Tag Archives: London

London: Damien Hirst Christmas Tree

December 22, 2015 butterfly

Next to the Connaught Hotel in London Mayfair stands a 30 feet tall Christmas tree adorned with flying doves and unusual decorations: snowmen formed of giant pills, medical instruments, scissors, syringues, scalpels…

Damien Hirst - Christmas Tree 2015

This is the work of controversial artist Damien Hirst, who generated some complaints from local residents who found it inappropriate and culturally insensitive and dangerous as it is on a public highway next to a church and a homeless center.

Hirst said: “The Christmas tree is a celebration of togetherness, a joyful symbol of hope and love. For the decorations, I wanted to reference some of the amazing things that give us hope in the world today.”

View the full set of pics here

London, Shows

London: Anj Smith – Phosphor of the palms @ Hauser & Wirth

November 18, 2015 butterfly

Anj Smith - Hauser & Wirth

For her new solo show at Hauser & Wirth in London, contemporary artist Anj Smith has been working tirelessly for the past three years to produce a series of twenty one paintings. Inspired by a variety of sources, from psychological states, nature, fashion subcultures, the artworks are rich in detail, colour and texture.

During a conversation with Laurence Sillars, Chief Curator, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Anj Smith explains her thought process behind the work.

‘Phosphor on the Palms’ is characterised by its exploration of the liminal. The exhibition’s title alludes to the poem ‘Fabliau of Florida’ by Wallace Stevens (1879 – 1955), in which natural elements morph into new configurations. Smith writes: ‘Difficulties in identifying and separating out phenomena aren’t artificially simplified but embraced in all their complexities. Thresholds are hard to determine; clouds in the sky are indistinguishable from the scum washed up with the surf’. These paintings explore shifting boundaries and disintegration, encompassing death and desire, sexuality and language.

Her portrait, landscape and still life paintings merge together harmoniously. In a landscape painting, the sitter although not visible has left signs of presence through different objects.

Anj Smith explore identity, ambiguity and gender in her enigmatic androgynous portraits. Within these works, she acknowledges how clothing is used as a tool to project a certain identity. Intricate botanical and animal imagery also permeates the paintings, from gecko, pangolin to monkeys and rodents that morph into a headdress.

Anj Smith - Hauser & Wirth

View the full set of pics here

Anj Smith – Phosphor on the palms
Until 21 Nov 2015
Hauser & Wirth London
23 Savile Row
London W1S 2ET

London, Shows

London Opening: Lusus Naturae – 100Taur & Hisham Echafaki

October 23, 2015 butterfly 3 Comments

Lusus Naturae - 100Taur & Hisham Echafaki

Here is a photo recap of ‘Lusus Naturae’ we have been pleased to curate with French artists 100Taur and Hisham Echafaki.

Viewers were introduced to the dark enchanted world of 100Taur with his hypnotic hybrid creatures from a weird Buffalo, a meditating and multitasking Holy Slug to some cheeky ‘Blood Brothers’ and a flying Mandrill.

Trompe l’oeil paintings by Hisham Echafaki captivated the audience, while they were intrigued by his oniric butterflies in three dimensions.

Congratulations to the talented artists 100Taur and Hisham Echafaki on this fantastic body of work. We would like to extend massive thanks to Dave Skelly, Bassim and Tunde for their precious help and all the people who have been supporting this event.

Lusus Naturae - 100Taur & Hisham Echafaki

View the full set of pics here
Lusus Naturae
100Taur & Hisham Echafaki
94 Leonard Street
EC2A 4RH

Art Fair, London

London: Moniker Art Fair 2015

October 19, 2015 butterfly

Celebrating its sixth year anniversary the Moniker Art Fair returned to the Truman Brewery in East London from 15-18 October 2015.

Featuring twenty national and international galleries with contemporary and urban artists, the Moniker Art Fair also introduced Bitcoin through the Renaissance is Now installation with Ben Eine and Schoony. UK stencil artist Nick Walker canvasses were presented in an immersive dining space with Lauren Baker chandeliers for The Art of Patrón Cocktail Cantina.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

Supporting the Hepatitius C Trust, Art on a Postcard showcased two hundred postcard size artworks from renowned artists priced at £50 through a lottery raffle including Gilbert& George, Harland Miller and more.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

Visitors could also enjoy some live performances like Mark Powell biro drawings or French graffiti artist Bom.K from the DMV crew painting live while MYA Gallery was presenting his UK solo show.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

A crucified Star Wars trooper by RYCA / Ryan Callanan (Tag Fine Arts, UK) overlooked the space while a three dimensional portrait by Matt Small (34 Fine Arts) greeted the visitors. Monochrome artworks by French artist WK Interact (Kallenbach Gallery, NL) were also exhibited.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

Drawings by Betz/ Etam Cru were also on show with MyFinBec, while London Westbank presented many artists like Inkie. Stencil godfather Blek Le Rat was featured at 44309 Street//Art Gallery. Prints by Hush and Japanese contemporary artists like Chiho Aoshima and Takashi Murakami were presented by Kumi Contemporary.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

Secondary works by Banksy and Peter Blake were also presented amongst the exhibitors. See additional pics below from Curious Duke Gallery, Folly & Muse, Graffik Gallery, Hawkins & Blue, Iaysha Art, Smithson Gallery, and Worldart.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

In parallel Jealous Editions were also showing their printing process to the public.

Moniker Art Fair 2015

View the full set of pics here

Moniker Art Fair
15 – 18 October
The Old Truman Brewery
London E1 6QL

London, Shows

London: Lisa Wright – The Unversed

October 6, 2015 butterfly

Lisa Wright - The Unversed

Coates & Scarry are currently showing a new body of works ‘The Unversed” by Lisa Wright.

The exhibition features a series of drawings, paper studies and paintings exploring the theme of emotional and physical vulnerability during puberty. Interweaving motifs and ideas from historical paintings with contemporary concerns, Lisa Wright’s work moves between and through different times.

Often isolated, the figures within Wright’s paintings and drawings hover on the brink of adulthood. With puberty, emotions are intensified, the insignificant is magnified and the importance of the presentation of the self, of body image, predominates. Many of the figures are unclothed and adorned with fragment of formal adult, decorative clothing – ribbons, ruffs and petticoats.

They wear simple black or white masks, reminiscent of Venetian carnival masks, emphasising the search for identity and construction of the self. Likewise, the title of the exhibition, ‘The Unversed’, alludes to the figures lacking the language, skills and experience to express themselves or to describe their experiences adequately. Instead, emotions and ideas are untold: lives remaining in a state of anticipation and a state of potential.

Lisa Wright - The Unversed