Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic picks his Top 5 Painting Exhibitions to see in London in June. Each comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you.
Tai Shan Schierenberg: Mixed Emotions @ Flowers Gallery
Vibrant colours to monochrome, the deeply personal to the imagined idyllic – Tai Shan Schierenberg’s latest works are another collection of excellent paintings. While at the gallery, don’t forget to head downstairs to see the surreal photography of Lisa Jahovic where she takes snaps of everyday items after she’s drilled holes in them, making them appear illusory. Until 22nd June.
Araminta Blue: Sun Wreck @ Rosenfeld
Abstract swirls of colour but look closer and there’s a face here, a body there. I’m a fan of her sparing painting style and have watched it become more abstract over time and in these paintings they channel energy and hope, weaving in with the themes of water, wind and light. Until 15th June.
Alia Ahmad: Thought to Image @ Albion Jeune
When we think of Alia Ahmad’s home country of Saudi Arabia we think desert, but she’s chosen to focus on the flora of the country and gone both closer and more vivid so what we see feels otherworldly. She also takes inspiration from Al Sadu textiles woven by nomadic Bedouin tribes to create these vibrant semi-abstract works. Until 12 June.
Anders Scrmn Meisner: Shark Smiles and Sunflowers @ Kristin Hjellegjerde, Wandsworth
Birds, trees and flowers are painted so vivid that they resemble woodblock prints, each with the title down the side as if every work is a chapter in a book. In a way they are as each one draws from the artist’s memories and fuses them with his imagination to create these idyllic views. Until 22nd June.
Warmly Still @ Shoreditch Modern
It’s always great to discover a new gallery and that’s the case with this group show of impressive painters, whether that be a fiery vision by Justin Cole, the flat paintings of Andrea Cucinotta or the loosely painted animals by Vystralis. My favourite from the show is the work of Freddie Darke and his mysterious silhouettes in his figurative paintings. Until 14 June.
All images courtesy respective artist and gallery. Andres Scrmn Meisner photo: Copyright BJ Deakin photography
