It always surprises me when I see work at this show that I never noticed at a previous New Designers exhibition which just shows what visual overload can do. Katy Gillam-Hull is one such maker whose loving recognition and restitution of old fragments and tools were, for me at least, quite moving. Her interventions encourage us […]
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.
Royal Bank of Canada garden at Chelsea Flower Show
Designed for the Royal Bank of Canada by first-time exhibitor Charlotte Harris, this garden, inspired by the Boreal Forest of Canada and focusing on the importance of fresh water, felt cool and serene on a hot day. She completely captured the natural rhythm of form and texture along with a variety of greens making a harmonious […]
In Light of the Machine – Conrad Shawcross at The Barbican
Part of the Barbican’s exhibition, Into The Unknown: A Journey Through Science Fiction, this installation by Conrad Shawcross is hidden 2 floors away from the rest of the show in The Pit so needs a bit of an effort to get down there. I entered a dark space, where a kind of growling, almost animalistic sound […]
Gosho No Niwa: No Wall; No War Japanese garden at Chelsea Flower Show
Given the weather I thought an outdoor post would be appropriate for this week. Nestling under the mature trees we discovered this gem designed by Ishihara Kazuyuki, a regular gold medal winner in the Artisan Garden category (plot sizes 5 x 4m or 7 x 5m) at the Chelsea Flower Show. This year he kept his […]
Art seen at The Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead
Now that galleries are increasingly moving online, art fairs and pop-ups are the main shop windows for many. This time the Affordable Art Fair was at Hampstead, on the heath, a pretty location where you can almost feel you’re out of London. Galerie Nummer 40 showed these porcelain polyhedron sculptures by Mo Cornelisse . I so wanted […]
London Print Fair at the Royal Academy – part 2 of 2
Some fairs offer a great deal in terms of learning opportunities and this was one of them. I love the fact that this exquisitely drawn and detailed print by Hugo Wilson at Pratt Contemporary is contemporary. The title “Goodbye to Monkeys” is so apt for the expression on the creature’s face. A completely different approach is […]
London Print Fair at the Royal Academy – part 1 of 2
The London Print Fair takes place at the Royal Academy in London every year and is always worth a visit for either buying or browsing. Here are a few of the pieces that stood out for me this time. If you’re over 50 years old this may remind you of your youth: “Unknown Pleasures” a […]
Yet more from The Other Art Fair in April
John Hainsworth showed a collection of restrained and delicately detailed works. I really liked the small and intimate paintings such as this one below. My neighbour, Israeli artist Hila Laiser Beja, came over to London especially for the show and, although mainly a sculptor, showed works on paper as they are more easily transported. This portrait was […]
More from The Other Art Fair in April
These are only glimpses of work seen before opening time at The Other Art Fair in April as I didn’t get the chance to see everything on show. Nevertheless I wanted to share these pieces with you; to investigate more just click on the links. Paul West works in landscape; this charcoal drawing takes you into his world. […]
As We Step Into Chaos by Dangerous Minds.
Dangerous Minds (artists Michael Lake-McMillan and Alan Stuart) recently held a show of new work at the atmospheric Underdog Gallery in a railway arch at London Bridge. Using popular culture and found elements their work reveals more with time and study. Kaiten, below, was one of my favourite pieces and dominated the space as the backdrop to the […]