2023 - Issue 49
Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.
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Questionably painted faces, barely disguised deviance, lots of abstracts and… musical cactii? Here are five shows that might make you see art in a different light.
There’s something cheeky about the faces painted by Sofia Mitsola (@SofiaMitsola), as if the women depicted know they’re actively subverting the male gaze and other classical art tropes. They’re the most fun works in a group of rostered artists heavy on abstract. Visit Eastcastle Street to see most of the show highlights, including what Ragna Bley (@ragnabley) does with acrylic on sailcloth. But they’ve saved the best for Saville Row: six small prints on paper embellished with acrylic, ink and pure 24 carat gold by Lina Iris Viktor (@LinaIrisViktor).
‘Let The Sunshine In’ at Pilar Corrias (@PilarCorriasGallery) until 18 Feb
According to the gallery write-up these super long, unframed canvasses by Wynnie Mynerva (@wynniemynerva_) are intended to address the “binary creation myths of Abrahamic religions” while echoing Western Old Master compositions. You’ll have to take their word for it, because they look like somebody instructed one of those AI-art-generating apps to mash-up Flora Yukhnovich and PornHub. You could easily assume they’re just flowery abstracts except… is that a buttocks? There’s another one! And a phallus, and a… horse? Stare at these cloud-like compositions long enough and you’ll see explicit orgies and barely disguised deviance. It’s often hard to tell exactly what’s going on but I found them to be oddly fun to study and I love how they’re hung.
‘Bone of My Bones, Flesh of My Flesh’ at Gathering (@gathering.london) until 04 Mar
Mums with little ones will be incredibly conflicted about this show. On the one hand, Clara Hastrup has created a fantastic teaching opportunity that demonstrates how science can play an instrumental role in the creation of beautiful music and art. On the other hand, it normalises dropping your breakfast cereal all over the floor. Either way, I recommend everyone go check out these mad-scientist style installations. I only wish there were more than three, but somewhere up there the ghosts of Fluxus are smiling and singing along.
‘Organic Behaviour’ at Lamb London (@lamb.gallery) until 11 Mar
If you can get past the fact that Omar El Lahib (@omar_ellahib_) is never going to win a portrait commission painting cartoony faces then you might enjoy these works. I amused myself brainstorming funny backstories to explain the scenes. Most of the poses imply something sneaky is about to happen because almost every figure looks like someone conspicuously acting innocent after they’ve been spotted by an authority figure. Even that lonely guy alone in the woods looks like he’s up to no good. The works are huge — averaging 1.5-2 metres wide! — yet they seem so small in Saatchi Yates’ giant new 12,000 sqft space.
At Saatchi Yates Bury St (@saatchiyates) until 15 Mar
There’s something for everyone at this large group show, as long as everyone likes abstract art. Sculpture fans can compare and contrast the grey, rust-effect metal work by Judith Burrows (@judithburrowsartiststudio) with the chalky white, organic cast porcelain by Simon Kidd (@Simon.Kidd). And there’s a variety of painting styles to please the eyes whether you’re into geometrics, Basquiat-style splotches of paint, or layered into mixed-media works on metal or glass. With Arthur Lanyon (@Arthur.Lanyon), Jhonatan Pulido (@Jhonatanepulido) and more.
‘AFTER BEFORE’ at No 20 Arts (@no20arts) until 25 Mar
PLUS — don’t forget to check my What’s On page so you don’t miss any of the other great art shows closing soon.