History is Now, Hayward Gallery

Not sure how to prepare for the General Election 2015? In the frantic lead up, the Southbank Centre, London is hosting a festival to celebrate the story of post-war Britain. Changing Britain 2015 is set to be a myriad of music, art, philosophy and literature, examining who we are as a nation and how we got here. What better way to figure out how to vote?

Hayward Gallery exhibition 2015

As part of the festival schedule the Hayward Gallery, London presents History is Now: a joint exhibition in London between 7 UK-based artists. John Akomfrah, Simon Fujiwara, Roger Hiorns, Hannah Starkey, Richard Wentworth and Jane & Louise Wilson each curate a section of this ambitious exhibition which focuses on different themes; including Thatcher’s Broken Britain, feminism and the Cold War. Bringing together over 250 photographs, diaries, costumes, films, maps and pieces of art from a multitude of collections, this London art show explores how each facet of Britain’s living past has shaped the nation and its direction for the future.

The timing of the exhibition could not be better. As the new government takes up its place in Parliament, the congregation of artists assembled at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank will demand commitment to the importance of creativity.