The Power of the Medium

Gabriel Dawe

Plexus no. 11, 2011, Thread installation

Sponsored by Guttermann

Material Matters:

The Power of the Medium

Courtauld Institute

The Courtauld institute of Art's tent biannual contemporary art exhibition opened on Friday and I am bobbling over with superlatives. The exhibit was fresh, fun, magnetic and diverse.

The happening was at the East wing x of the Courtauld Institute of art (Somerset House) that after what I understand usually contain offices. Here rooms, corridors, stairs, and ceilings had been used well, which reminded me a bit of PS1 in New York and my love for that museum's use of space.

Everywhere you turned something new appeared, artists, curators and gallerist's were mingling around with the viewers, the atmosphere relaxed, happy and felt quite a bit like a home party.

Emi Miyashita

Welcome into my home

What more suitable then than Emi Miyashita's fantastic corridor "Welcome into my home".
It created a great buzz and a full stop, because you had to use some time to discover her delightful sexual "fairyland" surprises. The tiny drawings were accompanied with magnifying glasses, so you would not miss the micro details.

Emi Miyashita

Georgia Russell

Physiology, 2011, cut book

Courtesy of England & Co.

In the library the subject was "Creation of identity". I especially adored the Julie Cockburn's intricate and historical photography cutouts.

Julie Cockburn

Every Man, 2010, 3D collage

Courtesy of the artist and Stark Projects.

Simon Monk

Leisure Bag 2011

oil and alkyd on wood panel

Courtesy of the artist and Stark Projects

In the Cafe the subject was "The viewer as the Medium". You really did have to be part of these works to understand the aspect of it. Like the Erik Sanner painting with the video installation, I didn't "get it" before the artist himself showed me by blocking the projector that it was a painting behind it... and that of course made it a lot more "attractive" to me. I am obsessed with revelations.

Patrick Hughes

A couple of Canals, 2011

paper and paint on board

Courtesy of the Artist

Side view of "A Couple of Canals)

Erik Sanner

Videoing and painting a landscape containing an inverted orange traffic cone which is impaling

an asphalt pedestrian/bike path, 

2011, oil on canvas with original software and video projection

Courtesy of the artist

The painting behind the Erik Sanner Video.

Meekyoung Shin

Ghost Series, 2011, soap

Courtesy of the artist

 This soap sculpture series I wrote about last year when The Haunch of Venison had a Meekyoung Shin solo exhibit.

Laura Keeble

2012, Ovservane, reclaimed stained glass and mixed media.

Courtesy of the artist and Stark projects

Another great piece by Laura Keeble that last year was part of the group show "Superbrand".

The piece was in Room I:"Immaterial made Material", together with Mat Chivers and Damien Hirst.

Mat Chivers

Illuminati, 2011, chemical etched and pigmented stainless steel, 

with aluminium frame

Courtesy of the artist 

Rupert Shrive

The Sleep of Reason, 2011 

acrylic on brown paper, resin and bamboo.

Courtesy of the artist and Agent Morton

At the corridor II, Rupert Shrive's exciting work was hanging from the ceiling and along the wall by a staircase corridor, with the title "The Sleep of Reason" referring to the work of Goya with the same title.

Insert of "The sleep of reason"

Rebecca Stevenson

LuxeVert, 2008, polyester resin anq wax

Courtesy of the artist

I had earlier that day been taking photos of Swans at the Richmond Park and that sort of became a fun subject, that then led me to the sweet artist Rebecca, who is standing next to her beautiful flowery swan.

Emma Bennett

Always is Always Now, 2010

oil and french enamel on canvas,

Courtesy of Charlie Smith, London

Emma Bennett is here doing a twist on the traditional paintings in Room III: "Reinterpretation".

Rachel Whiteread

Yellow Edge, 2008

Private Collection, Courtesy of Gagosian Gallery

In Corridor V: Anniversary, is a piece by the acclaimed Rachel Whiteread, representing some sort of timelessness. 

