What’s On – Art & Design in April
White Cube, Hoxton, N1
1. Anslem Keifer : Des Meeres und der Liebe Wellen
Another fabulous show from one of my favourite artists. Kiefer has produced 24 panoramic seascape photographs, which have been transformed by electrolysis. Each image is different and has a gynaecological instrument superimposed on the surface. There is also a large wall mounted piece, which includes a lead boat suspended above an encrusted surface. Ends April 9th.
Victoria Miro, London, N1
2. Chantal Joffe Exhibition
Joffe’s latest series of large portraits of women. The downstairs gallery are fictional portraits of Joffe’s heroines painted chronologically and moving forward form the 1840’s to the present. Dark backgrounds with strongly contoured bodies in awkward or sexual poses. The portraits upstairs appear happier, with brighter colours being used for the backgrounds and the subjects. Ends April 21st.
Hayward Gallery London, SE1
3. British Art Show
A survey of current trends in every medium. All the work has been produced since 2005. One of my favourites is the Christian Marclay film ‘The Clock’ which was shown at White Cube last year. Also a fabulous large drawing by Charles Avery of the inhabitants of an imaginary island…it needs to be looked at closely to see the amazing detail. Wolfgang Tillman’s vast photograph made without the use of a camera looks simple from a distance but has some interesting effects visible on close inspection. Ends April 17th.
Sadlers Coles, New Burlington Place, London, W1
4. Jonathan Horowitz: Art, History
This group of work is a response to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. which includes work by Ellsworth Kelly, Sol Le Witt and Richard Serra. The Pink Curve takes Kelly’s signature curve, made in bright pink to represent the triangle of gay Holocaust victims. Also Crucifix for Two made from Douglas fir represents the motif of two conjoined crosses used to subvert the religious symbolism of the cross. Ends April 30th.
Modern Art, Eastcastle Street, London, W1W
5. Barnaby Furnas Exhibition
A show of recent paintings by the American artist where the subjects, who appear to be in a psychoactive drug induced state, are surrounded by cigarettes, guitars, guns and other paraphernalia. The three small watercolours are particularly good. Ends April 16th.
Stephen Friedman Gallery, Old Burlington Street, London, W1
6. Stephan Balkenhol Exhibition
The latest series of figurative sculptures sawn and chiselled from single blocks of poplar or wawa wood. These are crudely finished and show the chisel marks before being simply painted. Some are life size whilst others 24″ tall which rise out of 12″ square plinths.
Although the overall effect is somewhat crude he has an amazing technical ability and has been exploring the role of the figure in contemporary art for many years. Ends April 16th.
Hauser & Wirth, Savile Row, South Gallery, London, W1
7. Ida Applebroog Exhibition
An amazing show by the 82 year old American artist who produces paintings and installations using velum, paper, canvas, oils, resins and other materials. The views through a window partly obscured by a roller blind are particularly haunting. A piece entitled Monalisa is a wooden scaffold lattice house with numerous drawings of vaginas as the ‘windows’ and a giant doll-like figure painted on the wall. The largest work entitled Caleb is in 24 parts and uses the walls and floor spaces to display images of a single body which have been digitally manipulated. Ends April 30th
On a somewhat different note the Zetter Townhouse opens this week in St Johns Square, EC1, promising interesting cocktails and delicious food in a setting created by Russell Sage…should be good.
