@londonart blog

Abstract America
until 17.01.2010
Saatchi Gallery

abstract america at saatchi gallery by you.

Untitled (Unfinished Hand) (2006) by Peter Coffin

This main exhibition in the gallery shows the talents american artist have. As the show focus on works with a so-called abstract theme, one wonder that isn't most contemporary art creations are 'abstract'?

To be honest, some of the pieces shown are not very impressive. Nonetheless there are some amazing pieces and you would just be stunned when you see in first sight, like the spiral staircase by Peter Coffin. The beauty of the piece comes from the simplicity of the geometry, and the harmonious bending of something you would feel so secure and hard everyday as a metal staircase. That is a universal beauty in its overall form, its materiality and its symbolism all combined.

Three (Cross with Balloons) (and 2 details)

Untitled (Can Sculpture) x3 views (2007) by Paul Lee

Nose (2005) at the front and Glamour Wig (2005) at the back both by Rachel Harrison

Untitled (Spiral Staircase) (2007) by Peter Coffin

Continent (2007) by Jacob Hashimoto

Another of my favourite piece is Nine -

Nine (2007) by Guerra de la Paz

When I walked into the room and saw this tree-like installation, I was not entirely sure what the intention of the artist is. But you would want to approach it. You want to look inside and down under the clothes to explore it. You want to walk around and experience it. It is fun. It is inviting. And I started to let my mind go figure out what exactly this work is about - why there are so many layers of clothes like a crown of a tree covering up the identity of the standing feet? Is that what we do everyday, trying to dress ourselves up in a masquerade that nobody could see our real faces?

Forming (2007) by Patrick Hill

full photo set here

*****

Korean Eye: Moon Generation

until 01.10.2009

Saatchi Gallery

Homo Animatus (2007) by HyunKoo Lee

Also showing in the gallery is this show on contemporary Korean art. A fairly obvious common character among many of the works is a sense of humanity, be it the subject or the interpretation. Even some of the works may seems a bit abstract, they are in no way as abstract as the ones in the American show on the other side.