Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his Top 5 Art Exhibitions to see in London in late May. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you. If you’re looking for more exhibitions to see in May, check out his previous top 5.
Frank Auerbach: The Charcoal Heads @ Courtauld
It’s your last chance to catch this fantastic collection of charcoal portraits by one of Britain’s great living painters – Frank Auerbach. Whether it be a dignified self-portrait, one of fellow painter Leon Kossoff, or of Helen Gillespie is livened up with energetic red strokes it’s portraiture at its finest. Until 27th May, ticketed.
LR Vandy: Twist @ October Gallery
Rope is a material integral to work on land and sea but it’s also steeped in history, particularly around shipping of goods globally and for being integral to the horrific slave trade. By creating new formations using rope and other materials the artist playfully subverts the material’s historical context to create beautiful sculptures. Until 25th May.
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize @ The Photographers’ Gallery
Empty houses belonging to those who have gone missing during violent political conflicts and the sounds of mass graves being exhumed in a darkened room. The works of Hrair Sarkissian (above) are haunting and sit with you for days and weeks after experiencing them. It’s the strongest entry in this year’s Deutsche Prize at The Photographers’ Gallery. Until 2nd June.
Laced with Dust @ Studio West
This is an impressive collection of five painters including Naomi Boiko Stapleton’s paintings of intimacy and Anna Bloom’s works created outdoors so it takes a while to realise there may be a face or a pan within its layers. Until 30th May.
In Loving Memory @ Guts Gallery Project Space
Every object is imbued with the memories and associations we place upon it and that’s the theme that unites the artists in an exhibition curated by Charlotte Leseberg Smith. Damaris Athene’s pink fleshy works feel as if they hold the memory of every touch or smell that’s passed over them, Kasia Wozniak captures time between silver plates, and switching to smartphone cameras Marie Obegi paints the ‘memories’ her phone flags up to her. Until 22 May.
All images courtesy and copyright respective artist and gallery. Auerbach photo: Fergus Carmichael. LR Vandy Photo © Jonathan Greet. Deutsche Prize image Copyright Kate Elliott, courtesy The Photographers’ Gallery.
