Art weekend in London – Anish Kapoor

The main photo: Lost ( fibreglass and paint) and the bottom right: Organ.

 

The biggest ‘dilemma’ about living in London is that there are so many cultural events and activities happening all the time, it’s so easy to miss them especially when it comes to gallery exhibitions that last for only 2 – 4 weeks. Instead of visiting fairs like the Affordable art fair, I decided to spend the weekend visiting the city’s different galleries to see what is happening in the art scene now. The best thing is that everything is free, so I find it odd when people talk about art being not accessible to everyone.

My first stop was Anish Kapoor‘s exhibition at the Lisson Gallery ( with two locations), and since it was the last two days of the exhibit, the place was quite busy on a seemingly quiet street.

Kapoor‘s recent works continue to explore his favourite ‘void’ theme, using mud, cement, resin and metallic pigments. It is hard to not notice the contrasts between his pieces, while some rooms were filled with unfinished-looking earth sculptures, the other was filled with large glossy colourful concave hemispheres that aimed to challenge our perceptions.

 

In the shadow if the Tree and the Knot of the Earth series and Intersection ( corten steel)

 

Over at the other gallery, the pieces were more experimental, with many nature-inspired ( rock or coral like) cement sculptures, a large industrial-like machine and a dark enclosed room named Anxious. Inside the room, there was a circle of light projected down onto the floor accompanied by an infrasonic sound that aimed to make the visitors feel anxious.

 

Untitled cement work ( left) and Spittle ( cement and steel)

 

Kapoor has become a household name in UK in recent years, and I believe he deserves the recognition that he has been receiving. Many of Kapoor’s works are influenced by psychoanalysis and Buddhist philosophy, hence, he likes to explore the conscious and unconscious cognition, resulting in very sense and thought-provoking work. However, I still cannot comprehend what was on his mind when he ( and Cecil Balmond) designed the hideous and overpowering Orbit tower… Back in 2008, I visited his “Place/No Place” architectural exhibition at RIBA, and I saw some stunning architectural models or projects that were never realised. I just can’t stop asking myself, “Why the Orbit?”

Yes, the tower has succeeded in evoking many’s emotions, but for me, it’s not a pleasant one.

 

 

My art weekend in London continues in the next two entries…

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