2024 - Issue 124
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Portraying ‘Death and the Maiden’ as an explicit #MeToo encounter is one of the more rabble-rousing works I’ve seen this year, from an artist known for infusing her sculptures with the eccentric and the macabre. These glazed earthenware works from Carolein Smit (@smitcarolein) explore historical, mythological and religious motifs and are filled with so many visual flourishes that you could easily spend hours with each and not spot every detail. They’re accompanied by a series of paintings from Iain Andrews (@iainandrewsart) that might best be described as partially melted Old Masters.
‘Divine Comedies’ at James Freeman Gallery (@jamesfreemangallery) until 28 Sept
I love being lost in a forest. Not literally, mind you. The feeling of being surrounded by trees in every direction with sunlight trickling through a thick canopy of branches is one of the most all-encompassing moments of soothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s practically impossible to capture that on a canvas, but Masayoshi Nojo (@masayoshi_nojo) has given it a pretty good go by creating multi-layered photo-paint-screenprints that incorporate reflective inks and foils. When the bright gallery lights bounce off these works you’re forced to move around and adjust your angle in order to focus. Left. Right. A few steps back, then up quite close. It’s rather disorienting at times, just like finding your way through the real thing, but at least in the gallery you won’t need a compass to locate the exit.
‘Rest in Silver’ at JD Malat (@jdmalatgallery) until 05 Oct
Even when swimming with octopi or smoking with a fish, these perfectly turned out women wearing retro fashion have a been-there-done-that look about them that reminds me of a 1940s femme fatale. Gokcen Yuksek (@gokcenyuksekart) plants them in surreal sci-fi settings filled with “cutesy” creepy crawlies, giving these scenes the same kind of vibes as a Tim Burton film: strange, sexy, scary… but safe.
‘Another Time & Space’ at BSMT Space (@bsmtspace) until 13 Oct
The last time I encountered food stamp art was probably kindergarten, but these abstract florals and stylish patterns are a great reminder that even the simplest techniques can produce the most exquisite visuals. Using courgettes, squash, sticks and shrubs from her upstate NY garden, Georgie Hopton (@georgiehopton) has created a series of works on paper, wallpaper and patterned fabrics that have been used to decorate Lyndsey Ingram’s expansion into a listed venue.
‘Produce. Repeat.’ at Lyndsey Ingram (@lyndsey_ingram) until 08 Nov
“Why are these all so creepy?”
“Oh no no no!”
“What is it?” asked the boy. “It’s art” said the Dad, uncertainly.
Those three comments all happened within moments of each other on a busy Saturday afternoon in Soho, as the latest installation from Mei Mei (@meimeilab) caused almost everyone passing by to momentarily pause and do a double take. Go see for yourself, and keep your ears open for the reactionary commentary.
‘House of Mei Mei’ at The Smallest Gallery in Soho (@thesmallestgalleryinsoho) until 10 Nov
Honourable Mention Artworks
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Jane Bottery (@jbottery) brings a new twist to geometric colour studies, creating three dimensional sculptures out of tracing paper shaded by coloured pencil. The waxy creases and layered folds make these small squares come alive as shadows appear and colours subtly change in tune with the light. I saw this at the recent SPECTRUM show by White Noise Projects at One Paved Court in Richmond, located directly across from the official Ted Lasso store. (No, really, it exists!)
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Thanks to the annual Open House festival I discovered a hidden gallery above a shop in the Royal Exchange, where I saw some fabulously retro, art deco inspired architectural studies and three-dimensional reliefs by Misha Stefan (@mission.intermission), including this one that looks like a flying space dog with a red cape.
PLUS…
Check the What’s On page so you don’t miss any other great shows closing soon.
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