Our top picks of exhibitions together with cultural spaces and places, both online and in the real world.

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Viewing Cj Hendry: Epilogue

Above

Cj Hendry: Epilogue
12 — 22 May 2022
New Testament Church of God, London
https://cjhendrystudio.com/collections/epilogue-drawings

Stroll around East London and you’ll see historic churches aplenty. Among them is the New Testament Church of God in Mile End, which is enjoying a new lease of life following its recent refurbishment. So much so, in fact, that it’s the site of a brilliant new exhibition by the New York-based artist Cj Hendry.

Hendry’s first solo show in London, Epilogue brings together 32 new monochromatic flower works inspired by depictions of nature throughout art history, from 17th century Dutch Still Life paintings to the Pop Art of Andy Warhol and Marc Quinn. Made using the Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901 pencils, these intricate studies can take up to 80 hours to produce. Also on show is a large-scale immersive installation: ten tonnes of recyclable confetti made up of millions of paper flower cut outs will continuously fall from the ceiling of the church across the 11-day duration of the show. The confetti will be allowed to settle, gradually blanketing the floors, underlining a greater sense of time, transience and rebirth.

By questioning the ephemeral nature of beauty, time, and mortality, this poignant series mirrors a collective mood of reflection and re-evaluation. ‘Countless artists have depicted flowers in full bloom, but few have portrayed them as they begin to wither and shed their petals,’ says Hendry. ‘To me this is where the beauty lies, and Epilogue is a memorial to them and a reminder that nothing lasts forever.’ Get thee to Mile End asap.

Doing Photo London

The Wick - Arrival Prince Gyasi
Nil Gallery

Above Arrival Prince Gyasi Nil Gallery

Above JACKIE MEGANE

The Wick - David Yarrow 1992 CAMERA-WORK

Above David Yarrow 1992 CAMERA-WORK

The Wick - Saidou Dicko AFIKARIS Gallery 4

Above Saidou Dicko AFIKARIS Gallery 4

The Wick - Pink Powder Lily Donaldson wearing John Galliano 2008

Above Pink Powder Lily Donaldson wearing John Galliano 2008

The Wick - Blade of Light for Alexander McQueen 2004

Above Blade of Light for Alexander McQueen 2004

Above Arrival Prince Gyasi Nil Gallery

Above JACKIE MEGANE

Above David Yarrow 1992 CAMERA-WORK

Above Saidou Dicko AFIKARIS Gallery 4

Above Pink Powder Lily Donaldson wearing John Galliano 2008

Above Blade of Light for Alexander McQueen 2004

Photo London
12 — 15 May 2022 (11 May by invitation only)
Somerset House, London
https://photolondon.org

Photo London, the capital’s biggest celebration of photography, returns to Somerset House for its seventh edition this weekend. Installed across the historic house and courtyard, it brings together more than 100 exhibitors from across the globe to present the very best of the past, present and future of photography.

Significant solo presentations at this year’s fair include Mikhael Subtozky at Goodman Gallery and Edward Burtynsky at Flowers Gallery. Also worthy of note is Aperture’s presentation, which brings together Nan Goldin, Robert Capa and Viviane Sassen, among others.

Elsewhere, you’ll find a solo exhibition of key works by Nick Knight and a special presentation dedicated to Frank Horvat’s fashion work and images depicting Paris at night.
But make sure that you save time for the galleries devoting their booths to supporting Ukraine. Paris-based Alexandra de Viveiros, for instance, is presenting seven artists belonging to the celebrated Kharkiv School, while Ilex Gallery from Warsaw is exhibiting works by contemporary photographers alongside those by artists from the Kharkiv school.

Once you’ve had your fill, scope out the Discovery section, which includes a special presentation on ‘Photography Crossing Boundaries’ featuring sculpture, NFTs and The Rainbow Camera by artists Walter and Zoniel.

And that’s not all. Accompanying the physical fair is a comprehensive Talks Programme curated by William A Ewing and an online edition, which runs until 29 May.

Doing Eye of the Collector

Above

Eye of the Collector
12 — 14 May (11 May by invitation only)
Two Temple Place, London
https://www.eyeofthecollector.com

Kicking off London’s summer art season is Eye of the Collector, a boutique art fair that eschews the big white tent in favour of a grand domestic setting. Which means, yes, no booths or aisles or boundaries! But there’s more. Unlike most traditional art fairs, Eye of the Collector juxtaposes works spanning the history of art and design from antiquity to the present day in a bid to spark new dialogues that will inspire and engage.

‘We conceived Eye of the Collector to provide a focused next generation experience for collectors,’ says Nazy Vassegh, its founder and CEO. ‘We always wanted it to feel like being invited into an imaginary collector’s home.’

Set against the architectural backdrop of Two Temple Place, a neo-Gothic mansion in the heart of central London, the second edition of the fair features 25 local and international galleries, with almost half of the works on show by female artists. ‘A spirit of discovery and rediscovery lies at our heart,’ adds Vassegh. ‘We look forward to shining a light on women artists both historic and contemporary.’

Among them are the Surrealist Cissie Kean and painter Pauline Boty, an oft overlooked founder of the British Pop Art movement. Offered by Whitford Fine Art, Golden Nude is a recently rediscovered Boty painting from 1959 inspired by Bonnard’s bathers.

Also offered for sale are ten new works commissioned especially for the fair. These include paintings by Eleanor Johnson and Megan baker, and mixed media works by Anna Preach.

An online edition of the fair will run alongside the physical event on eyeofthecollector.com and chrisites.com. Don’t miss the chance to explore one of London’s architectural hidden gems. Book your tickets now.