Amelia’s Magazine | Art listings October 19-26

affordable art fair

Last week the high-rollers were flashing their cash at Frieze, but there’s also space in the art world for those of us who aren’t Russian oligarchs. If you love the idea of owning original art but don’t have the in depth knowledge necessary to spend thousands of pounds on something, the Affordable Art Fair is a brilliant place to go: new artists from 120 galleries will be displayed and prices start at just £50.

October 22-25
Battersea Park

carlos garaica

Carlos Garaicoa – The Point, the Line and the Plan

Brand new gallery East Central is holding a free-to-enter exhibition of Cuban artist Carlos Garaicoa’s manipulated photographs. Garaicoa hails from Havana and his work seeks to shed light on the now fading idealistic glory of the city’s buildings, sometimes by contrasting them with American icons like the Empire State Building, or implanting words into views of the city (one sinister message can be seen above). Politics doesn’t sit lightly on Garaicoa’s work, it is an integral part of its message: images of the Pentagon and Cuba’s intelligence buildings drive this home.

mb-nevertheless-installation-1

Matthew Brannon – Nevertheless

Sculptor Matthew Brannon’s large-scale “I know now no one won” work at the Approach Gallery takes the form of an exquisitely formulated stage set for a play to be performed aboard an ocean liner. A trained graphic designer, Brannon uses the language of shapes and objects against a crisp white background to make his sense known – some works also make use of this skill, with bits and pieces of text shedding light on the artist’s intent. Happily, he also created and crafted each of the objects himself, proving himself a man of many talents.

everything

The Museum Of Everything

Witness the birth of a brand new museum that promises to be London’s first ever space for artists to work outside our modern community. ‘Exhibition #1’ features the whole spectrum of art with over two hundred drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations from these “untrained, unintentional and unseen creators”. Amongst others are Calvin and Ruby Black, a husband & wife team who will exhibit hundreds of figures made from recycled materials. Painter, potter and dancer Ann Stokes is inspired by ballet and presents creations including animals, tableware & trees of birds. There’s free admission and a free shuttle for all visitors to and from Frieze.

October 14th-December 23rd

hogarth-gin-lane

Drawing The Line: Political Cartooning In An Inoffensive Age

This event will see speakers such as Dave Brown, Martin Rowson and Sarnath Banerjee among others, discussing the rights and wrongs of political cartoons past and present. In an age when anyone who so much as utters an un-PC comment is condemned, do we need cartoonists who are willing to take a chance on good taste in order to make sense of the world we live in? This and other questions will be answered in this Thursday evening.

October 22nd DACS, 33 Great Sutton St, London

pen ship show brick lane

Mr Almos’ Big Pen Ship – The Rag Factory

This Thursday will see the opening of an illustration exhibition that showcases the art of thirteen (magical) illustrators such as George Mellor, Ali Campbell, Chris Martin (not that one) and Matthew Hams. Set in the Rag Factory off Brick Lane, this is worth a look if you appreciate illustration that’s quite charming, a little bit fantastical and very curious. Expect an eclectic cross of styles.

October 22 -26th The Rag Factory.

Categories ,Affordable Art Fair, ,carlos garaicoa, ,cartoons, ,Matthew Brannon, ,talks, ,the museum of everything

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Amelia’s Magazine | Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014 Review

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-David Shillinglaw 1

Last Friday my good friend Helen of East End Prints persuaded me to join her in a trip to the Affordable Art Fair in Hampstead, taking advantage of our lovely new overground line to drag the toddlers with us. As is usual at these large fairs, there was loads of wonderful art alongside plenty of dross: here is a tiny snapshot of what I saw and loved whilst trying to keep track of my child.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Hyunjeong Lim
Hyunjeong Lim, Made in Arts London

In the entrance we were entranced by art from University of London graduate students, shown as part of the Made in Arts London initiative. My favourite was a series of surreal landscapes by Central Saint Martins graduate Hyunjeong Lim.

