Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top gallery & museum exhibitions to see in London. If you are looking for more exhibitions, check out his previous top 5.
Aleksandra Karpowicz: Remember What You Forgot at Felstead Art
Aleksandra Karpowicz has been through the challenging process of receiving a cancer diagnosis and going through surgery and treatment in the last few years. She has taken the remnants and experiences of that process and turned them into a powerful exhibition. There is a mandala made from syringes and blister packs, clinical waste bins repurposed as an installation, pictures from the morning walks she took during her chemotherapy to stay grounded, and a film in which she speaks of resilience as she cuts off her hair; the hair is on display in the gallery. Until 13th June.
Gabriel Abrantes, Bardo Loops at Gasworks
These videos are deeply emotional and farcical at the same time, as ghosts argue about the benefits of genetic tests, breaking up with each other, and whether they should have a baby. All the while, a ghost plays a song on the piano about being lonely, while in a flooded room. These four short films are brilliantly done and stick with you long after you’ve left. Until 14th June.
Racheal Crowther: Liquid Trust at Chisenhale Gallery
Enter the space, and a militaristic structure dominates the space. We can walk inside, and despite its oppressive look, it’s been used as a mobile health unit. Surrounding it, the walls are painted a particular shade of pink designed to soothe people and reduce aggression, while a gentle chemical smell that mimics powdered milk fills the air. It’s a great examination of all the psychological cues in life that are designed to subtly manipulate us. Until 14th June.
Eleanor May Watson: There is No Time Like Spring at Soho Revue
Whether it be a bunch of flowers or light filtering across a table, these works capture the memory of a domestic moment, with each scene a composite of moments she’s observed. Being a mother of two young children means she’s nostalgic for moments that haven’t come to pass but will be fleeting when they arrive. Until 6th June.
South Open 4 at OHSH Projects, Peckham
This annual open call sees the gallery return to the Peckham arches with a great selection of artists. I was drawn to the two works in the centre, Cas Campbell’s animal-human hybrid figure and Vivien Delta’s pile of masks made from volcanic stoneware. It’s a great mix of mediums, from a conceptual sculpture playing on the space’s lack of a fire extinguisher to an oversized painted gun. Until 30th May.
All images are copyrighted and courtesy of the respective artists and galleries. Gasworks photo: Peter Otto. Chisenhale photo: Mark Blower. Soho Revue photo: Tom Carter. South Open photo: BJDeakin photography.
