The Summer Exhibition

Every year since 1769 the Royal Academy of Arts have held a summer exhibition. It usually runs from mid June to mid August and over the last few years John and I have been to see what's on display. Last year neither of us where particularly impressed with the way the exhibition was hung or some of the work on display. Instead of giving a feeling of joy and uplifting, last years exhibition put me in a really bad mood. Of course art is very subjective and so this was just our view of the exhibition last year. Fast forward to 2025 and we decided to give it another chance and I am very pleased we went. It felt like a different place and there was a lot of amazing works of art. It wasn't just us who felt this way. Listening to the conversations around us, a lot of people expressed how much better it was this year and how much they were enjoying it. Each year there is a coordinator for the exhibition and this year it was architect Farshid Moussavi RA and her summer committee who selected the work on display. There were 1700 pieces by famous artists and also members of the public. So if you are interested in art do settle down and enjoy the photos. Otherwise come back tomorrow for some quilting instead.

I liked this; African Bird Magic by Yinka Shonibare RA relief print with woodblock and fabric collage.

This one is The Fading Light by David Phillips, acrylic on board. I like that the picture is made up of smaller pictures. There were several pictures that used this technique. Back in 2020, during the covid lockdown I set myself a challenge to paint a small picture everyday during April on the same theme. I found it very difficult but fun.

A Temporary Shift, Twin (Self-Portrait as a Horse), by Anousha Payne got a lot of attention. This was one of my favourites.

Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections by Mandy Barker. I included these because they reminded me of the pictures the guides used to enjoy making by using sun prints. Putting an object on chemically treated paper and exposing it to sunlight.

Red, Yellow and Blue by Sir Frank Bowling RA provided a lovely splash of colour. It made me feel happy.

Schiaparelli by  Pat O'Connor made me wonder if she was a quilter.

This was one of my favourite pictures, Hunter's Moon by John Ferry. So many questions, why was he or she out on their own at night? The hunter's moon made it very light, I've always enjoyed being out when the moon is full and high in the sky. The moon makes you feel safe in the dark.

This next piece of art caused a lot of discussion. 1 By Zatorski and Zatorski. 101 white rats pelts, 24 ct gold. I have to say they did look rather cute but it didn't make me like rats. It actually made me feel sad.

Art is such an interesting topic. We all have our own opinion about what is art. I find that I may have a particular opinion of a piece of art one day but that my opinion changes depending on my mood. There are some pieces of art that I always like and enjoy and I'm happy to have some beautiful pieces of art, mainly painted by my father or one of my brothers, hanging on the walls at home. The exhibition was interesting and enjoyable but very tiring. I must be getting old as I find moving slowly through a busy exhibition makes my legs tired and after about an hour my concentration goes. 

Today I did some sewing but I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

Take care

Lyndsey