There has been a frenzy of cultural activities in London this past few weeks with Fashion Week, BAFTA and Brit Awards making the city a buzzing hot spot for creative industries. But my eyes stay focused on art and after being away for several weeks, I am ready to catch up with the exhibitions in London. I made a list to start off, so here it is in no particular order. “Sensing Spaces – Architecture Reimagined” at the Royal Academy of Arts, on view until 6th of April
This show looks amazing from the photos I have seen, and got raving reviews from major publications.
**** - The Telegraph 'Inspiring' - London Evening Standard 'Epic' - Wired 'Enchanting' - The Independent 'Era-defining' - Architects' Journal ’One of the most exciting exhibitions of 2014' - Time Out
“Martin Creed: What is the Point of It?” at Hayward Gallery, on view until 27th of April
This is the first major retrospective of the celebrated Turner Prize-winning minimalist artist Creed, and I am dying to go and see his playful, thought-provoking art. Along with the art, the gallery has also organized concerts of Creed’s music, screenings of his films and performances so one can get the full dose!
“Strange Beauty: Masters of the German Renaissance” at the National Gallery, on view until 11th of May
This focus exhibition is put together from the museum’s permanent collection and highlights the best-known names from the period such as Hans Holbein the Younger, Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder. A great way to learn about how these works were perceived in their time, and how they are seen today.
“James Turrell: Recent Works” at Pace London, on view until 5th of April
After seeing the big Turrell exhibition at LACMA and having visited his impressive installations on Naoshima Island in Japan this past year, I can’t get enough of Turrell! I look forward getting another healthy dose with this gallery show.
“Richard Hamilton” at Tate Modern, on view until 26th of May
Few lines from Tate Modern’s press release sums up the reason I am excited to see this first retrospective of the influential artist:
One of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, Richard Hamilton (1922–2011) is widely regarded as a founding figure of pop art, who continued to experiment and innovate over a career of 60 years. … Hamilton is best known for his pivotal role in the birth of pop art, including the groundbreaking installation Fun House 1956.
And yes this installation is on view at the show.
“Isaac Julien PLAYTIME” at Victoria Miro at both locations, on view until 1st of March 2014
The exhibition is split between both locations of the gallery but it is Wharf Road show that I really want to see, as that is where the 7-screen installation is while the other show has only photographic works. His work is so poetic and beautiful, his colors and scenes so gorgeous that you just want to sit there and take it all in.
I recently saw Julien’s “Ten Thousand Waves” 2010 on view at MoMA, New York where it was poorly displayed which was a pity. There was too much natural light coming through, and too many people moving about. So I have high hopes and expectations for Playtime. This part documentary part fiction work is set across three cities defined by their role in their relation to capital: London, a city transformed by the deregulation of the banks; Reykjavik, where the 2008 global financial crisis began; and Dubai, one of the Middle East's burgeoning financial markets.
Isaac Julien, PLAYTIME, 2014, Seven-screen HD video installation