Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his top 5 Art Exhibitions to see this Winter, all within walking distance of each other. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you. If you’re looking for more shows, check out last week’s top 5 where two remain open to visit.
Francesca DiMattio: Wedgwood @ Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
An ornate porcelain sculpture has a cleaning spray and a pair of trainers worked into them – mixing the classical with the contemporary. Complete with custom wallpaper and flooring it’s an impressive and purposefully overwhelming installation. It’s fully over the top and I’m so here for it. Until 23 December.
Igshaan Adams: Primere Wentelbaan @ Thomas Dane Gallery
Cloud-like wire sculptures hang off the wall as if they could detach and float across the gallery, while large scale tapestries adorn the walls and floor. These are beautiful works, but they carry a deeper meaning that relates to the artist’s own identity – his race, sexuality and religious upbringing. The works also reflect ‘desire lines’ that were the paths between segregated communities during the Apartheid era in the artist’s home country, South Africa. Until 20 December.
The Paradox of Proximity: Agostino Bonalumi and Lee Seung Jio @ Mazzoleni
White canvases given texture by the stretcher bars beneath it and black and grey striped work that makes you feel off balance. This exhibition brings together the minimalist works of an Italian and Korean artist whose practices were both rooted in the concept of space, even though they hailed from opposite ends of the world. Until 19 December.
The Butterfly Effect @ D-contemporary
Three female artists take us into the unreal, whether it be Martha Lamont’s close-ups of fantastical botanical worlds or Laura Holmes seemingly chaotic large scale abstract pieces. Sitting between the two are Lydia Makin’s grand gestural paintings, like a figure that’s been stretched into its most elemental properties. Until 9 December.
Daniel Ambrosi: AI and the Landscapes of Capability Brown @ Robilant & Voena
From a distance, these works look like photographs of landscapes designed by renowned 18th century landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Get closer and the motifs worked into them reveal the fact it’s a collaboration of photographs and artificial intelligence to generate these large scale works. Until 15 December.
All images courtesy gallery and artist. Igshaan Adams photo: Ben Westoby. Mazzoleni photo: Todd White Art Photography.
