Tag Archives: contemporary art

Les Colombes in Salisbury, until 22nd July 2018  

Doves

Les Colombes – Salisbury Cathedral

Les Colombes, an installation which started out as a commemoration of the end of the First World War, has gained even greater significance since the nerve agent attack earlier this year in this historic city.  Doves are a symbol of peace and hope and so totally appropriate as an antidote to the events that took place here.

IMG_20180509_165007

Michael Pendry installing Les Colombes in Salisbury Cathedral, 9th May 2018

The artist Michael Pendry has exhibited these works at various places around the world and encourages local people to create new doves to add to the total number and has done the same here in Salisbury Cathedral where some 2,500 ‘fly’ in the nave.

IMG_20180509_171637

Les Colombes reflected in William Pye’s font in Salisbury Cathedral

The step of taking the doves into the shops and city is a beautiful one for it spreads the message of peace and hope into the community and perhaps, just as following the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the apostles at Pentecost enabled the Apostles to be understood by people of different nations, it will be one that resonates with the many visitors that come here from around the World.

Doves in Casa Fina, High Street, Salisbury (c)

Doves in Casa Fina, High Street, Salisbury (c)

The artist says of his work: “Although the doves are folded by different people in their unity they stand for a fundamental human right – the right to peace and freedom. The time has come to declare ourselves and to stand up for this! May the flock of doves grow, from place to place, from country to country, and across all borders. Peace, freedom, and sustainability in a world of change and disturbance are the key themes of my installations.”

May his words as we approach Pentecost 2018 be heard both near and afar and acted upon.

IMG_20180509_171656

Reflections in Salisbury Cathedral

https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/

http://www.michaelpendry.de/

https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury

www.casafinasalisbury.co.uk

#SalisburyCityofDoves

 

 ‘Art for Grenfell’ Auction, Sotheby’s London

 ‘Art for Grenfell’ Auction, Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, London W1, 16th October 2017

 

I am going to let those involved with this auction tell you more about this generous act.

Tracey Emin
Loving You More, 2015
Estimate: £25,000-35,000

First the words of film producer Hamish McAlpine and Katie Heller who have spear-headed this auction: “The edifice of Grenfell Tower stands as a reminder of the terrible failure of society to look after its poorest people.  No one should have had to suffer the trauma that these people have endured. It is only right that we should do all we can to help in any way that we can and the artists have responded with immense generosity and goodwill.”

Rachel Whiteread
Open Door, 2007
Estimate: £8,000-12,000

The local North Kensington-based charity the Rugby Portobello Trust will divide the proceeds equally among the 158 surviving families. The Trust’s CEO Mark Simms said: “Thank you on behalf of The Rugby Portobello Trust and on behalf of the families and wider community affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. The Rugby Portobello Trust has pledged to support everyone who survived this disaster and to ensure all Grenfell residents receive the support they need. The monies raised by this auction will be delivered, in their entirety, directly to the former residents by The Rugby Portobello Trust.”

 

Sotheby’s UK Chairman and auctioneer for this sale Lord Dalmeny commented: “The Grenfell disaster has had a profound effect on all of us. We are very glad to be able to do something to help provide support to the victims.”

 

Wolfgang Tillmans
Freischwimmer 193, 2009
Estimate: £120,000-180,000

Thanks are most certainly also due to the artists involved, including Tacita Dean, Tracey Emin, Rachel Howard, Sarah Lucas, Harland Miller, Wolfgang Tillmans, Yinka Shonibare, Bob & Roberta Smith, Mark Wallinger and Rachel Whiteread. Gallerist and former Notting Hill resident Sadie Coles has also donated a piece from her own collection.

 

The works will be exhibited at Sotheby’s London from 12-16 October. A small selection of sale highlights will also be exhibited from 6-8 October

 

http://www.sothebys.com

Nature Morte

NATURE MORTE, Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London EC2, until 2nd April 2018

Jim Skull,
Untitled, 2009, papier maché, perles de verre 1930, 90 cm,
Photo C.Lebedinsky

Not, of course the most pleasant of subjects but one which certainly deserves our attention in an exhibition which attempts to show how 21st century artists have brought back to life, if that’s not too unfortunate a term, a genre previously synonymous with the 16th and 17th centuries.

Victoria Reynolds,
Globular Cluster, 2015, Oil on canvas(framed) 42.1 x 52.2 cm overall (16.5 x 20.5 in.)
Photographer Brian Forrest

This is one of the largest exhibitions presented at the Guildhall Art Gallery and features works by Mat Collishaw, Michael Craig-Martin, Gabriel Orozco and Marc Quinn amongst others.  This is its last stop on an acclaimed European tour and will be augmented in London with new works from London-based artists including Clare Twomey and Michael Raedecker.

Mathew Weir,
There and Not There, 2017, Oil on Canvas, mounted on board, 60 x 45 cm (unframed)
© Mathew Weir

One standout photograph by Mat Collishaw is Last Meal On Death Row, Texas (Juan Soria) which depicts the last meals ordered by prisoners on death row and each image is named after the prisoner who ordered the meal. It’s that sort of exhibition, folks!

Saara Ekström,
Clouded Yellow Bud, 2007, stop frame animation transferred on DVD, loop

Nature Morte is based on Michael Petry’s recent Thames and Hudson book of the same name and brings together historic still life paintings and modern works reflecting the language of these earlier pieces.