Rebecca Rendell AAF Hampstead

I also liked enigmatic miniature sculpture using everyday household items by Rebecca Rendell: she calls these ‘autobiographical cleansing‘.

Carola Del Mese upcycled teapot - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

From there it was into the main part of the exhibition, chasing small boys up and down the aisles, to the chagrin of some and amusement of many. This upcycled pewter teapot is by Carola del Mese, who gains inspiration from her career in theatrical prop making and a love of Edwardian charm jewellery.

David Shillinglaw - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

David Shillinglaw’s iconographic artwork is instantly recognisable. I particularly love his use of colour.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Shuby

The trend for bastardising old works of art shows no sign of abating. How about this humorous portrait by Shuby?

Gods Own Junkyard - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

Neon artwork by God’s Own Junkyard manages to be both kitsch and sophisticated, combining garish lighting with elegant typography.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Gerry Smith

I was most enamoured of clever photorealist paintings by Gerry Smith at the Sol Art Gallery.

Lauri Hopkins collage AAF

Lauri Hopkins at Four Walls Contemporary reassembles found materials with paint in these lovely abstract collages.

Frances Doherty - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

This gigantic Bishops Pom Pom is by former restauranteur Frances Doherty, who calls herself ‘the ceramic gardener’ and works between Normandy and Brighton. She has a lovely blog here.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014

And yes, that is our children, lolling around on the floor dangerously close to expensive pieces of art. The upholstered dogs are by Dominic Gubb and take on the various characters of the salvaged sofas from which they are made.

Myung Nam An - Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

Eye ceramics by Myung Nam An made for a stunning wall show at the Cube Gallery.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Reindeer Ourensma

Downpatrick Head by the Dutch artist Reinder Ourensma has the bizarre feel of a fantasy world but it is an actual location in Ireland.

Neon circular paper artwork by Eliza Kopec

There was a strong neon trend running through the show and I particularly liked this circular paper artwork by Eliza Kopec.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Victoria Browne 2
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Victoria Browne 1

I first saw these prints by Victoria Browne at an exhibition in Margate and instantly fell in love. Her Training Nature series highlight our attempts to improve nature through constant pruning and shaping. This gave me a second opportunity to lust after one… but they sadly do not come cheap.

Ice cream art by Marie Robinson

Ice cream art by Marie Robinson was perfectly kitsch and delicious on the Will’s Art Warehouse stand.

affordable_art_fair_Cristina Gayarre

Simple graphic portraits by Cristina Gayarre work well in bold red and black.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2014-Richard Bawden

I can’t resist a more traditional print by Richard Bawden.

Jemma Appleby AAF Hampstead

I am a sucker for strange landscapes, especially if they feature curious modern architecture, like these delicate charcoal pieces by Jemma Appleby.

Helen Beard ceramics

Lastly, lovely ceramics by Helen Beard (based at Cockpit Arts) feature whimsical swimmers on delicate porcelain.

Categories ,2014, ,Affordable Art Fair, ,Bishops Pom Pom, ,Carola del Mese, ,Central Saint Martins, ,Cockpit Arts, ,Cristina Gayarre, ,Cube Gallery, ,David Shillinglaw, ,Dominic Gubb, ,Downpatrick Head, ,East End Prints, ,Eliza Kopec, ,Four Walls Contemporary, ,Frances Doherty, ,Gerry Smith, ,God’s Own Junkyard, ,Hampstead, ,Helen Beard, ,Hyunjeong Lim, ,Jemma Appleby, ,Lauri Hopkins, ,Made in Arts London, ,Marie Robinson, ,Myung Nam An, ,Neon, ,Rebecca Rendell, ,Reinder Ourensma, ,review, ,Richard Bawden, ,Shuby, ,Snarfle, ,Sol Art Gallery, ,The ceramic gardener, ,Training Nature, ,University of London, ,Victoria Browne, ,Will’s Art Warehouse

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