2023 - Issue 86
Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.
The 85th open exhibition from The London Group (@thelondongroup) — the UK’s longest-running artists’ collective, established in 1913 as a response to the Royal Academy’s restrictions and limitations — features 158 artworks from both member and selected non-member exhibitors. It’s clear from my photos that I was drawn to many abstract and architectural works, but there’s a very wide range on offer and the curatorial team have ensured high quality throughout. I was particularly moved by the ‘memorial’ wall featuring short bios and photos of recently deceased members. What a lovely touch!
‘The London Group Open 2023’ at Copeland Gallery (@copelandparkse) until 26 Nov
The leafs and greens throughout the rooms are so true to life that it’s easier to imagine someone’s just spray painted everything beige rather than believe Kaori Tatebayashi (@kceramics) individually crafted each one by hand. But she has, in meticulous detail, taking 18 months to do so. Every leafy vein, every thorny stem, every burgeoning flower bud that will never open and fill the world with colour but exist as life forever frozen in time.
‘Still Life’ at Tristan Hoare (@tristanhoare) until 15 Dec
NOTE: Due to the fragility of the installation, the gallery requests that all visitors book a 30 minute slot (free) to visit the exhibition. Admission to the exhibition without an appointment will be subject to availability.
The fourth show at Soup Gallery — run by art historian, writer and curator Hector Campbell (@campbell.hector) who authors ‘The Shock of the Now’ newsletter — is filled with smaller works, roughly A4 to A6 range. I was first lured in by the glowy, ghostly auras from Sang Woo Kim (@sangwo0) and Kate Burling (@kateburling), but I spent most of my time wanting to stroke the rough textures from Lucy Neish (@lucy_neish). Along with photoreal oils by Anna Clegg (@asclegg), some India Nielsen (@indianielsen) moonlit magic and another six artists I haven’t even mentioned, there’s plenty of variety vying for you to lean in and look closely.
Callum Eaton (@callumeats), Rachel Hobkirk (@rachelhobkirk) and Scott Young (@scottsyoung) aim their trompe l'oeil skills at modern consumerism to varying degrees of unsettledness, but it’s the abstracted works in this show that left me most curious. Floating concrete and wobbly goblets from Sandra Poulson (@sandrapoulson) made me question gravity before I could even begin to wonder what they meant, whereas the stitching and sutures by Vilte Fuller (@viltefuller) made me turn my curiosity inwards. Were her strange organic shapes located inside or out of a body? If that’s too gruesome to consider, you can distract yourself with the lighthearted, found object sculptures by Aidan Duffy (@riddlewrappr).
‘The Unlimited Dream Company II’ at Hannah Barry (@hannahbarrygallery) until 16 Dec
Christmas window displays are a great form of escapism, and you’ll probably want to linger at this one since #BRICKFLATS (@brickflats) will both make you laugh and remind you of your overpriced, undersized London accommodation. Normally you’ll only see these carefully hidden into existing wall gaps between Shoreditch High Street and Stoke Newington. But for a limited time, ten (10) new ones are on display, though I haven’t yet seen the finished install because during my sneak preview the artist and gallery were still busy building temporary walls using low-carbon bricks generously loaned from Kenoteq (@kenoteq), who will repurpose them into a future build after the show.
‘#BRICKFLATS’ at Smallest Gallery in Soho (@thesmallestgalleryinsoho) until 03 Mar 2024
PLUS…
Check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.
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