Coming soon at National Museums Liverpool

Exhibitions at Merseyside Maritime Museum

China through the lens of John Thomson 1868-72

5 February 2010 - 31 May 2010

Please note the closing date is provisional and may be extended.

Merseyside Maritime Museum is the first UK venue to show this extensive exhibition of almost 150 photographs by the legendary Scottish photographer and travel writer John Thomson (1837-1921).

The photographs document his journeys through China from 1868 to 1872. Unlike most photographers working in the Far East at that time, Thomson was not a government official, nor a missionary. He was a professional photographer who was fascinated by China. Thomson possessed an open mind and was sensitive to the lives and surroundings of his subjects. He was able to capture people and street life in a most natural way. His photographs therefore form a unique archive documenting 19th century China's landscapes, architecture, people and customs.

Thomson's collection of 650 glass plate negatives is now housed in the Wellcome Collection Library, London. This exhibition of prints from the collection is being shown in venues across China in 2009 before coming to Liverpool. 

Exhibitions at National Conservation Centre

Lewis's 5th floor: a department story

26 February 2010 - 30 August 2010

This brand new exhibition of photography taken in one of the UK's oldest and most iconic department stores reveals a world that has been hidden since the 5th floor was closed to the public in the early 1980s. Local photographer Stephen King has beautifully captured the faded glamour of the hair salon, cafeteria and restaurant which were the epitome of style when they opened on Lewis's 5th floor in the 1950s.

Although the floor now remains empty, it was once a bustling hive of activity. The exhibition includes a series of portraits of current and ex-employees in their original place of work, alongside reminiscences of life at Lewis's during that era. Their presence injects life into the spectral setting of the now deserted floor.

Find out more about: 'Lewis's 5th floor: a department story'

Exhibitions at Walker Art Gallery

Aubrey Williams: Atlantic Fire

15 January 2010 - 11 April 2010

Aubrey Williams is an important modern artist whose paintings resist classification. They include influences and elements as diverse as American abstract painting, Amerindian and Mayan symbols, and the music of Shostakovich. Williams' work reflects the meeting of Atlantic and black Atlantic cultures in Europe, the Caribbean, North America and the Americas.

Organised in collaboration with October Gallery, London and the Aubrey Williams Estate. The exhibition is also part of the Black Atlantic season in Liverpool.

Find out more about: 'Aubrey Williams: Atlantic Fire'

High Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec prints

14 May 2010 - 8 August 2010

An exhibition of evocative prints that portray theatrical life and studies of daily life, including Lautrec’s very personal observations of the lives of prostitutes. The exhibition includes depictions of the dancer Jane Avril and the actress Sarah Bernhardt, as well as Lautrec’s iconic poster 'La Goulue' at the Moulin Rouge.  

A British Museum Tour

John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize

18 September 2010 - 3 January 2011

A major exhibition of contemporary paintings, selected through open competition and one of the most illustrious events in the British art world. The exhibition, which was founded by the late Sir John Moores and continues to be supported by the Moores family, has a track record for spotting rising talent. The exhibition also forms a major part in the Liverpool Biennial, the only biennial of contemporary art in the UK. 

In partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust

Find out more about: 'John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize'

Exhibitions at World Museum Liverpool

Plantastic

12 February 2010 - 5 September 2010

Discover the secret world of plants in Plantastic, an interactive exhibition for all the family. We use plants in our daily life, often without knowing or thinking about them, but they are essential for the planet’s survival.

In the exhibition there will be around 40 exciting interactive displays that show the dynamic life of plants and explore the themes of feeding, providing, reproducing, moving and surviving.

An exhibition co-produced by National Museums Liverpool, The Museon (Netherlands), Technopolis, the Flemish Science Centre (Belgium), Bruns (Netherlands) and Le Vaiseau (France).