Alexander James,
‘The Great Leveller’, 2010, from ‘Vanitas’,Chromogenic print, mounted to polished aluminium plate, Face mounted with museum grade ar acrylic, 19 x 25 cm (2)

http://www.guildhall.cityoflondon.gov.uk/art-gallery

James White,
Raid, 2013, Oil and varnish on acrylic sheet in, Perspex box frame,
88.5 x 88.5 x 5.5 cm,
Courtesy the artist and Blain Southern

 

I am grateful to John Kirkwood for visiting and writing about this exhibition

The 2017 20/21 British Art Fair

The 20/21 British Art Fair, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1, 13th– 17th September 2017

Rose Hilton – Self Portrait with Model,
Oil on Canvas, 72 x 92 cm.

After a year’s absence – its old venue was no longer available – this popular Fair returns to central London. Its new venue is the Mall Galleries so very central indeed.

Ken Smith – Free Fall,
Hopton Wood Stone, 25 x 10 x 10 cm

The thirty-three leading dealers taking part bring a fine selection of works, especially Modern and Post War pieces. I have taken this opportunity to show some works from Messum’s who were founded in 1963 and specialise in paintings and sculpture.

David Blackburn (1939 – 2016) Gasometer and Orange Sky,
Pastel, 37 x 41 cm

http://www.britishartfair.co.uk

 

The New Artist Fair

The New Artist Fair, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, London E1 6QR, 8th – 10th September 2017

PhotoX First Prize
Matthew Joseph
River People, Louis

Next weekend this Fair returns for the seventh year to the Old Truman Brewery bringing with it the opportunity to buy directly from emerging painters, sculptors, print makers and photographers. With prices ranging from £50 to £2,000 it provides an opportunity to dip your toes into the world of art collecting.  It’s certainly fun!

Friday 8th: 6pm to 9pm (ticketed) Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th: 12pm to 6pm (free entry)

Rian Hotton
Brockwell Lido

www.newartistfair.com

 

OUT & ABOUT: Bowman Sculpture

Wind Head
Emily Young
(British, Born 1951)
Mountain Clastic Rock
Unique
Height: 29 1/2 inches (75 cm)
Conceived and carved in 2013

St James’s Church in Piccadilly plays host to an exhibition of eight sculptures by Emily Young.  They can be seen in the churchyard and adjoining Southwood Garden. The sculptor’s travels around the world are reflected in these pieces and one can only admire how she brings out the character and qualities of the stone through her carving.  They can be seen until 10th January 2018.

Cautha
Emily Young
(British, Born 1951)
Clastic Onyx
Unique
Height 43 1/2 inches (110 cm)

www.sjp.org.uk

www.bowmansculpture.com

“It’s Art Call 2017” Winner Solo Exhibition

“It’s Art Call 2017” Winner Solo Exhibition, D Contemporary Gallery 23 Grafton Street London W1, 31st August-9th September 2017

Ian Rayer-Smith
‘Attention Seeker’
Mixed media on board

Last year saw the launch of the new prize “It’s Art Call” by D Contemporary in collaboration with The Cult House which offers emerging artists the chance to exhibit at a Mayfair gallery.

Ian Rayer-Smith
‘Haphazard’
Mixed media on panel

This year’s winner is Ian Rayer-Smith who says of his work: “I like my paintings to carry an emotional charge, not only in its subject matter but also through the energy and visceral nature of the materials I use. Soft and amorphous, they accentuate the tactile feel of nature, avoiding any sense of repetition so as to constantly offer something new”

Hope you can get along to see them for yourself!

Ian Rayer-Smith
‘Hopper’
Mixed media on board

 

http://ianrayersmith.com/

http://dcontemporary.com/its-art-call-2017-solo-exhibition/

OUT & ABOUT – Ben Brown Fine Arts

Rob and Nick Carter – Bronze Oak Grove after Jacob de Gheyn
Photo credit: Tom Carter, 2017.
© the Artist. Courtesy Ben Brown Fine Arts, London.

Inspired by the Dutch artist Jacob de Gheyn II (1565–1629) Rob and Nick Carter have used modern technology to create this grove of nine patinated bronze tree stumps. They celebrate the ever-popular oak tree and are designed to be used interactively by the public for relaxation and contemplation. They can be found on the North Flower Walk in Kensington Gardens until 30th September.  The Marlborough Gate is the best entrance to use.

Rob and Nick Carter – Bronze Oak Grove after Jacob de Gheyn
Photo credit: Tom Carter, 2017.
© the Artist. Courtesy Ben Brown Fine Arts, London.

http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens

http://www.benbrownfinearts.com/

OUT & ABOUT – Parafin

Fernando Casasempere
Reminiscence, 2017
Porcelain
135 x 135 x 115 cm
© Nick Turpin

The Chilean sculptor Fernando Casasempere’s new work Reminiscence (2017) has been included in this year’s Sculpture in the City. It is located in a walkway off Leadenhall near to the Gherkin. The artist uses pottery as his chosen material as it symbolises both the earth and nature. The wall sculpture also reflects culture as it evokes Pre-Columbian forms and architecture. It will be on view until May 2018.

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk › … › Visit the City › Art and Architecture

 

parafin.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT: Blain|Southern

Bernar Venet at Cliveden
©Courtesy the Artist and BlainSouthern, Photo Jonty Wilde

If you did not catch Benar Venet’s first solo exhibition in London since 1976 at Blain|Southern recently then you have an opportunity to see his works in the grounds of Cliveden, Buckinghamshire. Regarded by many as the foremost living French sculptor, ten large-scale works await discovery in the glorious formal gardens and spaces of Cliveden and can be seen there until mid-October.

 

nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden

Bernar Venet at Cliveden
©Courtesy the Artist and BlainSouthern, Photo Jonty Wilde

 

http://www.blainsouthern.com/