September is heaving with cultural exhibitions and events, many of which were previously postponed or – lucky for us – have been extended. Read on for our cultural tips for September 2020, from a sculptural intervention at one of the UK’s most beautiful stately homes to a museum show that claims it’ll make you feel like you’re in a club – remember those? Plus, one of many books hitting the shelves and a design festival to enjoy both online and in the flesh.

The Modern House Magazine
We couldn’t cover this month’s cultural happenings without at least a brief mention of our new biannual print publication. An extension of our online editorial offering, The Modern House Magazine hits shelves on 9 September and will be filled with fresh content. There are home visits in London and Wales, with YBA Keith Coventry and Studio Nicholson founder Nick Wakeman, and a survey of the most promising names in the design industry. Plus, stories on a simple mountain shelter in the Scottish Highlands and a beach shack selling seafood near Newcastle. Welcome to our first issue.

Anish Kapoor, Houghton Hall, Norfolk
One of Britain’s most beautiful pieces of Palladian architecture, Houghton Hall is always worth a visit – and until 1 November not only do we get to enjoy its historic interiors and elegant gardens, but also the modern sculptures of Anish Kapoor, which are in dialogue with them.

On show are major works in mirror and stone, including Sky Mirror (2018), a five-metre-wide circular stainless-steel disc that tilts towards – and upturns – the sky. Inside, a series of smaller circular mirrors in vivid hues hover above marble plinths, replacing classical busts. The exhibition also features working sketches, all swoops and curves, that give a glimpse of the celebrated sculptor’s creative process.

Toyin Ojih Odutola: A Countervailing Theory, Barbican Art Gallery, London
The Nigerian-American artist Toyin Ojih Odutola is known for her meticulous portraits in charcoal, pastel and ink. Until 24 January, a new series will span the Barbican’s Curve gallery and tell the story of an imaginary ancient society ruled by warrior women in an otherworldly landscape inspired by central Nigeria’s Jos Plateau.

As well as exploring power dynamics, the drawings – which read almost like a graphic novel and are accompanied by an immersive soundtrack by Ghanaian-British conceptual sound artist Peter Adjaye – challenge predefined gender roles and origin myths. Oh, and if you still need convincing, Zadie Smith called Ojih Odutola “one of the most exciting young artists working today”.

Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers, Design Museum, London
With parties thin on the ground lately, the Design Museum’s promise that its latest exhibition will evoke the experience of being in a club is sure to draw a crowd. It charts the history of electronic music via technology, art, design and party people themselves.

There are sections themed around cities such as Chicago (where house music was invented in the 1980s) and Berlin (where Berghain offered a safe space for LGBTQ club-goers), as well as 3D shows, shots of sweaty ravers, psychedelic graphics, DJ masks and, of course, more than one stellar soundtrack. Plus, even with social-distancing measures in place, there are plenty of opportunities to dance.

Indelicacy by Amina Cain
September is jam-packed with book releases, as hundreds of delayed titles finally hit the shelves. Among them are big hitters, including Elena Ferrante’s new novel The Lying Life of Adults, as well as debuts such as Indelicacy by Amina Cain. Published by Daunt Books Publishing, the novel tells the story of Vitória, a cleaning woman at an unnamed art museum who wants to write about, rather than dust, paintings. When she marries into money, she thinks she’s landed the life she always wanted – but she soon realises that her newly privileged existence is no less constrained. A cautionary tale about aspiration and a deft exploration of art, class and desire.

Inhabited Sculpture, New Art Centre, Wiltshire
“Architecture is inhabited sculpture.” So said the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. To celebrate this idea, New Art Centre is commissioning a group of architects to design sculptural dwellings. First up is “The Writing House” (2020), a collaboration between New Art Centre and Koto Design. Created from timber, the geometric cabin is carbon neutral, with a large glazed window that frames the garden and a charred exterior that nods to the ancient Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, which centres on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. It sits in the gallery’s sculpture park alongside works by Richard Deacon, David Nash and Michael Craig-Martin. Plus, while you’re there, be sure to check out exhibitions by Jacqueline Poncelet and Edmund de Waal.

Short courses, Wakehurst, Sussex
If you want to try something new this September, look no further than the short courses on offer at Wakehurst. Local basket-maker and willow-grower Dominic Parrette will be leading willow-weaving workshops; using willow coppiced on site, you’ll learn how to weave your own garden structure, from a plant support to a heron or hen. Also on hand to share his expertise is Loder Valley ranger Steven Robinson, who will be teaching a day-long charcoal-making course around a campfire in the woods. Book via the website, and make sure you leave time to stroll around the gardens when you’re done.

London Design Festival, London
This year’s London Design Festival is going ahead, but with little international travel taking place it will focus firmly on the local scene. The audience will walk between different shows in each of the city’s Design Districts, from King’s Cross to Shoreditch, and see landmark projects such as The Hothouse, a controlled habitat for cultivating plants conceived by London-based architecture practice Studio Weave. There will also be lots on offer online, including a portal where freelancers affected by the pandemic can share their work, which will in turn be presented in a dedicated digital gallery. From 12 to 20 September.

Hand and Land, Make Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Somerset
Also opening on 12 September, this group exhibition at Hauser & Wirth’s gallery for contemporary craft brings together seven makers whose works in ceramic, textile and wood explore the relationship between nature and human intervention. As we spend more time at home, we have the chance to consider the value we place on the pieces with which we surround ourselves. Many of the handmade objects on show were made during lockdown and each embodies the creative process through shape and form. Featuring Christabel Balfour, Adam Buick, Nancy Fuller and more.