V&A Network
V&A Network
Take a look at what goes on behind-the-scenes in the world’s greatest museum of art and design. From bestselling exhibitions to hidden gems in the collections, learn about our latest projects, ideas and discoveries.
Thursday, February 21, 2013 - 10:55
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By Christopher Wilk, Keeper, Furniture, Textiles & Fashion Department.In an installation commissioned for Tate Britain’s major Kurt Schwitters exhibition, the artist Adam Chodzko has reconfigured the V&A’s Kaufmann Office designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Designed in 1937, the office was used by Edgar Kaufmann in his Pittsburgh department store until his death...
Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 11:58
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By Rebecca English, Assistant Programme Manager This year we introduced new Art & Design workshops for Primary Schools. One of those sessions, Pop Up Stories, is led by Sarah Bridgland , a graphic artist and former student from the Royal College of Art, who works in 3D collage. We worked with Sarah to develop a session which would allow pupils to explore stories hidden in the V&A’s...
Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 11:47
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By Rebecca English, Assistant Programme Manager Last October, I posted about Graphic Gathering, a new project for schools. The project aimed to give secondary students an insight into design at Higher Education and industry level by answering a real-life brief delivered by V&A and D&AD. On the 5th of February we welcomed back participating schools from across the UK to present their...
Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 11:38
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By Paula Nuttall, Director of Late Medieval to Early Renaissance Year Course. This week’s object is a book, a deluxe manuscript copy of Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, written and illuminated in the 1460s, probably in Rome, for the Sienese scholar and lawyer Gregorio Lolli Piccolomini, a cousin of Pope Pius II, who became papal secretary in 1459 – one of several family...
Thursday, February 14, 2013 - 10:45
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Guest bloge entry by Bryony Bartlett-RawlingsFigure 1: V&A inventory number 29876.4Juan Dolívar after Jean Bérain the ElderPossibly after a tapestry design by Jean Bérain the Elder1685-1693 Every year around Valentine’s Day images of Cupid begin to appear on cards and in shops advertising gifts to buy for our loved ones.Known as Eros in Greek mythology and Amor in Roman mythology, Cupid...
Thursday, February 14, 2013 - 09:59
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By Sue PrichardWhen I agreed to give the lunchtime lecture ‘Making Love at the V&A’ I had no idea the title would generate such a flurry of anticipation, and indeed trepidation. 'Timeout’ appeared to be a little disappointed, describing it as ‘perhaps unfortunately not what it sounds like’. One member of the audience made no bones about it ‘I hope this...
Tuesday, February 12, 2013 - 15:56
Guest post by Daniel Milford Cottam.Fortune after Hippolyte Lalaisse, Paris, c.1855. Hand-coloured lithograph.E.2869-1938 Whilst writing up the cantinière and vivandière blog posts, another three hand-coloured lithographs from the 1850s came to light. These images are particularly interesting, not only because their artist (Hippolyte Lalaisse) is identified, but because they offer further...
Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 11:37
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By Paula Nuttall, Director of Late Medieval to Early Renaissance Year Course. I tend to find that textiles, especially liturgical vestments like this chasuble, don’t initially spark an excited response from viewers – which is a pity, as they’re well worth taking the time to look at. Perhaps one reason textiles don’t get a good press is that relatively few from this period...
Saturday, February 9, 2013 - 11:28
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By Rebecca English, Assistant Programme Manager In December the schools team worked with current artist in residence Keith Harrison on a DesignLab project with students from Langley Academy. DesignLab is a programme of projects that explore new ways of engaging students with art & design. It brings schools together with museum educators & curators, practising artists & designers and...
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 09:43
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Sunday 10 February marks Chinese New Year. As the year of the Dragon ends and the year of the Snake begins, what better time to celebrate all things serpentine?Netsuke featuring all 12 animals of the East Asian zodiac, Ipposai, Japan, about 1825 - 1875. Museum no. A.920-1910The V&A holds a vast and comprehensive collection of Chinese art, going as far back as 3000BC. This figure of a snake-...