2022 - Issue 38 - Frieze Week
It’s Frieze Week in London.
For anyone who doesn’t understand the significance of that statement: it’s the art lovers equivalent of someone who’s never seen any of the Top 100 Movies of All Time* trying to watch them all in one week. Not just aggressive, but mathematically and logistically impossible. So… what to do and where to begin?
Aside from the obvious overpriced, and now sold-out, ticket into the tent, there’s no wrong way to go. Just pick a spot and start hopping. But since I know you’d like some guidance, I spent most of last week visiting far too many of the shows that have already opened. Lucky for both you and me, I managed to find a dozen good ones that I present to you now. Enjoy!
Central London
Images 1-5 = A lot of the works in this group show by MASS Sculpture (@mass.sculpture) look like someone left the stationery closet unlocked on Take Your Child to Work Day. An observation enhanced by the blue industrial carpeting and dreary corporate atmosphere of this former Barclays Bank branch in which the show is set. But there’s a lot of fun and interesting stuff going on with the art, and some of the works will be evolving over the run of the show. Plus it’s centrally located under the lights of Piccadilly, so you’ve simply got no excuse not to go.
‘Hard Times’ at Koppel X (@koppel__x) until 16 Oct
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You never know who or what might pop up at Noho Studios (@nohovenues) and there’s an unbeatable 2-for-1 offer this week.
Images 6-7 = Upstairs just might be one of the best hung exhibits I’ve seen this year. Pairing the paintings of Anna Choutova (@annachoutova1) that feature both herself and her long-time friend and muse Andrea Govis (@deadratlove69), who made the many silly sexualised ceramics dotted around the room.
Images 8-10 = Downstairs, Ilona Szalay (@ilonaszalay) presents a large selection of figurative works, painted in oil on aluminium or glass, that are literally dripping in their depictions of sexuality. There’s a pretty cute puppy, too!
‘Husband Material’ and ‘Chronic Fantasies’ at Arusha Gallery (@arushagallery) pop-up located at 46 Great Titchfield Street until 17 Oct
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Images 11-12 = LA artist Eddie Ruscha (@secretcircuit) composes the kind of music that’s perfect for a lazy Sunday morning hangover, but staring too long at his art will surely set your head spinning. It’s a soothing, somewhat trippy combo set in a new space at the buzzy intersection of Charing Cross Road and Old Compton Street. Make sure the turntable is spinning when you see it.
‘Sound / Waves’ at Cedric Bardawil (@cedricbardawil) until 29 Oct
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Images 13-15 = A lot of galleries have recently opened in London, but once you walk through what is easily the best looking entrance of them all, the art of Caroline Wong (@carolinewong_art) just might inspire you to turn right around so you can indulge yourself in Soho like the East Asian women she depicts unapologetically eating, drinking and having a grand old time.
‘Artificial Paradises’ at Soho Revue (@sohorevue) until 31 Oct
West London
Images 16-17 = You’ve only got 4 days left to see this show, and here’s why you should go. These 9 artists have a distinctly contemporary — some may argue sacrilegious — twist on traditional sculptural techniques and motifs.
‘Ground Work’ at Studio West (@studio_west_gallery) until 13 Oct
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Images 18-19 = Four artists with very different styles are presented in this debut show at the second location for the gallery. There are big works, little works and works you can walk through. Plus there’s more in the back room too!
‘Mystical Nature’ at Roman Road (@romanroad_) until 21 Oct
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Images 20-22 = I’m a sucker for ornate building details, which Nicholas Cheeseman (@NicholasCheeseman) uses as the basis of his acrylic pen drawings that range from architectural to abstract. Dozens of these lead you towards the back room, where an installation of weaving and 3D objects bring his 2D works to life.
‘Imperfect | Impermanent | Incomplete’ at Muse Gallery (@muse_at_269) until 23 Oct
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Images 23-26 = There’s nothing inherently interesting about an empty room. But with an askew angle, luscious colour and textured drips that break the fourth wall to become one with the room itself, these works by Anna Freeman Bentley (@afreemanbentley) are incredibly interesting indeed.
‘Make Believe’ at Frestonian Gallery (@frestoniangallery) until 05 Nov
East London
Images 27-28 = Chou Yu-Cheng (@yuchengchou) sprays acrylic onto paper to achieve airbrushed fades that at first I thought were Photoshopped. Collaged together they form illusionary towers comprised of singular, swooping forms. Except they aren’t. You’ll just have to see them up close for yourself.
Solo show at Kate MacGarry (@katemacgarry) until 22 Oct
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Images 29-31 = I found this to be an ironically timed show, given recent news coverage worrying about Putin using nukes and the fact that these glass works by Gabriele Beveridge (@gabrielebeveridge) all look like they’re been exposed to extremely excessive heat. Vase-like shapes slump, meld and blend into each other and around their surround, beautifully displayed like Murano factory seconds.
‘Packed Stars Dividing’ at Seventeen (@seventeengallery) until 29 Oct
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Images 32-34 = I can only assume the neon glow bouncing off the breeze block wall is a serendipitous coincidence for a new gallery named Sherbet Green. Come closer. Marieke Bernard-Berkel (@mariekebernardberkel) layers her oils into organic, abstract layers in which you might see landscapes, but they probably aren’t. Be sure to look up high to see the moon.
‘Preludes’ at Sherbet Green (@sherbet_green) until 05 Nov
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Images 35-37 = I’m incredibly mixed about these pop-art works by Peter Davis. Maybe I’m just too used to seeing art that’s been influenced by the hard-edged lines that designers and illustrators perpetuate. Zoom up close and these are anything but clean and crisp, and I suspect that’s why they’ve stayed in my mind a lot longer than they would have had they not been so “painterly”, to quote the gallery.
‘Grids/Stripes/Circles/Sticks’ at Benjamin Rhodes Arts (@benjaminrhodes_art) until 19 Nov
Even more art to see…
If that’s not enough art for you, over 35 galleries across Mayfair, St James’s, Soho and Fitzrovia are staying open until 8pm on Thu 13 Oct as part of a West End Gallery HOP! organised by Mayfair Art Weekend.
And as always, Seb’s Art List has the most up-to-date list of every art show and opening event (aka “Private View”). It’s FREE to register.
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PLUS — don’t forget to check my What’s On page so you don’t miss any of the other great art shows closing soon.
*For the record, when it comes to movies… I’ve seen 90 of the Empire Top 100, 66 of the IMDB Top 100 and a mere 55 of the ridiculously esoteric Time Out list. Lists are fickle. Keep that in mind when you try to figure out what art you wanna see this week.