The Victoria & Albert Museum, also known as the V&A, spans 5,000 years of art and design from Europe, North America, Asia, and North Africa. Founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, this iconic museum in South Kensington is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring London.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invites you to explore the Victoria & Albert Museum, renowned as “the world’s leading museum of art and design”.
A precious collection… for free!
Some of London’s top museums offer free admission, and the Victoria & Albert Museum is one of them. It’s a fantastic chance to visit as often as you like!
With so much to explore – from its captivating temporary exhibitions (check out my exhibitions section) to its impressive permanent collections – you’ll never run out of things to see.
Take your time wandering through the museum’s unique rooms, and check out the videos in the galleries which highlight some cool objects and fascinating stories. You’ll love it!
Upon entering the museum, be sure to look up and admire the stunning chandelier above the main information desk, created by American artist Chihuly. His artwork beautifully complements the museum’s historic architecture while making a bold statement to captivate visitors. A must-see!
The Medieval & Renaissance area
Let’s start with the beautifully lit Medieval and Renaissance Sculpture Gallery, a fantastic spot to check out some truly impressive ancient statues. Here’s a roundup of my favourite pieces…
Above is a version of Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines.
What do you think of the delicacy of this sculpture, with the naive expression of the character? I found it fascinating!
I went with this perspective on purpose to bring out the drama of the bronze sculpture. Up front, you see a man from behind, clutching a woman’s head, while in the background, there’s a blurred figure of another woman, almost like she could be the next victim. This angle gives off a strong vibe – a warning about the looming danger to her safety.
These two prominent figures are shielded under the watchful eye of an eagle …
The museum also showcases a fragment of Trajan’s Column (below), originally erected in Rome to celebrate the Emperor’s victorious campaigns against the Dacians along the Danube frontier in AD 101. The marble column is intricately carved with scenes from the Dacian wars, making it a powerful sight to behold. It was truly moving to stand before it, and even more impressive to think about how the museum managed to transport such a massive piece and install it here!
Exploring the V&A also presents a fantastic chance to snap photos with bold, graphic lines.
At least, that’s a game I love to play…
On a sunny day, with every gallery framing a view of the sky, the museum became a play of light and shadow…
I like this vision of a giant chessboard surrounded by art…
The Asia area
The first two artworks you see before entering the Asian section are by Korean artist Chun Kwang Young. His paper piece, with its cracked surface, protrusions, and optical illusions, symbolizes Korea’s troubled history, while the strong paper itself reflects the resilience of the Korean people.
Here is the detail of this stunning art work…
The other piece highlights the beauty of lacquerware. In a video available at the museum, Chung Hae-Cho guides us through the meticulous, intuitive process of creating a lacquer vessel. While lacquer is typically used as a finishing technique on wood, Chung has developed a method of crafting objects primarily from lacquer itself. Truly impressive work!
The Japanese area
Below is a curated selection of objects that I found both delicate and surprising… or sometimes, both at once!
Since I had a crush on the Netsuke at the British Museum, I couldn’t resist diving deeper into the subject! I discovered an incredible range of characters, animals, and scenes that are truly fascinating. How is it even possible to create such tiny sculptures with so much detail? I didn’t have enough zoom to capture their intricacy properly…
Another object (below) I recently discovered was the Inro, a container used by men to carry everyday items since kimonos didn’t have pockets. Emerging in the late 16th century, these became the ultimate male fashion accessory. Inro featured interlocking compartments (as seen in the photos), held together by silk cords.
As tiny as they were, I honestly have no idea what they could’ve contained…
Another object: a woman’s kimono from the late 19th century, when the introduction of new chemical dyes in Japan revolutionized kimono design. This is evident in the pastel hues and delicate shading of this Meiji period garment (1868-1912).
The Chinese area
I’ll wrap up this section of the museum with two Chinese objects:
First, a plaque featuring a panda design, crafted from porcelain and painted with vibrant enamels.
Second, a hanging scroll depicting a willow tree, a kingfisher, swallows, and cranes – once a stunning decoration for a living room wall.
The European area
I must admit, I was already familiar with most of the items on display, so they didn’t really surprise or move me. However, the British section stood out for its fascinating presentation, so I’ll focus on that part instead.
Check out these amusing “figures of No-body with a drinking glass and a pipe.” I absolutely love their style!
This curious “detector lock” from around 1860 is fascinating – it’s called a “detector” lock because it shows how many times it’s been opened. The keyhole is hidden beneath the soldier’s leg, revealed by pressing a button.
There was also a quirky room where you could “examine a Chippendale-style chair” and learn about how it was assembled…
Next, I stumbled upon a “What is it?” section: items are displayed in a window, and you have to guess their name and use (particularly funny part if you visit the museum with kids!). The answers were hidden in a cupboard, and you could only read them through a mirror. It was quite unexpected and a fun little challenge!
Last but not least, men could practice tying a cravat, either with a Gordian knot (“The sovereign of cravat ties”) or a Byron cravat (“extremely comfortable in summer or during long journeys”). Meanwhile, women could try on a hoop and petticoat, just like in the late 18th century… Talk about a stylish and historically immersive workout!
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!
To go further:
The V&A South Kensington: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL.
Website
Chihuly website.
m’agrado !