the fragile act of balance

I Did It My Way and Took the High Way by Alejandro Almanza Pereda
13.05-11.06.2011

Hoxton square is becoming an essential gallery circuit recently with power player White Cube as well as 20 Hoxton Square (which has hosted a show brought in by Mario Testino earlier this year), the yet-to-be-rebuilt-by-zaha-hadid ROVE (founded by New York art dealer Kenny Schachter), the newish Ibid Projects relocated from the Vyner Street circuit and the funky multifunctional space KK Outlet (a communications agency with a gallery and bookshop). Each of them has its own character but they all bring in exciting shows all the time to visitors who may be just coming over to enjoy a picnic in the lawn. Even though you may not be a huge art fan, it seems often that you can find one show you like among these galleries around the square.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends (2011)

Take the current show in ROVE for example. It has joined force with Fundacion Magnolia to launch this 1st UK show of Mexican artist Alejandro Almanza Pereda. The exhibition includes new commissions and recent works in the form of installations, video and drawings.

After All These Years I Realise That it is Better to Live Outside the Garden with Her Than Inside Without Her (2011)

Known for questioning and challenging the rules of physics Alejandro fiercely explores the concept of gravity in his work. Relentlessly pushing these boundaries, Almanza Pereda relies purely on the forces of resistance to hold his works in place. He also religiously searches through flea markets, gathering used objects, many with local historical connection and others with the global presence of mass market goods. 

People that Live in Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones (2011)

The gallery staff told us Burning the Candle at Both Ends(2011) by the entrance window (the top image above) is an on-site creation which the artist has spent almost a week finding the balance to hold the objects on the ceiling lamp. It was a pity we visited only after the artist has left London. Below are 2 interviews a few years ago -

Interview with the artist for his exhibition in Minneapolis Minnesota by TheSoapFactory, 08-01-2008

Alejandro with one of his neon tube construction in this interview by jun60mx, 12-02-2007

Alenjandro's way of creating art can be said as resembling the ancient nomadic tribe - wherever he goes, he would cultivate there and harvest his crops to make a living. It can also be said as organic - the ultimate appearance of his sculptures is largely decided by the force of nature, not his own will. In these gravity defying installations, the universal and the individual co-exist beautifully.

Full photo set

*****

Further Readings -

Page: Official website of the artist
Page: Profile of the artist in Magnanmetz Gallery

art october in london - part 3

Apart from the Frieze & Zoo art fairs, there are numerous other happenings going on in town. Here are some of the ones which are still running, so you could still catch the one you like before it's too late:

*****

The Age of the Marvellous by All Visual Arts

till 22.10.2009
One Marylebone

As manifested in the official website, the show is inspired by the Wunderkammer or Cabinet of Curiosities, popular in the late Renaissance through the Baroque period - an era characterized by a revival of learning, the sum of all of man’s knowledge could be represented in rooms filled with natural wonders, artificial exotica and relics or art works concerned with the supernatural.

the age of the marvellous by you.
For Laplace [Fear] (2008) by Paul Fryer

There is a "gothic - evolutionary" sense evoked both from the atmosphere of the venue and the nature of the works. Good timing in the age of swine flu, thinking robots and overdosed celebs. Keith Tyson's Mastering (image via It's Nice That) is my favourite.

Full photo set here

*****
both till 31.10.2009
till 07.11.2009
Haunch of Venison

donald judd at haunch of venison by you.
Donald Judd

Enrico Castellani/ Dan Flavin/ Donald Judd/ Günther Uecker by you.
Monument for V. Tatlin (1967) by Dan Flavin

Haunch of Venison London explores the connections between four major artists: Enrico Castellani, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd and Gunther Uecker in the art fair season. The exhibition showcases works from 1964 to the present day. All four artists were born within six years of each other (1928-1933) and their practices offer an opportunity to compare the strong aesthetic influences, interests and objectives their generation shared, despite developing on either side of the Atlantic. (excerpts from the official page)

the evening redness in the west by you.
Jamie Shovlin

For Jamie Shovlin, 'The Evening Redness in the West' is the final instalment in a trilogy of exhibitions which examined the disparity between reality and idealism through an exploration of the narratives and fictions that a nation projects to the world. (excerpts from the official page)

this is london || 10.10.2009 by you.
Jonas Burgert

This is the 1st UK solo show for German artist Jonas Burgert. The grotesque and the mystical provide the subject-matter for the majority of Burgert's art. Bold, sensuous and opulent, the atmosphere in his paintings is of a world of destruction and decay. (excerpts from the official page)

Full photo set here

*****

till 23.12.2009
ROVE Hoxton Square

fruit & flowers at ROVE by you.

fruit & flowers at ROVE by you.

fruit & flowers at ROVE by you.

Furniture and Interior Decor by various designers (including Arik Levy, Zaha Hadid, Carolyn Quartermaine, Mathias Bengtsson, Based Upon, Maria Pergay, Peter Harvey, Max Lamb, Tom Dixon, Richard Woods, and Brendan Cass) are on display in this show. These design-pieces are more down-to-earth to the audience than abstract contemporary art found in most galleries. 

Full photo set here

Further Reading -
Official page of Keith Tyson
ROVE's proposed revamp of 33-35 Hoxton Square designed by Zaha Hadid