2023 - Issue 75
Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.
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Moody. Barely there. Masked. Royal. Tattooed. Hidden. This week’s shows all prominently feature faces.
You could easily imagine the ‘Portrait of Michael Nyman’ is a curtain twitcher peeping at the demure ‘Seated Figure’ - though that’s probably not what artist Teniqua Crawford (@clementineteniqua) wants you to think about her works. Maybe they’ll end up embraced like ‘Death and the Maiden’ by Kate McCrickard (@kate.mccrickard), whose figures stare not at each other, but out towards the architectural abstracts of Gillian Lever and floral inspired stoneware by the ever dependable Marisol Jacquemot Derode (@marisolceramic). It’s not just faces in this summer roster show, but the ones you’ll see have certainly inspired the title.
‘Moody & Muted’ at Art First (@artfirstlondon) until 25 Aug
The average person spends 15-30 seconds looking at a work of art, so Bertram Hasenauer (@bertramhasenauer) is placing a big gamble on the appeal of his “black squares”. Those air quotes are intentional because they’re actually very faintly painted portraits. Black on black, so subtle and realistic they look like horribly lit photos. If you don’t stop and stare for at least a few minutes your eyes will never adjust to see the secrets they reveal. He’s also painted a few brightly lit whit-ish ones in case you’re too impatient.
In the upstairs gallery, Joachim Lambrechts (@joachimofficial) attempts something similar by painting caricatures almost completely covered in ink. Tattoos were once considered daring, dangerous and a bit taboo. Now they’re quite common, but these paintings present an unsubtle mockery of the extreme end of body modification, and how marginalised individuals often rely on universally recognised imagery in their attempts to present a unique identify.
‘Eight Minutes’
and
‘No Regrets’
Both shows at Kristin Hjellegjerde (@kristinhjellegjerdegallery) until 26 Aug
There’s no extra credit for spotting the obvious in these muted landacapes that appeal to the innate urge to see the familiar in foreign things. Adam Lee (@adamlee79) sometimes subtly and sometimes not so subtly paints face-like features into clouds, mountains and streams. One looks like Gandolf, another’s a Scooby Doo ghoul. There’s a whole riverbed of weeping rocks. I got so caught up trying to spot all the faces that I realised maybe I was trying too hard. Maybe that’s actually just a tree? Then again, once an art work is out in the world, it’s whatever you want it to be.
‘Wrestling Smoke’ at Beers (@beerslondon) until 02 Sep
The work of Alexander Gorlizki (@alexandergorlizki) could be described as doodles drawn by a bored teenage boy who should be studying his textbook, not desecrating it. His actual process is far more considered and time consuming, from an artist who is decades past his O-levels. Maybe that’s why I love them. It’s a rare gift to retain a silly sense of humour well into your adult years. Gorlizki collaborates long-distance with Indian artisans, passing the works back and forth, meticulously augmenting them with elaborate, irreverent details so precise you’ll need a magnifying glass to see them all.
‘Conversation Pieces’ at Lyndsey Ingram (@lyndsey_ingram) until 29 Sep
The shoes of a king aren’t always as regal as the dress. That’s the first thing I noticed in this show that got me thinking more deeply about what I look at when I look at photos of people I don’t know and imagery that’s exotic. I spent a lot of time examining faces, trying to gauge emotions. I got distracted by patterns. I was mesmerised by the masks and thankful for the wall text that provided much needed context to explain the symbols and history. For people like me who have limited firsthand experience, this exhibition of “36 artists who use photography to reimagine Africa’s place in the world” presents a compelling overview of how modern issues both connect and clash with the rich cultural traditions of Earth’s second largest continent.
‘A World in Common: Contemporary African Photogrphy’ at Tate Modern (@tate) until 14 Jan 2024
£17 adult // Concessions and discounts available
PLUS — don’t forget to check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.