hayward (Holes pictured below); Jodie Wingham and Joao Villas. One of our judging panel from the prize was also exhibition, Nigel Hall - a Royal Academician himself (Call and Response sculpture pictured below).
Here at Fen Ditton Gallery, we are excited to be working with master printmaker Kip Gresham of the The Print Studio, Cambridge on an abstract printmaking exhibition in early 2022. Having met with Kip the day before my visit to the RA Summer Show, and selecting many of the works that will be exhibited, I was thrilled to be able to spot several new artists that will be on the gallery walls. Those artists included Willard Boepple, Stephen Chambers and Mali Morris, amongst others.
Hannah visits the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
So what makes the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition so special?
For early-stage and new collectors, a visit to the RA Summer Exhibition is a fantastic place to start exploring your tastes, as well as giving you an insight into what’s going on in the contemporary art world. I visited the exhibition with my partner Matt, and he and I split off from each other and we photographed the works that we liked. It was an interesting exercise to come back together and share our favourites - were any of them the same? Why not try this too? As you wonder around the vast rooms of floor to ceiling art, here are some starter questions to think about:
Which styles of art are you most drawn to?
Can you pick out a favourite piece?
Which works don’t you like?
Which works would you want in your own home? (Money and space no object!)
Analyse your answers. Think about medium, scale, textures, subject matter and colours. The more you look, the more you begin to understand what style of art you want to enjoy on your walls everyday!
Visiting the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
The summer exhibition is open until 2nd January 2022
Tickets are £20 (including a catalogue) and can be booked at royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2021
Share your visit with us using #youngcollectorsuk