Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Royal Academy: Summer Exhibition shows ‘brutalist and lyrical’ artworks

By Amit Roy

THE Royal Academy's (RA) Summer Exhibition 2019 - the 251st since the event began in 1769 is, as always, an opportunity for artists to show their creativity by sending in their artworks.


It is also a chance for audiences to see "art that reflects the world we live in today': as stated by Edith Devaney, a curator at the In and the person who has "nurtured the Summer Exhibition for the best part of two decades”.

No one knows more about it than she does: said 'Lim Marlow. the RA's artistic director.

The other key figure this year is the coordinator and acclaimed painter. lock McFayden, 68. He revealed the ratio between submissions and acceptances: "We had 16,250 actually - we have managed to get in 300 more this year. We usually aim for about 1,200. This year we have 1,581”.

More British-Asian artists should have a go because the RA promises: “Works from all over the world are judged democratically on merit”.

McFayden sat in a darkened room with members of his "hanging committee' viewing digital images of every single entry. The final selection was made after '2,000-3,000’- artworks were brought physically by the artists to the RA.

Changing the coordinator each year means the "exhibition is constantly changing and constantly evolving: said Devaney. who last year gave a party from Eastern Eye a personal tour.

She referred to a "visual assault" in the central hall, where there was a menagerie of animals: "There are quite a few dystopian animals in here. They are not all beautiful - some of them are really quite terrifying... the stuff of nightmares”.

The visual assault begins in the Annenberg Courtyard in front of the RA building in Piccadilly, with a group of giant statues by Thomas Houseago.

Royal Academicians have a right to have their work displayed. McFayden also invited "a bedrock of key artists” among them 84-year-old David Hepher, whose "huge brutalise painting of a south London council block was almost wet when it came in”.

With paintings, McFayden had attempted “to mix up the brutalise with the lyrical”.

"Another artist I invited with the tongue-in-cheek is Marcus Harvey -22 years ago at the Sensation exhibition in these galleries, Harvey's picture of (child killer) Myra Hyndley was pelted with eggs and ink by the public and was removed”.

There was a nod to a painting by "the RA's first black Academician, Frank Bowling - he is 80-something”.

McFayden had also mixed in photographs - two large ones are of Nelson Mandela's hometown with paintings. "I wanted to have more photography than ever before rather than ghettoising photography as a separate thing”.

He had also invited the sculptor Richard Wilson to scatter sculptures throughout the exhibition. He pointed out one by Wilson and asked: "Any guesses as to what it is? (blank looks all around). I'll tell you it is the solid of the hole that was drilled by the Hatton Garden robbers, the safe crackers. That is the size they had to go through so they must have gone on a damned diet before they went and got all the stuff. It quite a beautiful thing”.

Another sculpture, by John Davies, was of a group of "people of meaning to him who have died - including his mother and father in the middle”.

The architectural room was organised by the architect and Cambridge academic Spencer De Grey. He said: "The theme of the architecture room this year is sustainability in all its guises, ranging from large-scale master planning for cities through to the smallest habitation possible”.

There was special mention of a high-rise building made from wood: "People have built buildings up to eight to 10 storeys using timber. This is an exploration of going even higher."

Devaney drew attention to Tim Shaw's Parliament (the voices in your head), a collection of crows, "with a recording from parliament which is immediately irritating - just like the house of Commons”.

She also pointed out the large collection of prints: “They are a great way for people to start their collection”.

More For You

Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Wider reshuffle includes changes in Starmer’s private office and communications.
  • Appointment comes ahead of a budget expected to include further tax rises.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout

The new Harry Potter series stars Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout

‘Harry Potter’ filming in London sparks anger as locals claim no consent for Privet Drive remake

Highlights:

  • A London street has been turned into Privet Drive for the new Harry Potter series
  • Locals in Upminster say they were not told filming was for the HBO remake
  • Some residents fear being “bombarded with wizards” while others are thrilled
  • Cast includes Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout

A quiet street in east London has been transformed into Privet Drive for the new Harry Potter series, but locals are unhappy they were not properly informed about the filming. Springfield Gardens in Upminster, chosen to double as the boy wizard’s childhood home, has left neighbours divided, with some welcoming the attention while others worry they will be “bombarded with wizards.” The HBO production, part of a major reboot, has already brought cameras, drones and fans to the area.

Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout The new Harry Potter series stars Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout Instagram/harrypotterhbonotofficial

Keep ReadingShow less
Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif

Farhan Akhtar confirms Jee Le Zaraa is not shelved but cast uncertain

Instagram/priyankachopra

Farhan Akhtar says ‘Jee Le Zaraa’ will happen but drops bombshell that Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif may exit

Highlights:

  • Farhan Akhtar says Jee Le Zaraa has been delayed but not shelved
  • Significant work including music and location scouting already completed
  • Director cannot confirm if Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif remain attached
  • Project first announced in 2021 as a female-led road trip film

Filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar has clarified that his highly anticipated film Jee Le Zaraa has not been shelved. Speaking about the much-discussed project, Akhtar said the film is simply “on the back burner” due to scheduling conflicts. The clarification comes after years of speculation that the all-female road trip film, originally announced with Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt, might have been abandoned.

Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif Farhan Akhtar confirms Jee Le Zaraa is not shelved but cast uncertain Instagram/priyankachopra

Keep ReadingShow less
modi putin

Before their formal meeting, Putin offered Modi a ride in his Aurus limousine.

X/@narendramodi

Six key takeaways from the SCO summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Modi pressed for ending the Ukraine conflict at the earliest, reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia, and discussed trade and border issues with Xi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghanistan earthquake

Afghan volunteers and Taliban security personnel carry an earthquake victim evacuated by a military helicopter from the Nurgal district of Kunar province onn September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800, thousands injured

A MAJOR rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake and several aftershocks destroyed homes in a remote mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, according to Taliban authorities.

The quake struck just before midnight and was felt as far as Kabul and in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Keep ReadingShow less