Blimey! GuestViews sets its sights on England and partners up with one of Europe’s most prestigious institutions: the British Museum, within the framework of “American Dream”, its new exhibition. You have to have heard of it before, but do you know what makes it one of the most popular museums in the world? What do you know of its history? If you’re not already a scholar on the subject, this article just might help you stand out in company!

A museum of the history of human cultures, the British Museum was created in 1753, right in the middle of the Enlightenment period. At the time, numerous scientists worked hard on collecting great quantities of exotic or historical items. One of such scientists was Sir Hans Sloane, a doctor of medicine who laid the foundations of the museum by passing on his collection of items after he died. The collection was then able to grow thanks to many explorers and scientists.

GuestViews is a part of the “American Dream: Pop to the Present” exhibition from 9 March to 18 June 2017. This exhibition retraces the careers of American artists from the 1960’s up until today. All of them used the medium of print for their art and helped perfect its technique. Come admire works by Andy Warhol or Jasper Johns, who revolutionised the use of print in art to enhance their sculptures or paintings.

The exhibition exists as part of a pop dynamic: print allowed to massively popularise and spread art at a time when the United States were THE superpower. All of this work of popularisation of art through the spreading of images was also a way of broadly rising up against inequalities and the trenches separating the American society.

Are you passing by London? Rush over to the British Museum to rediscover an abundance of treasures of humanity, as well as this decidedly unique exhibition! We will be waiting for your opinion on the GuestViews guestbook.

Featured image: © Ed Ruscha and British Museum