Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic, picks his Top 5 Art Exhibitions to see in London during late October. If you are after more exhibitions, check out last week’s top 5.
Elena Unger: The Angel of History at Pontone Gallery
The drama leaps off the canvas in these post-apocalyptic paintings. Storms surge, waves crash into buildings, and floodwaters inundate the landscape. All the works are related, some showing a close-up of the fish accompanying the floods. In contrast, others are zoomed out as dramatic sunlight hits the storm–impacted building, and tiny beings can be seen ascending in these meticulously painted scenes. Until 1st November.
Danielle Fretwell: Tablescapes at Alice Amati
We’re always intrigued by what’s just out of sight, concealed by a sheet or cloth. Danielle Fretwell ignites our curiosity by covering large sections of her paintings, leaving us to wonder what’s underneath. She completes the illusion by painting a textured piece of fabric over the original image. In these latest works, the idea of concealment extends to segments of darkness or layers superimposed on one another, creating pieces that are visually striking and pique our curiosity. Until 8th November.
Frieze Sculpture at Regent’s Park
It’s a strong year for Frieze sculpture with a lot of work referencing nature. Assemble’s giant wolf is made from materials gathered from the park. Abdoallh Nafisi’s work asks us to listen to nature, and Reena Saina Kallat lets us listen to the sounds of extinct birds. There are playful elements too, including Elmgreen & Dragset’s tower of life preservers and Erwin Wurm’s elongated blue suit. Even better, it sticks around after the fair has left Regent’s Park. Until 2nd November.
Shaquelle Whyte: Winter Remembers April at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
A shoal of carp swim around the feet of a boy in a living room, figures dance around a fire, and vultures pick at the body of a lying person. There’s a wonderful sense of movement in Shaquelle Whyte’s latest paintings that makes you wonder whether it’s one or several figures we’re observing. As with much of his work, the paintings centre on Black male figures, which have been largely ignored in art history. Until 8th November.
New Vision Art Gallery and Alsama Project at St James’s Market Pavilion
If you want to see an example of why art matters, then head over to St James’s Market Pavilion. Teenagers created all these artworks in either a refugee camp in Lebanon or in Haiti, where they were provided with art supplies. These are young people living in some of the harshest conditions, and yet they are willing to dedicate time to expressing themselves through art, for the world to see. Until 31st October.
All images are copyrighted and courtesy of the respective gallery and artist. Alice Amati photo: Tom Carter. Frieze sculpture image of Abdollah Nafisi’s work, photo: Linda Nylind. Shaquelle Whyte photo: Eva Herzog.
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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.