Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his favourite exhibitions to see this month – this time they’re all located close to each other within Mayfair or Fitzrovia . Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you. Those looking for more shows should check out last week’s top 5 where all remain open.
Marcus Jansen: Victims and Victors @ Almine Rech
Reflecting both his time in the armed forces and hot topics in contemporary society Marcus Jansen’s ‘faceless’ paintings are powerful portraits. Referencing how we only celebrate victors, the silencing of women, tearing down of monuments and the continued invasion of personal privacy in this punchy political painting show. Until 19 February.
Glen Baxter: Inexpicably Vermillion @ Flowers, Cork street
We all need a chuckle-some exhibition early in the year and Glen Baxter’s duly delivers. His cartoon-like drawings make light of art and art history in creative ways from the surreal to some clever plays on words. One that’s guaranteed to make you smile. Until 19 February.
BongSu Park & Shuster & Moseley @ Gallery Rosenfeld
Light refracts, shimmers and changes perceptions in a show that combines the work of two very different artists that work well together. The works of Shuster and Moseley are beautifully crafted out of glass and the light projected on to them creates a spectacular effect on the walls around them. While BongSu Park’s work in the dark is just as ethereal in a work that’s based on dreams. Until 13 February.
Roy DeCarava: Selected works @ David Zwirner
There’s such beauty and richness in these black and white photographs by Roy DeCarava. The subtle differences in shade result in people’s features becoming barely visible and buildings feel like they are paintings. It’s photography that’s so subtle it’s bewitching. Until 19 February.
Francis Bacon: Selected Graphics @ Marlborough London
The Bacon exhibition at the Royal Academy is the talk of the town but there’s also another Bacon show around the corner at Marlborough. The human figure twists and contorts in these fantastic prints, based on his paintings – including some of his phenomenal triptychs and a superb lithograph of Pope Innocent. Until 26 February.
Roy DeCarava image: © The Estate of Roy DeCarava. All rights reserved. Courtesy David Zwirner. All other images copyright artist / artist’s estate and gallery.