Marco Querin

7 Seconds, 2010

wool, nails, mixed media on canvas

Courtesy of the artist and Stark Projects

Heringa/Van Kalsbeek

untitled 2010-11, ceramics, resin, steel, cloth, porcelain

Courtesy of the artist and Vegas Gallery

(The Artist together with Pier Vegner Tosta)

Heringa/Van Kalsbeek

untitled 2010-11, ceramics, resin, steel, cloth, porcelain

Courtesy of the artist and Vegas Gallery

Ending it with abstract sculpture work by Heringa/Van Kasbeek, but I could have gone on for a long time... there were more rooms and an exciting foyer that also should have been documented.
But for now I hope this will give you a great taste of what "Material Matters" had to offer.

With Love

Kristin

The Philosopher's Stone

Tail light by Stuart Haygarth

L

Gallery Libby Sellers

Grandmateria II

When I first met Libby Sellers we had a spring lunch in the gorgeous courtyard at the V&A with our common friend Helen Evenden. Libby was talking then about opening her own Gallery and in September it became a reality. Located right in-between Art Galleries and Design stores on Berner Street in London she could not find a better location for her stunning functional Art pieces.

Since 2007 she had been doing pop-up galleries, and it was time to stay put in one location.

The first pop-up Gallery was called Grandmateria, so it was only natural to make the Gallery begin with a symbolical Grandameteria II.

The title alludes to the mythologies of the Philosopher’s Stone: a stone said to have alchemist powers to transmute lead into gold. By working with modest materials, using materials out of context, or by layering the materials with rich narrative each of the represented designers elevate the ordinary to extraordinary effect. - Libby Sellers

BrickGlass by Fabien Cappello (2010)

Photography: Gideon Hart

© gallery libby sellers

Christmas tree project by Fabien Cappello

Photography: Gideon Hart

© gallery libby sellers

These Christmas tree tables, were initiated by both Libby and the artist Fabien Cappello, to change discarded Christmas trees into tables and stools and have part of the profit go to the Woodland Trust. An estimated 976, 000 Christmas trees will be discarded this year, so why not make something useful out of them?

Geno Chair by Simon Hasan

Photography: Gideon Hart

© gallery libby sellers

These boiled "Geno" leather stools are quite a fantastic and interesting minimalist concept. 

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Sliplamp by Nicolas Le Moigne

Photography: Nicolas Le Moigne

© gallery libby sellers

This limited edition table lamp is made out of eternit, a fibre cement that is commonly used for construction. Remarkably, when you touch it, it feels soft and smooth.

colony - asmara' by formafantasma for gallery libby sellers
photo by luisa zanzani
© gallery libby sellers

Italian born, Eindhoven-based designers Simone Farresin and Andrea Trimarchi is behind the exciting Formafantasma pieces, focusing on current and historical flow of people between North Africa and Italy (especially Sicily). The mohair blankets looks a bit like oversized stamps, showing the marks each cultures have established with each other. Like here the old Fiat factory in Eritrea.

Libby in front of Nina Tolstrup's paletable (2010)

This table and chairs are constructed out of reclaimed wood taken from unused pallets.

(Nina Tolstrup has made off cut animals casted in Crystacal plaster for a limited edition sale at Phillips de Pury's gallery the 1st of December.)

Excited about what Libby comes up with next I am looking forward to checking out her next opening in the middle of December. Find more info about Libby Sellers Gallery here.

With Love 

Kristin

Vegas Gallery

Vegas Gallery

Suzanne Schurgers

As we sit down to eat octopus and salmon at the Town Hall restaurant in Bethnal Green, I ask Suzanne, "So, how did you get into this?"

"How am I going to get out of this is the question", she answers, and we laugh. Suzanne is funny and quick with her replies. 5 years ago she started Vegas Gallery, it was supposed to be a minor non-commercial project related to her brother's media company MINIVEGAS. Quickly though after three exhibits that started in a basement of an old industrial warehouse in the heart of east London she realized this was going to become a full time project.

Suzanne studied at the prestigious Art Academy: Gerrit Rietveld in Amsterdam, originally with the thought of becoming an artist herself. Instead she represents artists that she admired then. Being inspired by Elke Krystufek's work while being a student and to now have the chance to represent her in a solo exhibit makes the hard work at the Gallery extra rewarding.

