Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his top West London exhibitions to see. If you are looking for more exhibitions, check out his previous top 5.
Two photographers combine beauty and heartbreak across their practices. Iwane Ai has captured lit-up cherry blossoms at night, the Japanese diaspora in Hawaii in a wrap-around installation, and images of her sister who died by suicide. While Kawada Kikuji hits us with haunting photographs of Hiroshima after the bomb, and a series based on his stargazing. It’s a combination of two excellent photographers. Until 18th October, free.
EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY MARCH 25EDITORIAL USE ONLYVictoria and Albert Museum Schiaparelli Exhibition. Issue date: Wednesday March 25. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: David Parry/PA Media Assignments
This fashion show has it all, from practical trousers and an experimental cardigan made from newsprint to the more glamorous clothing the brand has been known for more recently. The close links between Elsa Schiaparelli and the Surrealists mean we get to see one of Dalí’s lobster phones with an outfit he collaborated on, plus plenty of other surreal creations. It’s the ultimate nexus where art and fashion cross over. Until 8th November, ticketed.
I hadn’t heard of NIGO before this show, even if I had walked past the ‘A Bathing Ape’ shop in Mayfair, a brand he founded. The museum has done a great job of telling his story, including a recreation of his teenage bedroom and a display of his collection of vintage Americana, denim, and varsity jackets. It charts how his signature camouflage design came about, his tie-in to rap culture, and the ceramics he makes outside of fashion. Plus, I want to own every jacket in the show. Until 4th October, ticketed.
I’ve been enjoying the interventions of contemporary artists in the Arab Hall at Leighton House, and Soraya Syed’s is the final installation in the trilogy. The central fountain is now filled with a video projection of fish, calligraphy, and ships. It’s based on the Qur’anic verse about the universal symbolism of water as a giver of life. It’s beautifully done, meditative and another great reason to visit the Arab Hall and the wider museum. Until 4th October, ticketed.
The Cosmic House, the former home of architect and designer Charles Jencks, needs to be seen – the architecture of the place is phenomenal. Now there’s even more of a reason to visit because of a site-specific film installation by Isaac Julien. The film explores feminist science fiction, ecology and architecture and feels perfectly at home in the space. Until 18th December; ticketed.
All images are copyrighted and courtesy of the respective artists and institutions. Japan House photo: Florent Michel. Schiaparelli photo: David Parry, PA Media Assignments. NIGO photo: Luke Hayes. Soraya Syed photo: Magda Kuca. Cosmic House photo: Thierry Bal.
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Art Critic for both FAD and Londonist. See as many exhibitions as possible and write reviews, opinion pieces and a weekly top 5 for FAD.