FIVE BEST EXHIBITIONS

AFRICA. Highly ambitious survey of "the art of a continent", from the earliest objects made by man to the modern age. Too much to take in, but a very helpful installation. Royal Academy, W1 (0171 439 7438), to 21 Jan. Daily 10-6.

ART AND POWER. Official art produced under the dictators. Somewhat sanitised, but still a forbidding account of the worst art of the 1930s. Hayward Gallery, SE1 (0171 261 0127), to 21 Jan. Thurs-Mon 10-6, Tues & Wed 10-8.

DAVID HOCKNEY. A retrospective of his drawings, from art-school days to the present. Much wunderkind charm at first, then rather boring views of LA and much-improved portraits of boyfriends, poets and his mum. Royal Academy, to 28 Jan. Daily 10-6.

JOHN MOORES. Much-loved open painting show: 60 new works of all sorts. Liverpool Walker Art Gallery (0151 478 4199), to 28 Jan. Sun 12-4.15, Mon-Sat 10-4.15.

IN TRUST FOR THE NATION. Seventy paintings from National Trust houses. Less conventional than you might expect; gems from Van Dyck, Claude, Turner, Andrea del Sarto, etc. National Gallery, WC2 (0171 839 3321), to 10 Mar. Sun 2-6, Mon-Sat 10-6. TH