Art Exhibitions on Now: November 2018

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7 Unmissable Art Exhibitions on in November

This month’s art exhibitions not to miss choices focus on artistic responses to the cultural state of the Western world in the twentieth century and how mediums interact with and facilitate ideas.

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1) Artist Rooms: Anselm Kiefer

Anselm Kiefer is one of the most important post-war artists. His work which incorporates raw often unusual materials including sunflower seeds, straw, human hair, lead and concrete with paint, explores collective memory and national identity. Focusing on the conflict, controversies and taboos of recent history in particular Germany’s history during the Second World War his unflinching approach provides beautiful memorials with shocking impact and dark, sedative undertones.

This exhibition which shows work from both the National galleries of Scotland and the Tate’s collection shows key works of Kiefer’s over the last 40 years of his career. This helps trace the development of his views on history, theology, mythology, literature, philosophy and the legacy of cultural history, with death, rejuvenation and the position of ‘painting’ as a concept taking central roles.

Showing at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until 27th January 2019.

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2) Klimt / Schiele : Drawings from the Albertina Museum, Vienna

Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele both died in 1918, marking not only the end of their lives but also marked the decline of incredible creative output in Vienna as the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to separate and the culture of Europe started to enter a new phase. This show is a collaboration between the Albertina Museum in Vienna and The Royal Academy of Arts in London to mark the centenary of the artists’ deaths, as
Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele are two of the most famous 20th century artists.

In this exhibition, which focuses on their drawing, a fragile and intriguing viewpoint is drawn out that gives the opportunity to explore their relationship as well as their different creative methods. Gustav Klimt’s work epitomised striking, modern painting of fin-de-siècle Vienna at the time, where as, Egon Schiele was young, provocative and prodigiously talented. Both used the immediacy of drawing as a medium to explore modernity, subjectivity and the erotic.

Showing at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, between 4th November and 3rd February 2019.

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3) Ribera: Art of Violence

This is the first UK show dedicated to Spanish Baroque painter, draughtsman and printmaker Jusepe de Ribera presenting his sensational and shocking works in grotesque style. 8 large scale paintings are shown with drawings and prints emphasising and exploring violence within his work. Together the 45 works, which are arranged thematically, demonstrate his fascination with martyrdom, sensation, bindings and how humans both literally and metaphorically punish.

His focus on suffering comes across not as personally sadistic or aesthetically chosen but rather taken as a subject on which to ruminate on, figure out and expose as a cultural phenomena.

The works are on loan from several major European and North American collections and most have never been shown in the UK before.

Showing at Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, until 27th January 2019.

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4) Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair

This is the third successive Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair. This year it is taking place within the Arsenal meaning the exhibition space has tripled in size now covering  2500m2. The show has been curated by the Brocket Gallery and is the biggest contemporary print fair in Britain, showcasing the work of over 200 different printmakers. Alongside original limited editions are practical demonstration, talks and advice for budding collectors.

This exhibition champions every aspect of printmaking with emerging talent being shown alongside established printmakers, both working in everything from etching and lino to woodblock and screen-printing.

The piece shown above is by Margret Ashman whose practice is based on the photographic image and who explores strong, emptive themes. Ashman’s work often features hands as a symbol of positive human nature or as a mode of gesture. This is particularly relevant in her studies of deaf people signing which have lead her to look at faith, spirituality and how we feel and express emotion.

Showing at Building 17, Cartridge Place, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London, between 22nd November and 25th November 2018.

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5) Prints of Darkness: Goya and Hogarth in a Time of European Turmoil

While both Francisco José de Goya Lucientes (1746-1828) and William Hogarth (1697-1764) were famous painters in their own time, their prints can be seen as far more compelling and personal. These often came in the form of serials with the work designed to appeal to the public rather than the art market, this makes their work a trifle more candid and more taboo. The topics they focused on were poverty, homelessness, warfare, violence, cruelty, sexual abuse and human trafficking, social inequity, political corruption, racism, superstition, hypocrisy, rampant materialism, nationalism, mental illness, and alcoholism. The hundreds of prints which show their graphic form (both in subject and style) provoke a variety of emotions and describe the most uncomfortable of scenarios, that unfortunately are still familiar and bear relevance to our current society.

While this is the first time their work has been exhibited together it appears particularly timely since we are on the eve of Brexit and both lived through continental and British tensions in their lifetimes.

Showing at the Whitworth, Manchester, until August 2019.

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6) John Moores Painting Prize 2018

The John Moores Painting Prize is internationally regarded as well as being the UK longest established painting prize, having been founded in 1957. This year marks the art prize’s 60th anniversary and the exhibitions 30th anniversary. It forma a key strand of the Liverpool Biennial and while the work changes year to year the level and intention to champion the best of contemporary painting remains the same. The competition is open to all UK- based artists and is judged anonymously. All the works exhibited are for sale making it a must for collectors.

The winner of the prestigious first prize in 2018 is Jacqui Hallum with her painting King and Queens of Wands.

’In her painting, Hallum draws on imagery ranging from medieval woodcuts and leaded glass windows to tarot cards and Art Nouveau children’s book illustrations. She works across a number of loose cotton sheets, staining and dying them with inks (drawing ink, graffiti ink and squid ink). The sheets move between Hallum’s studio and garden throughout this process, before they are grouped and pinned together, concealing and revealing themselves to create a multi-part work.

Jacqui Hallum was born in Wembley, London in 1977 and is based in Totnes, Devon. She attended Coventry School of Art and Design 1996-9 and Slade School of Fine Art 2000-2’

The vistors’ choice winner shown above is Gary Lawrence with his piece Kos Town Paradise Hotel Front Terrace.

