Immersive exhibition on bees and their fight for survival is coming to National Museums Liverpool

Nature is at the heart of the 2024 season at NML, featuring landscapes and an iconic masterpiece, alongside the life of bees.

National Museums Liverpool has announced a series of exhibitions across their venues that will challenge audiences to think about how they view the natural world.

A relentless battle to survive, the beauty of our landscapes as painted by female artists and natural beauty in a masterpiece by Diego Velazquez, are all displayed in galleries for the Spring / Summer 2024 season.

Bees: A Story of Survival will transport visitors into a world of bees, to explore their importance to our own lives and to understand their fight for survival.

In a unique partnership with award-winning artist and sculptor Wolfgang Buttress, the immersive exhibition is a beautiful harmony of art and science featuring cutting edge technology. Using sound and light environments, the exhibition provides visitors with a real-time connection to the bees within their natural habitat and reveals the changing picture of their activity. Bees: A Story of Survival opens at World Museum on 3 May 2024.

The work of female artists will go on show at Lady Lever Art Gallery as Another View: Landscapes by Women Artists opens on 20 April 2024. The exhibition will examine women artists’ place in the history of British landscape art, a story traditionally dominated by male artists. Featuring artwork from National Museums Liverpool collections and works from other institutions, Another View: Landscapes by Women Artists celebrates the history of landscapes by women artists.

The only surviving nude artwork by artist Diego Velázquez, The Rokeby Venus, is the focal point of National Treasures: Velázquez in Liverpool, opening at the Walker Art Gallery on 10 May 2024. 

The masterpiece is being loaned to the Walker as part of the National Treasures programme celebrating the 200th birthday of the National Gallery in London. The Walker will display the painting alongside a selection of unexpected works from the collections of National Museums Liverpool, exploring this iconic 17^th century painting in a contemporary light.  

Laura Pye, director of National Museums Liverpool, said:

“From a brand-new exploration into landscapes by women artists to the visually-stunning and important Bees exhibition, I’m sure we’ll have something for everyone to enjoy. This season we are focussing on the natural world, the role many species and we play in it. From learning about insects, animals and humans over the years to how we can help in the fight against climate change, our venues are perfectly placed to help you discover, educate, experience and take action.”

Alongside exhibitions, a range of learning events will take place across the season, with activities suitable for all ages. Beyond the Label talks delve into the hidden stories in National Museums Liverpool’s collections, and Old Dock Tours give people a chance to see Liverpool from below the ground. 

For more information on all exhibition and events taking place across National Museums Liverpool venues click HERE.