Credit: Courtesy of exhibitions; Mark Blower
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Looking for something a bit different? 6 of the best quirky exhibitions to visit this autumn
6 months ago
2 min read
There are lots of new, cool and quirky exhibitions that may not be so well known but are definitely worth visiting if you’re looking to explore something a little different this autumn/winter.
There are a lot of exhibitions coming up this autumn, and it can be tricky to get a ticket or a time slot for the bigger, more popular ones. Sometimes, you just don’t want to have to book a visit months in advance. If that describes you, you’re in luck because outside of the major exhibitions, there are plenty of quirky, new exhibitions that aren’t so well known but are certainly worth a visit on a grey Sunday afternoon.
So, we’ve rounded up some of the best quirky exhibitions in London to visit this autumn and winter.
Credit: Japan House London
Looks Delicious!
Japan House; open until 16 February 2025
Offering a look into the world of Japanese food, this new exhibition explores the history, materials and processes of creating replica foodstuffs. Each of Japan’s 47 prefectures is represented in this exhibition with a food replica specifically commissioned, with dishes ranging from Okinawan goya chanpuru (bitter melon stir fry) to the indigenous Ainu ohaw (soup with salmon).
Credit: Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock
Outlaws: Fashion Renegades Of 80s London
Fashion And Textile Museum; open until 9 March 2025
This exhibition centres around the legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985. You can expect to see original garments and accessories from Bowery and over 30 other designers, including custom-made pieces from private collections and rare pieces from designers such as John Galliano, John Flett and Stephen Linard.
Credit: The Design Museum
The World Of Tim Burton
The Design Museum; open until 21 April 2025
If you’re a big fan of films such as Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride or Alice In Wonderland, then you’ll love this new exhibition at the Design Museum. Tim Burton, the creative force behind these films and many more, invites visitors into his world through an exploration of the design of his unique aesthetic. The show will display the full extent of Burton’s work and production, as well as showcasing collaborations with designers.
Credit: Suzanne Treister
Electric Dreams: Art And Technology Before The Internet
Tate Modern; opens 28 November
With the rise of AI and algorithms, this exhibition explores how artists used machines and algorithms to create mesmerising and mind-bending art between the 1950s and the early 1990s. Electric Dreams highlights and celebrates the early innovators of optical, kinetic and digital art, long before technology and the internet were very much here to stay.
Credit: Mike Kelley
Mike Kelley: Ghost And Spirit
Tate Modern; open until 9 March 2025
In his first major UK exhibition and over a decade since his death, Mike Kelley’s work is being shown at the Tate Modern and features his breakthrough sculptures made from textile and plush toys as well as his multimedia installations such as Day Is Done.
Credit: Hayward Gallery
Haegue Yang: Leap Year
Hayward Gallery; open until 5 January 2025
Dive into a world of immersive and multisensory installations and sculptures that weave together connections between different histories, cultures and traditions.
Images: Japan House; Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock; The Design Museum; Suzanne Treister; Mike Kelley; Hayward Gallery
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