‘The painting depicts the sunlit terrace of a hotel I stayed at in Kos Town. I always enjoy the light flickering on every object, in the way Renoir would do, and have tried to show this.
The work was made rolled up due to lackof space by painting small sections at a time. The paint and image go right to the ragged canvas edge anfd it was never intended to be put on a stretcher. It was, rather, more similar to making a drawing on a piece of paper. When hung, flat, attached directly to the wall, it echoes the way in which a tapestry is presented.

Gary Lawrence was born in 1959 in Essex. He attended Braintree College 1976-78, Portsmouth Polytechnic 1978-81, Eastern Illinois University 1981-82, Southern Illinois University 1990-92.’


Past winners include: David Hockney (1967), Mary Martin (1969), Peter Doig (1993), Keith Coventry (2010), Sarah Pickstone (2012) and Rose Wylie (2014). Sir Peter Blake, winner of the junior prize in 1961, is Patron of the prize.

Showing at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, until 18th November 2018.

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7) Club Dada: Berlin and beyond

Dadaism was created by a small group of what we know been known as creatives in Switzerland as the First World War was raging across Europe. The name chosen for it’s universality as a nonsense word signifies the movements intentional avant-garde nature and it’s relationship to apparent ‘madness’ as a mode of social critique and political resistance to the political and military state of play at the time. The movement moved with political developments from the original location in Zurich in 1916, to Richard Huelsenbeck’s move to wartime Berlin in 1917 and at the end of the war the Berlin Dadaists used the movement to protest corruption and attack the politicians using the disruption to grasp power.

This display takes the Berlin faction as a focal point, placing it within its international and national context and points out the echoes of the future rise of National Socialism, degenerate art and the we now know impending Second World War.

The piece shown above is an etching of a painting made by Dix in 1920. His work was satirical in flavour with war-wounded soldiers often featuring and although on occasions these injuries are exaggerated they depict something commonplace at this time. Dix was influenced by his own experience in the trenches an sought to counteract the propaganda of war as glory. There is a humour in the work which can come across as deeply uncomfortable but also seeks to place the scene in a position of normality. This political, satirical method that appears similar to cabaret is one of the powerful and necessary aspects of Dadaism.

Showing at Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two), Edinburgh, until 11th November 2018.

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Interesting Upcoming Artist Shows on this Month:

This is a selection of UK art exhibitions, including group, solo, artist-led and gallery curated shows, that we think are interesting or unusual in some way. We update this section every week so you know the exhibitions to see now. Formally, we presented this information as our Current Events weekly blog posts. If you want to submit your own, follow the link at the bottom of this section.

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Exhibitions on in the First Week of November

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Original Print Fair 2018


30 October – 11 November 2018


Celebrating of the art of the hand pulled print.

Now in its 7th year, Espacio Print Fair is better than ever.

This exciting exhibition highlights the versatility of printmaking through the diverse work of 16 skilled and talented artists. The two floors of the gallery will be full of original hand pulled prints showcasing framed and unframed work on paper including etchings, linocuts, woodcuts, collagraphs and screenprints. As well as all the different techniques used, there are examples of contemporary art for all tastes from representational prints to works of pure abstraction.

The Print Fair is a wonderful occasion and the perfect opportunity to purchase original affordable art. There will also be the artists’ greetings cards on sale as well as small prints suitable for original Christmas gifts.

Moich Abrahams, Jim Anderson, Tania Beaumont, Diane Comte Frost,
Zelda Eady, Steve Edwards, Mario S. Gonzalez, Sally Grumbridge, Ann Simberg, 
Ivy Smith, Jane Stothert, Tina Viljoen, Liz Whiteman Smith, Roy Willingham

Curated by Zelda Eady

Espacio Gallery
159 Bethnal Green Road,
London,
E2 7DG

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CACHE a group show

3 November – 25 November 2018

Sharon Beavan | Alison Boult | Helen Burgess | Richard Burton | Gethin Evans | Maud Hewlings | 
Atsuhide Ito | Leon Pozniakow | Ben RIsk | Jenny Smith

‘I realised then that a man who’d only lived for a day could easily live for a hundred years in prison. 
He’d have enough memories not to get bored.’
– Camus, The Outsider

This exhibition presents ten contemporary painters. While each of them has a distinct working method, 
they share an interest in memory, as part of their process and as a subject. 

Angus-Hughes Gallery
26 Lower Clapton Rd
London, E5 0PD

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A Personal View – Peter Wileman – Solo Show

7 November – 24 November 2018

Highly sought-after abstracted landscape painter Wileman delivers a new body of work depicting New York, London, and more.

Thompson’s Gallery
3 Seymour Place
London
W1H 5AZ

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Laura Fishman: Infinite Possibilities

9 November – 21 November 2018

This engaging and uplifting exhibition which showcases the works of popular artist, Laura Fishman at the 508 Gallery.

View her range of styles, which range from Abstract Expressionism to pour painting, inspired by her love of nature and passion for experimenting with mixed materials. Her paintings share a dynamic use of colour, texture and movement whilst mimicking organic patterns in nature.

508 King’s Rd
Chelsea,
London
SW10 0LD

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The Masters: Screen and Stone

1 November – 18 November 2018

The Masters is a series of exhibitions established by the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers focusing on a particular branch of printmaking each year. This year’s exhibition will be curated by Chris Orr RA RE and will showcase prints made with screenprint, lithography and digital printmaking.

Bankside Gallery
Thames Riverside
48 Hopton Street
London SE1 9JH

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Ann Shrager

29 October – 10 November 2018

Ann Shrager studied at Byam Shaw School of Painting and the Royal Academy Schools. She is a member of the NEAC and has won both their Arts Club and Travel prizes. Her paintings of quintisentially English and Indian scenes are bathed in nostalgia.

Cadogan Contemporary
87 Old Brompton Road
London
SW7 3LD