Koons apes the old masters and robots invade Edinburgh – the week in art

jeff koons ashmolean

Jeff Koons at The Ashmolean; image: ashmolean.org/jeffkoons


Powered by Guardian.co.ukThis article titled “Koons apes the old masters and robots invade Edinburgh – the week in art” was written by Jonathan Jones, for theguardian.com on Friday 1st February 2019 12.42 UTC

Exhibition of the week

Jeff Koons
The master of pop art takes on the old masters.
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 7 February until 9 June.

Also showing

More than 100 humanoid robots are occupying the National Museum of Scotland, in Edinburgh.
More than 100 humanoid robots are occupying the National Museum of Scotland, in Edinburgh. Photograph: Plastiques Photography, courtesy of the Science Museum

Robots
Real robots meet sci-fi dreams in a survey of our passion to make machine versions of ourselves.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, until 5 May.

Greg Gilbert
This exhibition showcases drawings that record and transfigure the artist’s experience of severe illness.
Southampton City Art Gallery, until 6 May.

Christian Dior
Sumptuous survey of the fashion designer and the romantic spell his clothes cast.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2 February until 14 July.

Tracey Emin
An ambitious display of new paintings, drawings, film and sculpture by the biggest figure in modern British art.
White Cube Bermondsey, London, 6 February until 7 April.

Masterpiece of the week

Salome rReceives the Head of John the Baptist, circa 1630-32, by Matthias Stom
Salome Receives the Head of John the Baptist, circa 1630-32, by Matthias Stom. Photograph: National Gallery, London

A boy holds up a torch that casts a sharp light on faces gathered in the night. And it is a terrible night, for this is the night Salome danced for King Herod and demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The executioner looks impassive. He’s just doing his job. Salome and her mother, Herodias, appears to be shocked by what he has done, as if they never really expected the prisoner to be murdered at their request. In the middle of this uneasy group, the pale head of John the Baptist hangs passively. It is a horrific object but also an image of calm acceptance: this man died bravely.
National Gallery, London.

Image of the week

Hits you like a thunderbolt … Head of the Madonna, by Leonardo da Vinci.
Hits you like a thunderbolt … Head of the Madonna, by Leonardo da Vinci. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018

These drawings from the Royal Collection – dispersed around Britain – are like pure, clear windows on to the extraordinary mind of this enigmatic and visionary genius, writes Jonathan Jones in his five-star review of a new exhibition.

What we learned

Susan Hiller, installation pioneer, died aged 78

… and unquenchable curiosity should be what we learn from her example

Katie Paterson sees cosmic magic in Turner

Olafur Eliasson is bringing his tunnel of fog to Tate Modern

Pop star Greg Gilbert explained how his art has helped him fight cancer

Netflix’s foray into arty horror, Velvet Buzzsaw, is flawed but fun

Women artists are claiming galleries’ attention at last

Simon Terrill applies Crowd Theory to his community art projects

… and in a dispatch from Perth, we learned about creativity in isolation

Bruce Gilden revealed personal tragedy informs his unflinching portraits

A carved Royal Navy figurehead has been listed as a work of art

Performance is the key for architect Liz Diller

The Parthenon Marbles found a way to provoke afresh, writes Jonathan Jones

… while culture figures respond to Jones

An audacious art theft was foiled in Moscow

… but in Paris, the criminals got away

Auctioneer Jeremy Cooper sent a postcard from the art world

Gauri Gill held a mask up to an intriguing Indian festival

We got a sneak peek at the work of the KGB

Jasmine Vink is Australia’s photographer of the year

Etinosa Yvonne Osayimwen explores Nigeria’s legacy of violence

A rare Lucian Freud portrait of a Guinness heir is up for sale

Madrid is celebrating the Prado’s 200th anniversary with a dark feast of Goya

Dior is fashioning a fine show at the V&A

The Queen’s collection gives the thumbs-up to Leonardo da Vinci

Even plants can propogate fake news

Danish Painter Tal R’s House Red evokes nostalgia for home

We remembered ceramics artist Maggie Angus Berkowitz

Don’t forget

To follow us on Twitter: @GdnArtandDesign

Sign up to the Art Weekly newsletter

Data protection laws have changed in the UK, under an initiative called GDPR. Make sure you continue to receive our email roundup of art and design news by confirming your wish here.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

Published via the Guardian News Feed plugin for WordPress.