Five art things, on we go then and never mind the bliss or whatever we said last time, that was then, this, once again is about this week and next and needing more (just more, nothing less) and yes you are right, I guess, for that is what we do now, guess, I guess we need to post another five. 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 as we repeat ourselves. 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 so are we into the so called London Art Season now, Was Tracey the kick off last night? is it no sleep ’till Regent’s park now? I never did get that, from where I stand it never stops and starts, it never takes a break, I guess those establishment gallery people head off on their yachts for a month to two during the Summer, lock up yer galleries, but that was said last week, we’ve been at galleries most days this week, but then again that’s been the case every week…
And we should add, that entry to these recommended exhibitions and events, unless otherwise stated, is free.
What have we got this week then? We don’t need to mention the opening of the Turner Prize 2024 exhibition do we? It doesn’t command the attention or the excitement that came with that attention back there, it is back at Tate Britain for the first time in ages, it does open this week, “The Turner Prize will return to Tate Britain to mark the 40th anniversary of the prize”, the exhibition goes on until February, do you need us to tell you? probably not? But then do you need any of this? Do we?
1: Lorena Torres, El Milagro es la Pereza de Díos at Huxley-Parlour Gallery (Maddox Street) – 26th Sept until 26th Oct 2024 – “Huxley-Parlour are delighted to announce their first exhibition of works by Colombian artist Lorena Torres El Milagro es la Pereza de Dios [The Miracle is the Idleness of God], opening at our Maddox Street gallery”. Well it looks good online, the proof of the pudding will be in the standing in front of them but the on line hints suggest the the pudding will be a good one and…
“The exhibition will present ten new works on canvas made by the artist this year. Torres’ practice is deeply rooted in her upbringing and the culture of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, in this body of work the artist explores notions of the absurd, miracles and the spectacle of performance.
The exhibition takes its title from a quote in Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet, and speaks to a spirituality which Torres locates within the quotidian. Torres revels in the absurdity and beauty of everyday encounters, playfully reflecting a curiosity and astonishment at life’s nuances. In Las maravillas de este mundo (The marvels of this World) a figure creates shadow puppets that dance across an interior wall; in El Secreto (The Secret) a veiled figure stretches across the shoreline surrounded by a congregation of snails. The culture, people and landscape of Torres’ local community on Colombia’s coast are a continued point of departure for the artist’s work. This proximity lends her paintings a fluidity in which figures coalesce with their surroundings, heightened by a palette of earthy colours and warm tones.
In painting, Torres identifies a channel through which to express the joy of life’s experiences but simultaneously a means of observing them. The artist considers herself a spectator of, as well as the creator of, the subjects in her paintings and by extension the shared universal experiences they embody. References to performance and theatricality weave through the paintings in the exhibition from costumed figures, to motifs of a circus tent and a performer juggling knives in front of an audience of horses. Influenced by magical realism, Torres conjures worlds that are at once fantastical and real.
Born in 1991 in Barranquilla, Colombia, Torres received a BFA in Visual Arts from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá in 2016. Her work has been exhibited in the United Kingdom, the United States and Colombia, among others. Torres has completed residencies in Bogotá, Miami and most recently at Casa Santa Ana, Panama City”.
Huxley-Parlour Gallery (Maddox Street) is in Maddox Street of course, 45 Maddox Street, London, W1S 2PE. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday, 10am until 5.30pm, only until 1pm on a Saturday
2: Dale Grimshaw, Subliminal, Well Hung Gallery at 2 Hoxton Street – Here’s what Well Hung have to say, they’re making some pretty bold claims about Mr Grimshaw’s work that so far has only really come to life when it is on a big scale out on the street, not that Well Hung give two hoots what we say or think –
“Dale Grimshaw’s latest exhibition, Subliminal, invites you to experience the power of visual storytelling through the lens of an artist who has mastered the art of painting and narrative. With decades of experience, Dale’s joy in painting is palpable, as he seamlessly blends the old with the new, drawing inspiration from the revered works of Old Masters like Titian, Fragonard, and Rubens, while infusing them with contemporary themes that resonate with today’s world”. I like Dale’s work when it is on a big wall on the side of a building, not seen it really transfer that well in terms of a gallery wall and I do rather suspect Well Hung are being a little over the top here, we shall see, the show is worth recommending on the strength of what he does on the street, more from the mouths of Well Hung, we’ll take ourselves along at the weekend, watch this space…
“At the core of Subliminal is an exploration of the human psyche and its hidden depths. Dale’s ethereal figures transcend the boundaries of race, gender, and identity, embodying a universal humanity. These figures are not just subjects-they are vessels of emotion, inviting viewers into a dreamlike state offering a fresh perspective that feels both timeless and urgently relevant. The exhibition’s title, Subliminal, reflects the subtle yet powerful way Dale’s work engages with the subconscious, encouraging the viewer to uncover hidden truths and emotions that lie just beneath the surface. Each piece in this exhibition is a testament to Dale’s ability to capture the complexity of human emotion with both intensity and grace. His compositions, whether displayed on the walls of a gallery or the expansive canvas of a city street, possess an enigmatic quality that draws you in, urging you to linger and explore the layers of meaning within.
