Five art things, on we go then and never mind whatever we said last time, Five more? Snake oil? Everything must go and no, we never do and the proof of the pudding is in that proof reading and that was then, this, once again is about this week and maybe next week and needing more (just more, nothing less) and yes you are right. Here, for what any of this is worth are five more art things, five art things, five more art things happening somewhere around right now (or any moment now). Five art shows to check out in the coming days. We do aim to make this an (almost) weekly round up of recommended art events, five shows, exhibitions or things we rather think might be worth checking out. Mostly London things for that is where we currently operate and explore, and like we said last time, these five recommendations come with no claims that they are “the best five” or the “Top Five”, we’re not one of those annoying art websites that ignore most things whilst claiming to be covering everything and proclaiming this or that to be the “top seven things” or the “best things this weekend”. This Five Things thing is simply a regular list of five or so recommended art things happening now or coming up very soon that we think you might find as interesting as we think we will…

And we should add, that entry to these recommended exhibitions and events, unless otherwise stated, is free.

1: Peter Kennard, Archive of Dissent at Whitechapel Gallery – On from July 23rd until January 19th 2025 – Now we did preview this show, an exhibition marking 50 years of powerful and influential image-making bridging art and politics a little while back, however we do know internet attention spans are short and information does fly at us from absolutely everywhere, we make no apology for bringing the show to your attention and particularly Thursday’s opening (although the show did open last Tuesday).

Whitechapel say “mark your calenders, this Thursday join Peter Kennard and Friends for  the opening celebration on July 25th, 6-9pm. The programme on the night includes a conversation between artist Peter Kennard and artist and curator Harris Elliott, performances by Kae Tempest and  Arfoud Brothers & Sisters”.

Here’s the previously written Organ piece on the show with lots more details – ORGAN PREVIEW: Peter Kennard’s Archive of Dissent, an extensive show just announced at East London’s Whitechapel Gallery…

And here’s a link to Whitechapel’s own page with more details of the rather significant exhibition. Here’s the programme for Thursday:

Auditorium
18.30-19.30: Peter Kennard and Harris Elliott discuss art and politics after a showing of Elliott’s short film ‘Freedom For All’
19.45-21.00: Looping screenings of a short film on Peter Kennard’s work made by A/POLITICAL

Foyer
18.00-18.30: Set by Arfoud Brothers and Sisters
19.45-20.00: Poetry readings by Kae Tempest
20.00-21.00: Set by Arfoud Brothers and Sisters

“Kennard’s work is haunting. He is a master of photomontage” – John Berger.

Previous Peter Kennard coverage on these pages

2: You Crazy Child at Turps Gallery – opening on Friday 26th July (6-9pm), the show continues until 4th August. A group show curated by Esme Keenleyside and Rhiannon Richardson. Must admit we’re not that familiar with most of the participating artists but Turps things are always worth checking out and if Turps are happy to host the show then we trust there’s almost certainly going to be something that will grab you or indeed me – “Turps Gallery is proud to present You Crazy Child, a contemporary art exhibition showcasing recent works by a new generation of young artists. The exhibition will run from 27th July to 4th August, with an opening reception on Friday, 26th July, from 5-9 PM.  Taking its title from a Billy Joel song, the exhibition is aptly reflected in the song’s lyrics: “Slow down, you crazy child / You’re so ambitious for a juvenile.” This generation has navigated unprecedented times and emerged with a renewed commitment to analogue creation. Despite a formative education largely through Zoom during the pandemic, these artists have consciously chosen to eschew digital and social media, instead focusing on tangible, handcrafted works. You Crazy Child features a dynamic collection work from the graduates of five art schools. In the spirit of peer-led organizations like Turps Banana, this exhibition is both organized and curated by the young artists themselves. This collaborative approach underscores the ethos of community and mutual support, highlighting the importance of artist-led initiatives in today’s art world.  The exhibition is generously supported by The Winchester Gallery, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, to support new graduates”.

Full list of participating artists: Esme Keenleyside, Rhiannon Richardson, Megan Berry, Jess Babbini-Baker, Alice Delhanty, Ted McKenzie, Isidore Bishop-Sauve , Eleanor Cunningham , Issy Eberlin, Emily O’Hara, Carys Tupper

Turps Gallery is found at The Chaplin Centre, Taplow House, Thurlow Street, London, SE17 2DG.  The opening is on Friday 26th July 6-9pm, the show continues until 4th August. The space is open Thursday to Sunday, 12–5pm

3: Marc-Aurele Debut, Cornered at The Bomb Factory – The Bomb Factory Art Foundation is pleased to present Cornered, a solo exhibition by Marc-Aurele Debut with accompanying Text by Bella Bonner-Evans – “For many years, gay sex has created private spaces amid public ones : cruising spots, where fleeting intimacy is simultaneously concealed and revealed. In these darkened corners – bathroom stalls, tube stations, secluded parks – some unsheathe a truer self, revelling in the freedom afforded, while for others a sickening self-loathing begins to thicken the blood and tighten the chest with every subsequent encounter. Marc-Aurele Debut’s solo exhibition Cornered at The Bomb Factory Art Foundation is imbued with the aftertaste of such experiences. The works on show evoke both a swelling of desire and an aroma of fear, weaving together threads of violence, carnality, tenderness and shame to confront the viewer with the very emotions anonymous intimate encounters engender while reflecting on contemporary gay culture in London.”

