Cathy's Art Diary

Fun and informative exhibition at Young V&A looking at Japanese myths and how they influence modern life and design in the country. I was disappointed at first that the display was aimed at children however it struck a good balance between telling the stories clearly but not being condescending. As it wasn’t a subject I knew about at all I appreciated it. It divided the themed the stories around where they were based from the sky, through the sea to the city. It used a good selection of prints and objects to illustrate the tales. I found the most interesting sections were the ones which looked at modern life and the origins of the stories today particularly in toys and cartoons. Closed 8 September 2024 Reviews Times Guardian Telegraph    

My first visit to the refurbished Young V&A previously the Museum of Childhood. Apologies that it’s taken me a while to get to see this refurbishment which has been open about a year and has since won the Art Fund Museum of the Year award. I had been before the changes and it was looking more spruce and cared for. A fun spiral staircase with a mirror feature has been added with the café nestled underneath it. There were much improved toilets and an additional lift. However the galleries were somewhat hidden and despite fun, big signage it was unclear what they offered from the main space, almost like it didn’t matter. It has given the curators a chance to rethink the displays and they are now aimed at children not just about them. It certainly seemed to be working when I was there in the summer holidays as it was buzzing with children enjoying the space. Reviews Times Guardian Telegraph Evening Standard