It was only at my third visit to this exhibition that I really looked at the entrance display and was delighted with the playfulness as well as the complexity of the set-up. The steps up to the show, the floor, walls, doors and even part of the clock were covered with small pieces of gaffer […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
ING The Discerning Eye at the Mall Galleries, London
I have something of a confession to make – I had never visited the ING Discerning Eye till this year when a painting of mine was accepted. The ING Discerning Eye is an annual exhibition held at the Mall Galleries with submitted entries selected by a panel of judges. The only stipulation is that the […]
William Kentridge at the Royal Academy.
Where do I start? William Kentridge at the Royal Academy left me completely overwhelmed as there was so much to take in. I honestly don’t know if anyone can handle so much in one visit. I’ve been twice so far, have read the catalogue and downloaded the app so feel slightly better… I’ll concentrate here […]
Portrait of a Man by Rosalba Carriera at the National Gallery, London.
One of the many reasons I love living in London is having access to world-class museums and galleries (and for free!). Whenever I’m close to Trafalgar Square I pop into the National Gallery and have a little wander. This time I went into one of the small rooms and found this portrait which stopped me […]
Takefumi Hori at Fiumano Clase, London.
As some of you know, influences in my work include memories of my years in Asia. I am therefore always interested in work that reflects the sensibilities of different cultures. The art of Takefumi Hori is one of these. Born and brought up in Japan, he has lived in Brooklyn, New York for almost 2 […]
Yaacov Agam. Antechamber to the private apartments of President Georges Pompidou 1971.
I remember hearing about this project as it was so radical at the time but had only seen photographs of it till now. Can you imagine going to meet the French President and encountering this at the Elysée Palace? The room is now housed in its entirety at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and it’s […]
Rana Begum at Cristea Roberts
This was a close thing – I just managed to catch the Rana Begum show at Cristea Roberts then saw more of her work at Frieze before publishing this. Rana Begum works with colour. That may sound rather simplistic but it’s actually very complex and I selected one of her recent pictures in an attempt […]
Strata. Nick Grindrod at Smithson Gallery
If you want singing colours and a 60’s -70’s architectural vibe then Nick Grindrod is your man. His recent solo show with Smithson Gallery in London showed a range of work in different sizes on wood, canvas and paper. This isn’t cold , perfect geometry, splashes, dabs and washes humanise the canvas showing traces of […]
Drawing Attention: Emerging British Artists. British Museum
This set of rooms, (90 & 90a) in the British Museum displays pieces from the largest (and greatest) collection of drawings and prints in the world. Drawing attention: emerging British artists, an exhibition of recent acquisitions, was a pleasure to visit. It’s reassuring that the skill of drawing, which is sometimes unfashionable, is celebrated in […]
Hew Locke: The Procession at Tate Britain
Installed in the Duveen Gallery at Tate Britain, Hew Locke’s aim is, in his words, to “mix ideas of attraction and ideas of discomfort – colourful and attractive, but strangely, scarily surreal at the same time.” I found it to be the case: bright colours and a glorious mix of textures and materials but really […]