Spoiler Alert! Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Here at the Ministry we have written many an exhibition review in our time. But never one we thought we needed to start with a #spoileralert. If you are planning on going to see Alexander McQueen at the V&A, don't read this post. In fact, if I were you I wouldn't read any reviews, let alone watch that Tinie Tempah tour. The exhibition is an immersive experience unlike anything we've seen before - so you'll want to experience it for yourself with fresh eyes. Although if you are in fact going to try and see it GET YOUR TICKETS ASAP! (Unless you are an MA member then you can of course just rock up). Now that you've been adequately warned, we can move on to our thoughts on #McQueen...

Because I was good and hadn't read any reviews, I didn't have any idea of what to expect. When I first walked into the exhibition, it didn't really seem that special. An industrial looking room, with some mannequins in McQueen clothes. McQueen took inspiration from London, McQueen was a visionary, McQueen had unique lines - yes yes. But when I strolled into the next space, I almost started crying. The floor to ceiling antique mirrors,the towering mannequins in their dark crow-like masks, the evocative soundtrack. This isn't an exhibition...its a journey into the mind of Alexander McQueen.

I think really the best way to think about Savage Beauty is it's not really like an art gallery at all, it's an immersive experience. I mean, I certainly can't imagine any historical exhibition with music that loud, lights that flashy, and labels that tiny, and not being absolutely slammed for it. On that note, the text panels are actually incredibly hard to read - in one room the gilded words were so difficult to read I watched a number of people in front just shrug and walk away. In the next room, one main panel actually used the words 'avatistic', 'fetishistic' and 'dialectical'  - at least two in the same sentence. I can't help but think how many accessibility guidelines are being ignored.

But don't be confused, the exhibition is AMAZING! And that is it's purpose- to overwhelm and amaze, to be an experience, in the style of McQueen. Each room is its own environment, inspired by the collections. Whether its a futuristic cabinet or curiosities or a low, darkly-lit cave evoking the ancient past, the designers have made the intention beyond the clothes into a lived experience.

Something I must say I hadn't quite expected was the diversity of people there with me. Of course it's a huge blockbuster show so why wouldn't a huge range audiences come along. But actually, everyone seemed to be engaging with the subject matter. I heard people pointing out different pieces they were familiar with - isn't that Lady Gaga's dress? I know that headdress! Did you see the clam shell blouse? It's a testament to McQueen's pervasive influence, even for those of us who aren't particularly high-fashion conscious.

What more can I say really - Savage Beauty is something that you have to experience for yourself. It's not an art exhibition, it's art in itself. A truly fitting tribute to McQueen, even if they had to break some of our museum rules to get there.

Sneaking into the past at Dennis Severs House

The room is a riot of colours and textures- dark throws and carpets clash with fresh flowers and pastel china. Despite the late evening sunshine, thick drapes throw the room into shadow, only illuminated by flickering candles. You are distracted by the far off sound of voices and coaches as the cat rolls over lazily in a sagging chair. On the mantle, a picture of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation clashes incongruously with a portrait of Queen Victoria. Does this sound like the beginning of a Victorian romance novel? Nope, it’s just one of the rooms in the Dennis Severs House in Spitalfields.

As we discovered later, photography isn't allowed. Since we already had these...

It is worth saying to begin with that the House is not a museum but an art installation. If you are looking for historical accuracy you will be sadly disappointed. The rooms of the house run roughly from the years 1725 to 1837, although a small amount of kitsch seems to have crept quietly into each one. But that doesn’t really detract from what Severs has achieved: an immersive experience of the past. Each room and hallway of the house is completely covered with paintings, knick-nacks, candles and even food. The concept behind Severs’ ‘still life drama’ house is to make the visitors feel as if they are creeping around a house occupied by a silk merchant family. The experience is supplemented by the smell of spices, port, tobacco, flowers, oranges and smoke; as well as a subtle sound effect track.

Not to be overly critical but the experience may have been slightly improved without the artistic interventions of small bits of paper with slightly bizarre comments strewn about the place. ‘Do you get it yet?’ and other offbeat comments by Severs himself printed on standard A4 looking paper. It also didn’t really help that the house was really quite busy on our visit. If happen to be very rich and feel like doing something special/romantic for a history nerd, I would suggest organizing a private visit to the house. If your love interest is a specialist in the Georgians, you will almost certainly get laid after this romantic gesture. Just a suggestion.

Despite having to shuffle around the crowds, all visitors in our party agreed afterwards that they had experienced something quite emotional at some point during their visit. Maybe it was a quiet moment in the kitchen, or pondering in front of the fireplace, but for any true history lover there is something genuinely moving about just for a moment feeling connected to the past. Let’s face it, we all just want to be time travellers and the Dennis Severs House may be the closest we are going to get. For now anyway.

The Dennis Severs House is open on Monday evenings and Sunday afternoons. For more details on visiting and booking, visit: http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/