The Bomb Factory is found at 99 Kingsway, WC2B 6QX. The gallery is open Wednesdays to Saturdays, Midday until 6pm, the exhibition runs form 26th July until 25th August  There’s an opening on Thursday 25th July, 6 – 9pm.  Links – @marcaureledebut / @bellabonner / @BombFactory

4: Guta Galli, The Minotaur and Us at Maximillian Wölfgang Gallery – Happening on Sunday 28th July 2024, 4pm until 7pm – “Explore womanhood in a powerful performance by Brazilian artist, Guta Galli” so reads the invitation, “Guta Galli is a Brazilian interdisciplinary artist exploring the intersections between gender, race, labour, and vulnerability. Galli presents her first ever performance in the UK: The Minotaur and Us. The artist delves into the political fictions projected on female bodies, and how they affect the experience of womanhood. In a memorable performance, Galli also investigates the power narratives that divide and/or connect women, and complicates the abysmal gaps that exist between gender, identity, and representation. Please be advised that this art performance contains nudity”.

Maximillian Wölfgang Gallery is found at 7 Cleeve Workshops, Boundary Street, London E2 7JD

5: The Future is Now Part II: Re/Form~ation at CasildART Contemporary – Running from 26th July until 7th September 2024 with an opening on 25th July, (6.30 until 8.30pm) – Now this promises rather a lot…  

“CasildART Presents ‘The Future is Now Part II: Re/Form~ation’: Contemporary Black Artists Explore the Transformative Potential of Materials to confront Past and Present and Imagine the Future.

Featuring Àsìkò, Donald Baugh, Christopher Day, Othello De’Souza-Hartley, Elaine Mullings, Margaret Scott and Theresa Weber. Although working across different mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, textiles and glass, what binds these artists together is the love of their craft and a thorough grasp of the material process and form of bringing an idea into being.

Sukai Eccleston, founder and curator at CasildART Contemporary, shares her inspiration for the exhibition: In The Future is Now Pt. II: Re/form~ation, we celebrate the boundless creativity that arises when artists push the boundaries of what is considered art. This exhibition is a testament to the ingenuity of artists who use materiality to challenge what we think is real, finding beauty in the discarded to forge connections across time and layering the work with new meaning and context. The artists in Re/ Form~ation are not just makers; they are storytellers, weaving narratives that bridge the gap between the past and the present, paving the way for us to think about traditional structures and expand the possibilities for a better future now!”

CasildART Contemporary is a not-for-profit gallery dedicated to addressing the under-representation of Black artists in fine art institutions, commercial galleries, and museums. CasildART Founder Sukai Eccleston launched the gallery with a mission to be a catalyst for change and transform the visual landscape in the UK by inserting Black narratives into the culture. Eccleston believes art has the ability to foster connections and initiate conversations about culture and heritage, and through the CasildART programme her aim is to redress the racial and cultural balance within the UK and international contemporary art scene.

The exhibition opening night on 25th July is sponsored by Kromanti Rum who commented: “Kromanti Rum is steeped in heritage and innovation, designed in a way that honours our ancestors and the gifts they passed down through generations. With our joint aims to preserve and expand on this narrative, Kromanti are ecstatic to be working with CasildART on their Future is Now exhibition which encapsulates a mutual cross-section of values, including our collective envisioning of a collaboratively prosperous future for our communities.”

CasildART Contemporary is thrilled to announce the debut of The Future is Now Part II: Re/Form~ation, an innovative exhibition that delves into the profound dialogue between material and form. Opening on 25th July, this group exhibition showcases how artmaking can challenge outdated paradigms and transform everyday objects into powerful artistic expressions.

The Future is Now Part II: Re/Form~ation features the work of Christopher Day, a glass artist who, only 4 years ago, was working as a plumber. Day has created a bespoke artwork specifically for this exhibition, which will be unveiled at the preview. The glass sculpture, titled “Unconditional Love,” is a symbolic and powerful reminder of the most brutal of circumstances. During the transatlantic slave trade, children were ripped away from their mothers and sold off to the highest bidder. The most horrific images depict enslaved Africans being auctioned off, with children clinging to their mothers in desperation, unaware of the horrors they would face. The material, therefore, does not merely function as part of the composition but beckons the viewer to engage in a dialogue about Britain’s racial past and present, and the tragic legacy of Colonialism”.

CasildART Contemporary is found at 32 Connaught Street, London, W2 2AY, The space is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am until 6pm

And coming up from Cultivate