Art Guide – What To See In London

Long time, no see. I was far from procrastinating during the last few months, but I had to face the fact that like any other city in the world London slows down over the summer. Of course we have the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and Serpentine‘s Pavilion (on view until October 9), but that was pretty much it.  The galleries kept the same shows all summer long so I didn’t have a lot to write about until now, but as everyone is back to business I have few recommendations for the art enthusiasts out there.

Before entering the “Frieze” mode, here are some exhibitions that you don’t want to miss in London this month:

Tom Esam “Complex Problems, Simple Solutions” at Roman Road Gallery

Tom Esam’s exhibition at Roman Road is on the top of my list. The Berlin based artist printed on silk images of people holding up signs on which he has photoshopped his own statements. Suspended from the ceiling, floating in the gallery space like fallen flags, Esam’s statements (“Je suis Esam”) are questioning the impact of slogans and propaganda tools on the public : ” (…) this exhibition aims to elaborate the debate about political rhetoric and at once raises the question of whether Aristotelian persuasion is a more effective tool to engage the public, rather than just making assertions or promises.“

When : Until Oct.15 // Address : 69 Roman Road London E2 0QN

Giuseppe Penone “Fui, Sarò, Non Sono” at Marian Goodman

I’m also very looking forward to attend Italian sculpture and conceptual artist Giuseppe Penone’s new exhibition at Marian Goodman Gallery. For those of you who knows well the Tate Modern, you probably saw some of his works in their Arte Povera section. Through his career he never stopped exploring nature, we can definitely see that as a result of a childhood spent in the mountains in constant contact with an agricultural environment and with nature: “The London gallery presents works emblematic of Penone’s interest in the metaphysical relationship of his body to the living ecosystem.” If you happened to be in Paris, the gallery is presenting another selection of Panone’s work.

When : Until Oct.22 // Address : 5-8 Lower John St, Soho, London W1F 9DY

Richard Serra “Drawings” at Gagosian

We don’t present the American artist anymore : “Gagosian Gallery is pleased to present new Composite Drawings and three recent large-scale steel sculptures by Richard Serra.”. Useless to mention that I can’t wait to see it this weekend.

When : Until Dec.17// Address :17–19 Davies Street,London W1K 3DE

Mike Kelley “Framed and Frame” at Hauser & Wirth

Hauser & Wirth is presenting one massive installation by American artist Mike Kelley from 1999 :”‘Framed and Frame’ recreates a local landmark in the Chinatown of downtown LA and consists of two separate sculptures divided by a wall. ‘Framed’ is a ‘wishing well’ in the form of a biomorphic, concrete, grotto-like landscape, covered with spots of spray-painted colour and cheap religious statuary and tossed coins on its ledges and niches. A secret crawlspace complete with a mattress, candles and condoms is revealed at the rear of the well.“

The gallery will also present a brand new exhibition by Brazilian abstract artist Lygia Pape.

When : Sept. 23// Address :23 Savile Row London W1S 2ET

Jannis Kounelis at White Cube

If you are reading this blog for a while, it is not a secret that I’m a big fan of the Greek artist, so when I saw that White Cube was about to present an exhibition that will focus on Kounelis’s early works the “Alfabeto’ series” I was in art heaven:”The ‘Alfabeto’ series of works on paper and canvas were begun in around 1958 while he was still a student in Rome. Using black tempera, ink, enamel or acrylic paint on a white ground of paper, cardboard or canvas – either singly or combined – they feature black stencilled numbers, letters, mathematical symbols and arrows.” The exhibition is organized by Mathieu Paris who curated last year the very successful “Losing the Compass“.

Also keep an eye on the gallery Bermondsey’s location with the upcoming exhibition of British artist Antony Gormley.

When : Sept. 23// Address :Mason’s Yard London  SW1Y 6BU

Group Show “Protest” at Victoria Miro

After Yayoi Kusama worshiped exhibition , I’m expecting a lot from this group showat Victoria Miro Gallery which will present the works of some important contemporary artists such as Elmgreen & Dragset, Wolfgang Tillmans, or Richard Prince :”Historical and contemporary works feature in a group exhibition by artists concerned with the socio-political issues of their day, who question the status quo and the power structures found within societies, and who take the very language of protest as a means to explore its potency.” The gallery is partnering up with charitable partner, Reprieve, “a small organisation of committed human rights defenders who provide free legal and investigative support to some of the world’s most vulnerable people” for the occasion.

When : Sept. 23// Address :16 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW

Uri Aran “Two Things About Suffering ” at Sadie Coles HQ

For his first exhibition at Sadie Coles HQ, Israeli artist Uri Aran is presenting paintings, videos, and sculptures : “Throughout, he returns to the intersecting themes of genre, gesture and artifice – both as they occur in art and in everyday reality. Arrayed throughout the gallery is a group of short videos, variously projected or displayed in the form of a ‘workstation’ (a screen and speakers placed on utilitarian office furniture). Each video is a selfcontained chapter or act. The same pair of actors appears in a distinct scenario, operating under a given set of directions.“

When :Until Oct.1st// Address :62 Kingly Street, Londres W1B 5QN

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