Alana Lake: Thoughts and Reviews

Showing posts with label Thoughts and Reviews. Show all posts

Mass, Tomorrow Never Happened at The Aubin Gallery

7th April - 21st April

Mass, Tomorrow Never Happened opened it's doors to
the public on 7th April (First Thursday). As usual the
gallery was packed to the rafters with avid art goers enjoying
a free drink (or two).

Mass showcases the work of

THE GIRLS

ETIENNE CLEMENT

EMMA EDMONDSON & THANDI JOHNSTONE

HAYDEN KAYS

BARNABY BARFORD

'Now, at a time when mass culture has reached a crescendo in which it reflects the image world that once pretended to reflect reality we find a new set of contemporary artists debating the resultant atomization. Rather than celebrating all that is new, the artists here point a finger of criticism toward that constant striving, questioning media representations of our lives and a disparity between the myth of future perfection and the comfort of nostalgia.'

Fashion icon Svenja Specht

Fashion icon Svenja Specht, a renowned figure in the Berlin fashion scene speaks in an exclusive interview (below) about her creative processes, and unique collaborations with the likes of contemporary artist Jen Ray, Graphic Designer Julie Gayard and Onitsuka Tiger, to name but a few... Specht is also the architect behind the infamous Reality Studio!

Watch here for more info ►►

>>

Reality Studio from Onitsuka Tiger on Vimeo.

http://bit.ly/i10FzS
http://vicestyle.com/en/home

Smoke on the Water

Smoke on the Water
Curated by Fieldgate Gallery
3rd-31st March 2011

Smoke on the Water, an exhibition conceived by Richard Ducker of Fieldgate Gallery is a stunning and playful mix of video works, with the addition of one near invisible sculptural piece by Alice Anderson.

The show also includes Stuart Croft, Tom Dale, Horn and Hund, Igloo and Paul O'Kane. The instillation is every bit as imaginative as the title suggests, with fleeting moments of magic and suspense...

BLANK CHEQUE, Red Gallery 2010

AEAEA
WINNIE THE POOF
EVE BLACK | EVE WHITE
MATHEW STONE
241-24-7
JAMIE BULL

SURFACE WARP FACTOR, The Aubin Gallery 2010

CURATED BY FIELDGATE GALLERY

Diann Bauer

Juan Bolivar

Gordon Cheung

Richard Ducker

Stewart Gough

Sheena Macrae

Ian Monroe

Tom Ormond

For me, ‘To Boldly Go’ (the title of one work by Juan Bolivar), nicely illustrates the exhibition, which moves the audience from one world to the next. The formal qualities of the works are familiar yet far reaching, existing paradoxically between utopia and dystopia.

Even though I have been working with Fieldgate gallery on the preparation and instillation of Surface Warp Factor for some weeks the works still challenges me. Each artist offers something unique to the exhibition whether it be firmly rooted within formalism, abstraction, be monochromatic or psychedelic, still or moving, flat, three-dimensional or mere illusion, each work appropriates the sci-fi theme by adding another layer of dynamism.

You can catch Surface Warp Factor (which is as weird and as intriguing as the name suggests) at The Aubin Gallery, Redchurch Street from 1st July - 25th July.

10-7 Mon-Sat

11-5 Sun

ROYAL ACADEMY SCHOOLS SHOW 2010

It has been a year since I graduated from the Royal Academy Schools and it’s been a pleasure returning to observe what my contemporaries have been working on. I’m not saying this as a bias advocator, but as a critical thinker and art lover, proud to witness a postgraduate show of such diverse talent.

My personal favourite is the work of Kraig Wilson, a Northern lad that lives up to the persona of a tortured artist. His family portraits are very sophisticated for an artist with no formal photography training, fresh out his BA upon application to the RA. It is also testament to his dedication and the dedication to his peers and staff at the RA. His photographs exist somewhere between Melanie Manchot and in the words of Brain Griffiths ‘Sally Mann, Sally Mann, Sally Mann’ neither a comparison to be shy of. The rawness of Kraig’s subject matter is challenging whilst retaining a perfect balance between its poignant complexities and sublime painterly beauty.

Another favourite is John Lawrence’s video projection appropriating stock imagery that could so easily stay firmly rooted in its naff generic iconography, but in fact moves swiftly and eloquently into symbology, looking at popular culture through powerful semiotics.

Matt Coombe’s simple but ambitious architectural renovation is serene and a pleasure to stand amidst.

There are of course more than 3 artists in this exhibition, all of which are noteworthy. If you miss the Royal Academy Schools show 2010 you should be disappointed!