The art world is plunging, along with the rest of the economy. Hooray
Archive
Unmissable shows of 2009
The galleries of Britain – and further afield – are serving up some tasty exhibitions this year. Our correspondent picks the best, from modern architects to Aztec emperors
GF Watts: Victorian Visionary
The daubs of pompous ‘Victorian visionary’ GF Watts are as appetising as a plate of turkey curry
Dispersion at the ICA
The ICA’s Dispersion show presents a grim collection of copycats who need to get out a bit more
Fluxus: an impressionable art movement
It’s not easy to get under the skin of the achievement, but surely it was about more than this one man
Carsten Höller’s African bar
Carsten Höller’s African bar is a good night out, but our writer is hit by bad Congo vibes
War photography: Truth is the first casualty
Can war photography ever be trusted? Our critic sees an unsettling show about Robert Capa and his legacy
Babylon: A tower of strength
Babylon gets a bad rap, but our correspondent sees it in a new light at the British Museum
Ai Weiwei: Strutting his stuff
The man who helped design the Bird’s Nest, then turned his back on it. In a new show, he wrestles with his creation
Byzantium: The empire strikes back
The Royal Academy has staged a dramatic show highlighting the myriad influences that made Byzantium