Installation view of Alex Katz’s “Quick Light” at the Serpentine Gallery. Photo ©readsreads.info.
Yes! Summer is (kind of) here, and it’s definitely the best time of the year to stroll across the streets of London enjoying the best in contemporary art.
In case you get confused with the abundant offer, we have selected five exhibitions that you really shouldn’t miss this month.
Installation view of Etel Adnan’s “The Weight of the World” at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery. Photo: ©Tristan Fewings / Getty.
1. Etel Adnan “The Weight of the World” and Alex Katz “Quick Light” at the Serpentine Galleries
“The Weight of the World” is the first solo exhibition in a UK public institution of the Lebanese painter, essayist, and poet Etel Adnan.
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery is presenting a retrospective of her career: from the abstract compositions suggestive of landscapes of her early works, through the rich tapestries inspired by the Persian rugs of her childhood, to her more recent leporellos (sketchbooks folded into accordion-like pleats) in which she mixes drawing with writing, and poetry. Across her work, the 91-year-old artist expresses her feminist, and anti-war leanings.
Installation view of Alex Katz’s “Quick Light” at the Serpentine Gallery. Photo ©readsreads.info.
Meanwhile, “Quick Light” showcases an impressive catalogue of work across painting, drawings, sculpture, and prints by the American painter Alex Katz. The landscape-focused installation responds and relates to the gallery space and is a good complement to Adnan’s work.
Etel Adnan The Weight of the World and Alex Katz Quick Light are on view at the Serpentine Galleries from June 2 – September 11, 2016.
Francis Alÿs in collaboration with Julien Devaux, Rafael Ortega, Alejandro Morales, and Félix Blume, Paradox of Praxis 5: Sometimes we dream as we live & sometimes we live as we dream Ciudad Juárez, México (2013, detail of video still). Photo courtesy of David Zwirner.
2. Francis Alÿs “Ciudad Juárez Projects” at David Zwirner
This week, David Zwirner will open an exhibition feauring a group of works by the Belgian artist Francis Alÿs, made in and about Ciudad Juárez in Mexico between 2010 and 2015. The one-time wealthy border city infamous for its sizzling nightlife is now wrecked by drug-related violence and the works paint a portrait of life in the most affected zones.
Collectively, they pose questions about the role of the artist and of poetic politics at a time of national crisis. Particularly of note is Paradox of Praxis #5, part of a series of actions registered in video in which the artist practices seemingly Sisyphean tasks. This instalment sees Alÿs kick a ball of fire in the devastated urban arteries of the city.
Francis Alÿs Ciudad Juárez Projects is on view at David Zwirner Gallery from June 11 –August 5, 2016.
Installation view of the 2015 Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. Photo (c)David Parry.
3. The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
The British sculptor Richard Wilson is co-ordinating this year’s Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy (RA).
This renowned and much-awaited exhibition is the world’s largest open submission show and will display multi-media work from emerging artists as well as household names, most of which will be available for purchase.
Amongst others, this year’s show will feature a sculpture by Jake and Dinos Chapman. Heather and Ivan Morrison will also display a large-scale suspended kite sculpture. We’re also really excited to see the atmospheric photographic installation from Jane and Louise Wilson.
And top it all, this season the RA will be open late on Fridays and Saturdays, so you will be able to enjoy the art on a warm summer evening (if we ever get one of those).
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition will be on view from June 13 – August 21, 2016.
Pressed glass vase from the collection of Marc Camille Chaimowicz.
4. Marc Camille Chaimowicz featuring Bruno Pélassy “Tears Shared” at Flat Time House.
Marc Camille Chaimowicz has been specially commissioned to produce an installation throughout the whole of Flat Time House. The expansive work sees popular culture and art theory mix with found objects and textiles as it explores themes of public versus private spaces as well as the personal and the everyday.
Also included will be the first UK presentation of multi-talented artist Bruno Pélassy’s fragmented and challenging oeuvre as well as a selection of glassware from Chaimowicz’s personal collection.
“Tears Shared,” an exhibition of Marc Camille Chaimowicz featuring Bruno Pélassy, will be on view at Flat Time House from June 16 – July 31, 2016.
Adam, i-D magazine. Photo: William Baker, 2010.
5. Judy Blame “Never Again” at the ICA
Coming to the ICA at the end of the month is the first major solo exhibition of works by the legendary London-based designer, art director, and stylist Judy Blame, who, among many other things, has been a consultant to designers including John Galliano, Rifat Ozbek, Rei Kawakubo at Comme des Garçons, Gareth Pugh, Marc Jacobs, and Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton.
Much of Blame’s work features everyday found objects adapted to create jewellery and accessories. The body of his non-conformist work challenges the established hierarchy of material objects.
Judy Blame “Never Again” will be on view at the ICA from June 29 – September 4, 2016.