Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his Top 5 Art Exhibitions to see in London in November. If you are after more exhibitions, check out last week’s top 5.
Kristian Evju: Hinterlands at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery
Well-dressed men and women stand in the ruins of what were once grand buildings, with nature visible past the crumbling walls. It’s both opulent and post-apocalyptic in the beautifully executed paintings of Kristin Evju, where the foreground is often in black and white, and the background in colour. It reflects that he pieces together fragments from different places and times, including figures from 20th-century Vienna, which was the starting point for this series of works. Until 22nd November.\
Patterns of Faith: Living Traditions in Islamic Art at Sotheby’s
We see great examples of Islamic architecture and craft in museums, but very rarely is the focus on the contemporary master craftspersons still working in this style. Thankfully, this exhibition shines a light on these masters, featuring beautiful tiles made in Palestine, doors made in Afghanistan, a pair of stone-carved ablution bowls, three Quran stands, and a stunning Syrian ceiling panel as the centrepiece. It’s organised by the UK charity Turquoise Mountain and Ithra, who support and work with these artisan communities. Until 5th November.
Sarah Miska: The Hunt at Sim Smith
There is a ridiculousness to fox hunting that means it almost feels satirical, and Sarah Miska captures that with close-up paintings of the red jackets, the hats, and even those on horseback clinking wine glasses. There is a fox split across two canvases to signify the hunt’s horrific end goal, and the mainly female riders hint that this is a class-related activity, not a gendered one. Miska is American, which allows her to see the over-the-top pageantry from an outsider’s perspective. Until 15th November.
Claire Fontaine: Show Less at Mimosa House
This exhibition is not for the faint-hearted, as a neon in the front window screams ‘Fatherfucker’, asking us to question why we always use mother instead when swearing, and why violating one is seen as different to the other. While upstairs, there are altered versions of works by Marcel Duchamp and Gustave Courbet’s Origin of the World, a close-up painting of female genitalia. It’s a deliberately provocative and engaging show that’s already prompted walk-in complaints, a sign it’s having an impact. Until 6th December.
Ectoplasmix at The Gallery of Everything
Things are getting spooky and otherworldly in this exhibition that centres around the ethereal portraits by Czech medium Frantisek Jaroslav Pecka Susan, that have only recently been rediscovered in a private collection. Alongside these works are other spiritual pieces and historical literature on links to different realms. It also includes works by contemporary artists, including Susan Hiller’s photographs sourced online, which people believe show ghosts. Until 30th November.
All images are copyrighted and courtesy of the respective artists and galleries. Mimosa House photo: Christa Holka.
