January can be a hell of a month for those of us who have indulged too hard in the holiday period and are yet to get back to their top form. But if there's one thing to rejoice about us being at the peak of winter, it's that the most depressing month of the year also coincides with the awakening of the British capital's cultural scene, where hundreds of appointments are ready to entertain arts-versed readers for weeks to come, starting from the best design and art exhibitions in London.
This month, a leitmotif runs through many of the most exciting London art shows: the desire to embrace objects and their materiality as vehicles for meaning; as containers for the most absurd, surreal, or verosimile of stories. Or, even, as gateways into specific beliefs, traditions, and cultures — into different ways of being. It is a theme that proves just how much the things we surround ourselves with can influence our lives, one that rings especially relevant as we approach a new beginning. Still, when it comes to uncovering the best new exhibitions in London, things are (forgive the pun) very rarely so black and white.