Press a key, 2008

Elke Krystufek

Elke Krystufek, was born 1970 in Austria, she works mostly with paper, video and paintings, but also works with Sculptures and performance art.

"As in Krystufek's previous work, she brings a combination of insight and subjectivity to the genre of figurative art. Possessing a humorous and sometime ironic eye Krystufek plays with the viewer and the dynamics of looking at a painting. The texts which are employed in some of her works could be seen as poetry lyrics and musical scores as well as key words addressing subjectivity from a musical angle. The harmony that exists in the works is similar to tonal symphonies and the string theories which is then sent tail-spinning into chaotic dissonance by the over-subjectification the masses apply to more contemporary art." - Vegas

"You", 2011

Elke Krystufek

Me-who would listen to me, 2007

Elke Krystufek

Elke Krystufek, Tracey Emin and Suzanne

at the opening of the Krystufek exhibition

After changing locations three times, Vegas Gallery is now located on Poyser Street under the arches of Cambridge Heath near Bethnal Green. The Gallery is actively participating in fairs from Volta Basel, Art Amsterdam to next weeks Crunch Art and Music festival at Hay (Wales).

Suzanne mentions that one of the key show's for the Gallery was the "Peeping Tom" curated by Keith Coventry. Dealing with the subjects scopophilia and Voyerism. 80 works by artists like Tracey Emin, Tim Nobel & Sue Webster, Gillian Wearing, Mat Collishaw, Gavin Turk and Keith Tyson was brought together to great acclaim among press and visitors.

Vegas Gallery

The next Vegas show will be a group exhibition called "I wish you well" opening Thursday 1st of December. It is co-curated by Anny Baranova, the artwork chosen for the show will be identifying the notions of one's experience and one's emotional state during the stage of the last good-bye.

As someone told Suzanne "The way to love, is to realize that it might be lost."

With Love 

Kristin

You can't Look Away!

Me Collectors Room

Berlin

For those that know me well, you know how wild I am about shoes. So walking down Agustrasse in Berlin late August it was fun to see this tribute to Italian Shoemakers. The exhibition was also shown earlier this year in Milan.

This year the Collectors room is concentrating on "Collecting" itself so not only shoes but fabulous hats, jewelry, bags and sunglasses were given its on great showcase.

The Me Collectors Room changes quickly and is quite varied. The 1st of October the new exhibit will be Antoine de Galbert's collection. He collects contemporary adaptions of folk art so it should be quite exciting.

Me Collectors Room also has a cafe at the front with energy boosters and (my favorite) communal tables.

With Love

Kristin

From dwindling Paradises to Space...

Space shuttle 1 Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral 2008

THOMAS STRUTH

Whitechapel Gallery

The well known German photographer Thomas Struth was Celebrated with a great opening at the Whitechapel Gallery last Tuesday. Here I want to share with you two of my favorite "Chapters" of his work. Two contrasting epochs; the constructive and the natural. Both of these Thomas Struth captures beautifully. The interesting aspect is how Thomas Struth manages to bring out the soul of each image, you think you can as well...but, not the Thomas Struth way.

Dry Dock DSME Shipyard, Geoje Island 2007

Mobile Art 2, Hong Kong 2008

Tokamak Asdex Upgrade Interior 2, Max Planck IPP, Garching 2009

"Thomas Struth´s photographs are about making order visible. And with the help of these images, the viewer finds him - or herself better able to grasp some of the many and varied faces of reality. For the things that surround us in our daily lives - which we should be entirely at ease with - are becoming ever more chaotic and harder to grasp...."

          Anette Kruszynski

Stellarator Wendelstein 7-X Detail, Max Planck IPP, Greifswald 2009

Paradise 1, Daintree, Australia

Paradise 22 Sao Francisco de Xavier, brazil 2001

Paradise 9, Xi Shuang Banna, China 1999

Paradise 30 Rio Madre de Dios, Peru, 2005

Paradise 26 Palpa, Peru 2003

Paradise as it still is some places without human interruption. One day we will miss it, or have we already lost it? Will we have to create Paradises in the future to make the feeling last?

With Love 

Kristin

Photos taken from the Whitechapel Gallery book Thomas Struth, Photographs 1978-2010