Culture Corner / April / What's On

Our monthly feature Culture Corner is back to give you some tips for what to do this month in London. From Pompeii and David Bowie to Man Ray and Iranian art, we've got it covered. Pick Me Up / Somerset House Alexa: 'Possibly one of my favourite annual shows, Pick Me Up at Somerset House is the UK's first graphic art fair and the perfect place to pick up original prints from as little as £10. Showcasing work from elite and emerging artists, there's also loads of events and workshops most of which are free with your entry ticket - I highly recommend the Aaardman model making workshop! Definitely not one to miss and the festival pass is an absolute bargain at £15 if you're planning to pop back for the different events'. Pick Me Up runs from 18th to 28th April. Mother © John C Thurbin. Member of the Puck collective

Life & Death: Pompeii & Herculaneum / British Museum Lisa: 'As a Classics graduate (some time ago!) I'm always interested in anything to do with ancient Rome, so I'm really looking forward to visiting the spectacular Pompeii and Herculaneum exhibition currently on at the British Museum. This is a major exhibition on the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the first ever held on these important cities at the British Museum and the first such major exhibition in London for almost 40 years. It will bring together over 250 fascinating objects, both recent discoveries and celebrated finds from earlier excavations. Many of these objects have never before been seen outside Italy. The exhibition will have a unique focus, looking at the Roman home and the people who lived in these ill-fated cities.' Life & Death: Pompeii & Herculaneum runs until September 29th.

Mosaic of a guard dog. From the House of Orpheus, Pompeii, 1st century AD. © Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei / Trustees of the British Museum

Nasrin Tabatabi & Babak Afrassiabi: Seep / Chisenhale Gallery Tom: 'Iranian artists Nasrin Tabatabi and Babak Afrassiabi are currently exhibiting at Chisenhale Gallery in East London in what is the artist duos first solo exhibition in the UK. Documenting the process of archiving by juxtaposing two divergent archives (BP and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran), the artists work seeks to explore ideas of absence and upheaval. Interesting work which in the context of both Iran and BP currently being at the forefront of peoples' minds takes on a more urgent dimension.' Seep runs until May 12th. Nasrin Tabatabai & Babak Afrassiabi, 'Seep' video still, 2012. Courtesy the artists, Delfina Foundation, MACBA and Chisenhale Gallery.

BOWIEVIRUS / Institute of Contemporary Arts Dani: 'If your having difficulty getting tickets to see the David Bowie at the V&A the ICA are holding their very own Bowie homage. The exhibition 'bowie virus' is a celebration of David Bowie in which Artists and photographers referenced, reworked and recontextualised the star, reigniting Bowie's persona for a new audience. The ICA has to be one of the hidden gems of London. Great if you want to escape the idiot tourists with their stupid union jack hats taking their picture taken in front of the Eros in Piccadilly Circus yawn. Situated opposite St Jame's Park their cafe comes into it's own on a saturday afternoon as Peyton and Byrne supply the cakes when you need that sugar hit!' BOWIEVIRUS runs until May 12th. Man Ray Portraits / National Portrait Gallery Lauren: 'Man Ray Portraits focuses on the artist's photography career in Paris and America from 1916 - 1968. It features vintage prints and is an insightful look into the innovative techniques that he used. He photographed many key people in the Dada and Surrealist movements from models, muses, writers, poets and painters including Lee Miller, Catherine Deneuve, Ava Gardner, Earnest Hemmingway and Salvador Dali'. Runs until May 27th. Barbette, 1926 by Man Ray The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 84.XM.1000.39 © Man Ray Trust ARS-ADAGP