Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top 5 art exhibitions to see in London in February. If you’re after more shows, check out last week’s top museum shows where all but one remain open to visit.
Being John Smith @ Kate MacGarry (Condo hosting Tany Leighton)
The exhibition revolves around a 27-minute film about what it’s like to live with such a common name and it’s brilliantly witty. The works in the space are just as playful and absurd with a set of coffee tables that use coffee table books as the tables themselves. Until 15th February.
Taha Heydari: 12 Volt Fire @ Ab-Anbar
From a distance, these paintings look like they’re glitching digital images. Get up close and you realise they are meticulously painted with stencils used to create a cross-hatching effect over them. It’s even more impressive given their scale, in these paintings based on moments from Iran and its history.
Until 15th February.
Nahem Shoa: The London Look @ William Hine
Nahem Shoa is a fantastic portrait painter, as we can see in these dramatic works, whether it be a gathering of friends in Notting Hill or a reclining black woman in the pose of the Rokeby Venus. His practice spans decades, but he hasn’t received the attention he deserves and is bizarrely more widely shown outside of his hometown of London. Let’s hope this exhibition helps get him more noticed in London and beyond. Until 22nd February.
In Scope, curated by James Grossman @ Hypha Gallery HQ Euston
Sculptures that are inspired by organic forms and works that have algae growing inside them over the length of the exhibition. In Scope has created a ‘sculptural ecosystem’ in the Hypha Studios space at the base of Euston Tower. It’s a playful combination of nature and sculpture, with a relaxing selection of light works in the back half of the gallery. Until 22nd February.
Acaye Kerunen: Neena, aan uthii @ Pace
Working with local communities in Uganda and natural materials, Acaye Kerunen’s exhibition is filled with striking wall-based, hanging and sculpture. I love this idea of sustainable making and engaging with local traditions to make works using palm leaves, millet stems, banana fibres and other locally sourced materials. Until 22nd February.
Ab-Anbar photo: Amin Yousefi. Nahem Shoa photo: Damian Griffiths. In scope photo: Carlo Zambon. All images copyright and courtesy respective artist and gallery.
