The exhibitions you must see this December

Immerse yourself in artist Louise Giovanelli’s hypnotic, dream-like paintings, which capture places and people in moments of stillness or transformation. Many are inspired by scenes from films, while others are based on photographs Giovanelli has taken in working men’s clubs and theatres across the UK; all ‘invite us to meet at a threshold where reality and imagination converge’.

See portraits of style icons from the Beatles to Stormzy in this exhibition of fashion photography drawing on the National Portrait Gallery’s remarkable collection. From glamorous studio portraits to groundbreaking editorial shoots, Picture Perfect showcases how photographers have transformed fashion into a powerful form of visual storytelling and features work by celebrated names including Cecil Beaton and Miles Aldridge.

Remember life before the internet? Us neither, sometimes. Thankfully, Tate Modern’s new blockbuster exhibition brings together work by artists who were doing amazing things with algorithms long before we got a dial-up connection. Electric Dreams spotlights the early pioneers of optical, kinetic, programmed and digital art, from artists who played with maths, motors and industrial processes in the 1950s and 60s to early experiments in machine-made art in the 70s and 80s.

Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Mani Kambo makes work exploring the idea of the inner spirit, influenced by her upbringing and family history. In her first institutional exhibition, named after the Latin phrase ‘axis mundi’ – indicating where heaven and earth meet – she presents textiles and prints that draw on totemic objects and symbols, linking to notions of spirituality and a belief in reincarnation.

Witness a decade of profound social and cultural change through the lenses of photographers who documented Britain in the 1980s. See how photography was used as a tool for activism during a turbulent era of uprisings, strikes and protests, and explore how radical collectives and publications helped underrepresented voices to be heard.

Discover the work of Dublin-born sculptor Hilary Heron, who represented Ireland at the 1956 Venice Biennale, but whose work has been overlooked in histories of modern sculpture. Travelling from the Irish Museum of Modern Art to the FE McWilliam Gallery & Studio, this exhibition aims to rectify that, showcasing a range of Heron’s work in wood, stone, lead and steel, touching on themes including gender, relationships and religion.

It’s famous for its opulence and its royal inhabitants – but did you know that the Palace of Versailles was once a hotbed of scientific discovery? This exhibition explores the palace’s role as a site of scientific thinking and innovation in the 17th and 18th centuries. See fascinating items including a detailed map of the moon by Jean-Dominique Cassini and a cutting-edge watch designed for Marie Antoinette.

Ceramic works by Lindsey Mendick are placed in and around the Sainsbury Centre’s main collection display, responding to the theme of the venue’s current season, ‘Why Do We Take Drugs?’ Exploring complicated feelings about alcohol and drinking socially, the pieces are dotted around to create the sense of the aftermath of a party, and nod to the work of artists including Francis Bacon and Tracey Emin.