Art critic Tabish Khan brings you ‘The Top Art Exhibitions to see in London’. Each one comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you. For those looking for more art, 3 of last week’s top 5 are also still open to see as well:
50 x 50 & 50 years @ Flowers Gallery
Flowers Gallery is a remarkable 50 years old and this excellent gallery has got a couple of special exhibitions to mark the occasion. In the larger East London all the gallery’s artists have been tasked with creating works that are 50 by 50 cm and it’s great to see how the artists get inventive with these dimensions. While the smaller Cork Street space contains artist’s estates that they represent. Here’s to another 50 years. Until 29 February.
Young Bomberg and the Old Masters @ The National Gallery
Energised abstract forms dance across a piece — that’s what I expect from David Bomberg. The new addition in this free one-room display links it back to the Old Masters and we can see how Bomberg’s claustrophobic painting of Canadian sappers links back to the composition of a painting by El Greco. Until 1 March.
Data dating @ Watermans Art Centre, Brentford
What is it like to date and fall in love in the digital age? From Virtual Reality Tinder to an eye marked with a ‘seen’ and a tick this exhibition examines the modern dating environment. Dating gets even creepier with avatars on televisions representing online chatbots, based on those that were on the controversial dating website Ashley Madison — a site for those who were looking to cheat where it turned out most of the ‘women’ were actually bots. Until 1 March.
Tony Cragg: Stacks & Richard Deacon: Deep State @ Lisson Gallery
Swirling, curved, polished stacks reach up towards the ceiling and wooden beams twist and surge across the gallery. A beautiful duet of exhibitions is a chance to admire the latest works of two masters of sculpture. Until 29 February.
Dear Christine @ Arthouse1
A collection of artists shine a new light on Christine Keeler recognising that she was the victim of powerful men, rather than how she was negatively portrayed by the media at the time. Alongside photographs, there are portraits of Christine with each artist presenting their own empowering take on her. Until 29 February. Update: this exhibition closed early due to unforeseen circumstances.
All images copyright the artist and courtesy gallery. David Bomberg image copyright Tate. Dear Christine image James Birch.
