Where to go, what to see this weekend

Last chance to see (events ending this weekend)

Real Design 
An exhibition of everyday objects that made a significant impact on our lives in the last ten years. There is a wide range of exhibits, from furniture and household products to technical and industrial innovations created by leading international designers and manufacturers.
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA
Ends  7 February
Admission: Free

Recent openings

Premiums 2010
The annual exhibition of contemporary painting, sculpture, video and photography by second year students of the Royal Academy Schools. Work in the exhibition are for sale.

Royal Academy of Arts, London
5-14 February
Admission: Free



Ongoing

The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His LettersA landmark exhibition of the work of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890).  Over 35 original letters by the artist are on display, together with around 65 paintings and 30 drawings that express the principal themes to be found within the correspondence.  This is the first major Van Gogh exhibition in London for over 40 years.
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Until 18 April
Admission £12


The Empire Strikes Back - Indian Art Today
Contemporary painting, sculpture, multimedia and other works from the sub-continent.
The Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, SW3 4SQ
Until 7 May 2010
Free admission
 
1001 Inventions
Tracing the forgotten story of a thousand years of science from the Muslim world, from the 7th century onwards.  Featuring many interactive exhibits, displays and dramatisations, the exhibition explores the shared scientific heritage of diverse cultures and looks at how many modern inventions can trace their roots back to Muslim civilisation
The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD
Until 25 April 2010
Free admission

Decode: Digital Design Sensations
Showcasing the latest developments in digital and interactive design, from small, screen-based, graphics to large-scale interactive installations.  The exhibition includes works by established international artists and designers and features both existing works and new commissions created especially for the exhibition.
Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Until 11 April 2010
Admission £5

Fans: War & Peace
The Fan Museum is the only museum in the world devoted entirely to every aspect of fans and fan making.  This exhibition presents many rare, fascinating and resonant items whose design, imagery and provenance will provide visitors with important new insights into the depiction of warfare throughout the ages.
The Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8ER
Until 28 February 2010
Admission £4 (plus concessions)

The Conversation Piece – Scenes of Fashionable Life

The exhibition traces the roots of the Conversation Piece back to the Netherlands in the 17th century and to the work of artists such as Pieter de Hooch and Godfried Schalcken.  The exhibition includes outstanding paintings by the greatest exponents of the Conversation Piece, Johan Zoffany, William Hogarth and Thomas Gainsborough.  The exhibition also shows examples of the genre acquired by members of the royal family over the past four centuries.
The Queens Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Until 14 February 201
Admission £5

An evocation of Amsterdam's Red Light District
The Hoerengracht’ (1983–8) is an installation artwork by American artists Ed and Nancy Kienholz, and a walk-through evocation of Amsterdam’s Red Light District.  It recreates the brick walls, glowing windows and mysterious doorways of Amsterdam’s claustrophobic streets.
National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN 
Until 21 February 2010
Free admission