Dale Grimshaw’s work has captivated audiences across London and beyond for over 15 years, establishing him as a leading figure in the Urban Art scene. His art has been exhibited in galleries throughout Europe and the USA, and his breath-taking murals are celebrated at international festivals. With upcoming projects including a collaboration with The Raw Project in Miami during Art Basel, and ongoing work with Maxim from The Prodigy, Dale continues to push the boundaries of his art. Join us at Subliminal to experience art that speaks directly to the heart, challenging you to see the world through the eyes of a master painter who finds beauty in the unspoken, the unseen, and the subliminal. The Exhibition will be held at 2 Hoxton Street, N1 6NG – just a 5 minute walk from our premises and runs from Friday 27th September- Sunday 29th September. Opening hours 11am-6pm daily”.
Now I’m not a fan of so called street art just to publicise a gallery show, but Mr Grimshaw is at his best on the street and here’s a taste of “a quick piece from yesterday. My show Subliminal opens tonight 6.30pm…” That was Thursday night of course, the show is on for the weekend (more down there under the image)
NOTE: As it says just there, this is not at Well Hung‘s regular space, The Exhibition will be held at 2 Hoxton Street, N1 6NG – just a five minute walk from Well Hung’s home premises and runs from Friday 27th September until Sunday 29th September. Opening hours 11am-6pm daily
3: Himani Gupta, Of Lands and Wonders at Felstead Art – 30th Sept until 10th Jan 2025 – Curiosity is the thing with this one, and that image up there that makes me want to go see it in the flesh. I have no idea how big or how small the pieces on this page are, once again watch this space.
“Felstead Art is pleased to present Of Lands and Wonders, a solo collection of paintings by Himani Gupta painted between 2018 and 2022. Himani Gupta is a London based artist who’s practice investigates psychogeography and ecologies. The chosen works in this exhibition highlight her continuing relationship with land and place. Himani Gupta has varied and non-conforming professional and education backgrounds, an extensive list of travel and experiments and the very vivid dreams she experiences feed her work and perspectives. Ideas relating to identity, place, ecologies and transience are explored in her paintings and drawings.
References from art history, film, mythology, personal archives, memory and stories form the bones and layers of her paintings. Landscapes, maps, bodies and looking at the spaces between objects are an essential layer in her visual language. Painterly techniques, drawing everyday, intuitive processes and materiality form an important part of Himani’s practice. Her compositions – led by both imagination and observation, are built upon form, marks and colour, and involve processes of layering, excavating, mixing, scraping and assembling.
Gupta holds a Master’s in Urban Planning and Real Estate from The Bartlett following a Fine Arts and Design diploma from Central Saint Martins, and has recently completed a drawing program at the Royal Drawing School in London. A part of her studio practice is also dedicated to socially engaged projects and academic collaborations. Some of these include projects and talks in the area of medical humanities, access to justice, political borders and borderlands, and working with children”.
Felstead Art is at 2 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BX. The exhibition is open 9am until 5pm Monday until Friday from 30th Sept until 10th Jan 2025
4: (Un)Visible at Safehouse 1, Peckham – are we burnt out in terms of the almsot ruins of Safehouse yet, do seem to have been there rather a lot recently, the images look good up there – “From 28th to 30th September 2024, FOLD Art Collective is presenting new individual and collaborative work in a new exhibition, (Un)Visible, at Safehouse 1 in Peckham”.
“FOLD Art Collective is a group of twelve women artists who have developed their art practices later in life, following other careers and responsibilities. The independent work that the collective produces crosses many disciplines including: sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, textiles, film, and installation; and the artists’ interests are wide-ranging. The collective is united by a shared sensitivity to materials, time and space; and by the depth of other experiences that each artist brings to her practice. (Un)Visible explores ideas of the unseen and the hidden. The works are preoccupied with overlooked objects, individuals, stories, and systems, as well as the unnoticed moments of everyday life.FOLD Art Collective – (Un)Visible. Featured Artists: Abigail Elverd, Bernadette Enright, Carmen Van Huisstede, Cass Breen, Clare Nicholson, Eleanor Street, Jane Hughes, Jess Blandford, Katherine Rose and Marina Nasso-Beard”.
There are two spaces, Peckham Safehouse 1 and 2 are both found at 137 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE15 3SN. No idea if anything is happening in Safehouse two this weekend, hopefully there is, two birds with one slice of break and all that There’s a Private View for (Un)Visible at Safehouse One on Friday 27th September 6pm – 9pm, the show runs from 28th until 29th September, just something for the weekend then, the space is open midday until 6pm each day.
Previously at Safehouse
5: Sam Mills, Empyre at Rebbit – 27th Sept until 6th Oct 2024 – “Rabbet Gallery presents Empyre – an exhibition of recent works by British abstract artist Sam Mills. Featuring a curated selection of new paintings, ‘Empyre’ details Sam Mills’s continued engagement with themes of misrepresentation and censorship – a visual commentary on the abstraction of truth. With a creative process characterised by the destruction and meticulous restitching of visual information, the duplicity of empire serves as the foundation for these timely works, encouraging the viewer to confront the uncertainties and ambiguities inherent in the narratives they consume”
Rebbit Gallery is at Bussey Building, Studio DG1, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London, SE15 3SN – hey, right by Safehouse, another case of two birds with one piece of bread (and there’s some great fruit stalls in Peckham, cheap oranges, not too much gentrification!). The gallery is open Thursday through to Sunday, Midday until 5pm.
Previously….
And on line from next Tuesday evening, the latest Three x Three show right here
THE ORGAN 