Zaha Hadid – Early Paintings and Drawings, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, West Carriage Drive, Kensington Gardens, London W2, until 12th February 2017
Zaha Hadid, Installation view, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, London (8 December 2016 – 12 February 2017)
© Zaha Hadid Foundation. Image © 2016 Hugo Glendinning
It is totally appropriate that this exhibition should be held in the Serpentine Sackler Gallery because the firm of the late, celebrated architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) was involved in the renovation and extension of the gallery space. These early works by Hadid show how important drawing was in creating and depicting her designs and ideas.
Zaha Hadid, Installation view, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, London (8 December 2016 – 12 February 2017)
© Zaha Hadid Foundation. Image © 2016 Luke Hayes
Her words of 2007 sum up her approach: “I have always been interested in the concept of fragmentation and with ideas of abstraction and explosion, de-constructing ideas of repetitiveness and mass production. My work first engaged with the early Russian avant-garde; in particular with the work of Kasimir Malevich – he was an early influence for me as a representative of the modern avant-garde intersection between art and design. Malevich discovered abstraction as an experimental principle that can propel creative work to previously unheard levels of invention; this abstract work allowed much greater levels of creativity.”
Zaha Hadid, Installation view, Serpentine Sackler Gallery, London (8 December 2016 – 12 February 2017)
© Zaha Hadid Foundation. Image © 2016 Hugo Glendinning
The show is supported by Swarovski and one of their board members, Nadja Swarovski, sums up their involvement: “We are pleased to be supporting the Serpentine Galleries for this exhibition. Swarovski was honoured to collaborate with Zaha for over a decade, creating an incredible body of work which ranged from lighting installations to sculpture, jewellery and home decor. Her vision always pushed us outside our comfort zone, and the results were breathtaking. I feel extremely privileged to have known her both as a friend and as a creative collaborator.”
Tim Forrest's E & A 