2023 - Issue 87
Showcasing artists and works that caught my attention.
The work of twenty early career artists, shortlisted from over 500 entries, is now on display as part of Studio West’s 2nd annual open call for artists currently studying on, or recently graduated from, a London-based BA, MA or alternative study programme. Each winner receives a cash prize and mentoring with the gallery team, but which ones would you choose? The evil laugh? The fuzzy taloned feet? That weird blue tongue-like sculpture or the kid that looks like he’s about to be impaled on a swordfish? Go check out the cutthroat competition and let me know which ones you’d pick.
‘NOW Introducing 2023’ at Studio West (@studio_west_gallery) until 14 Dec
There’s a wide and rather discordant range of ideas in this concise presentation of work by Anna Glatnz. Moving between abstract, figuration and a bit of surrealism, I struggled with the compositions but found myself engrossed by many delicate explorations, like textured canvasses and a single, enamel pin decoratively floating off the edge of one work. Paintings like these, that both attract and repel me, are the kind that stick in my mind the longest.
‘Lichens’ at The Approach (@approachgallery) until 16 Dec
I don’t like these works, but I really like these works. Aesthetically the compositions are a bit too chaotic. It’s hard to find a focus, but oh man… that materiality! From the gloopy, swirly streaks of oils to the viciously scratched surfaces, I got so deeply distracted by the physical details that I barely noticed the subtle Jewish references that Edmond Brooks-Beckman (@edmond_brooks_beckman) snuck in to some works. With rare exception they’re lost amidst the chaos. It will be interesting to see if future works push that aspect closer to the foreground or if he keeps them openly hidden.
‘Spoken in Ochre’ at Frestonian Gallery (@frestoniangallery) until 16 Dec
Jen O’Farrell (@yenprofile) applies burnt bio-resin, inks and clay to salvaged metals and scrap plexiglass in a show that looks like an arson investigation wall. Except the colours and smells (mostly from the temporary rubber floor) are far more exotic than the usual East-end detritus. Most of the materials have been sourced from the Atacama desert in Chile, an area that looks so much like Mars that it’s where the ESA tested their space rovers. Luckily, this new gallery is much easier to get to!
‘No Longer Endless’ at Neven (@nevengallery) until 16 Dec
Andrew Salgado (@andrew.salgado.art) is being modest. The title of his show implies the best is yet to come, but it’s hard to find fault with his latest figuration. Maybe I’m biased because I own one of his works, but if you’re a fan of his style then you’ll certainly be impressed with how he’s scaled up both the size and complexity of his compositions. Though filled with literature and art history references, you needn’t recognise any of them to appreciate the intense moods of the mostly naked men that ponder and paint their way through his work.
‘Tomorrow I’ll be Perfect’ at Saatchi Gallery (@saatchi_gallery) until 07 Jan (FREE)
Presented by Beers (@beerslondon)
Women in Revolt is filled historical archives, mostly photos, of conferences, marches and performance art along with lots and lots of vitrines filled with pamphlets, pins and documents from bold and often groundbreaking early women’s movements… but not a lot of traditional art. Tate addresses that before you even set foot inside, noting that art institutions “were barely showing - let alone collecting - women's work. As a result, access to the history of women's art has not been equal to that of their male counterparts.” It’s less art gallery and more museum show to contextualise historical stories, though it’s often hard to focus thanks to the loud, rebellious punk rock screams that loudly echo throughout almost every room. Thankfully those eventually turn into white noise, at which point you might start screaming yourself when you see just how backward some things, so very recently, used to be.
It’s frustrating that many of the topics are still ongoing today, but it’s inspirational to look back and see how they started. To help keep the conversations going, Tate is sponsoring a series of screenings, events, installations and even a podcast. Plus an edible family made of cake!
‘Women in Revolt’ at Tate Britain (@tate) until 07 Apr
£17 adult // Concessions and discounts available
PLUS…
Check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.
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