WHAT? The Long Now: Saatchi Gallery at 40
WHERE? Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY
WHEN? Now until 1 March 2026
WHY GO? For a dynamic force of art. Then and now, the Saatchi name will always be synonymous with pioneering artistic talent. At the forefront of contemporary art, this blockbuster celebrates 40 years of Saatchi creative talents from painters and sculptors to interactive artists and filmmakers, all names at the cutting edge of where it’s at today.
Starting at the top, there’s a head spinning installation of a Golden Lotus car above a bed of tyres, and if that’s not weird enough, there’s an awesome film of creatures akin to space aliens writhing under the ocean by Mat Collishaw who, along with many of the artists featured, was an original name on the Saatchi roster.
The noticeable difference between then and now is modern technology and the world of AI. Today’s artists challenge convention and are rapidly responding to new technology. All eyes are on AI and one of the more intriguing contemporary artists, Chino Moya, who started out making home made films, is given a whole gallery solo to showcase his visionary digitally manipulated post human workplace.
Perhaps the weirdest of all installations is a wall of giant ‘ants’ sculpted from human skull castes, no it’s not a Gothic horror reference, but a response to violence in the artists native Columbia.
This diverse show stopper of an exhibition reinforces how art can stir our emotions!
IN THE KNOW Hit the seductive gift shop for creative Christmas gift ideas. Grab a canvas logo bag for just £6 or graphic T-shirt for £15, or choose from any number of art books, posters, stationary or little cutesy kids stocking fillers.