Melbourne Art Guide - June

Here are my exhibition picks for June, the first month of winter, in Melbourne: 

I.
Exhibition title: Tossed by Waves
Artist: Angelica Mesiti
Venue: Anna Schwartz Gallery
Dates: Until 1 July, 2017


Tossed by Waves is a new video and sculpture installation from Mesiti. Engaging with Morse code, the sculptures comprise of dots and dashes that enable them to signal messages. The video component, filmed at the Place de la République in Mesiti’s adopted city of Paris, mediates on ideas of hope, despair and resilience. 

Image caption: Angelica Mesiti, Tossed by Waves (still), 2017, single-channel High Definition video, 16:9, colour, silent, 6 minutes, 17 seconds

II.
Exhibition title: DDesign
Artist: Matthew Griffin
Venue: Neon Parc
Dates: Until 24 June, 2017


Matthew Griffin’s new collages contain an assortment of images, many sourced from Italian designer and founder of the Memphis collective, Ettore Sottsass. In these works, the sacred forms of the vessel and the painted body are subverted through satirical pop-culture references. This exhibition marks a re-entry into the art world for Griffin, who nearly a decade ago, decided to quit being an artist and sold all of his work on eBay.

Image caption: Matthew Griffin, DDesign (Bad Speech), 2017, synthetic polymer paint and collage on paper, 31 x 25cm

III.
Exhibition title: (Not titled)
Artist: Noriko Nakamura
Venue: Daine Singer
Dates: Until 1 July, 2017


Noriko Nakamura’s practice follows an interest in the Japanese indigenous religion of Shinto animism: a belief that the boundary between the physical and spiritual is not absolute. Using stone carving and organic elements such as cat hair, Nakamura explores and transforms these materials to reveal their spiritual force.

Image caption: Noriko Nakamura, studio view, 2017


Header Image: Angelica Mesiti, Tossed by Waves, 2017, Installation view, Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne. Photograph: Zan Wimberley.

- by Melissa Loughnan

Warsaw Art Guide - June

I.
Exhibition title: Connection Zakopane-Warsaw
Artists: Udwik Boller, Wojciech Brzega, Henryk Burzec, Leon Chwistek, Jan Cykowski, Józef Czajkowski, Czesław Domaniewski, Jan Dziaczkowski, Kazimierz Fajkosz, Wiktor Górka, Anna Górska, Władysław Hasior, Stanisław Janowski, Wojciech Jastrzębowski, Józef Kandefer, Antoni Kenar, Władysław Klejn, Stanisław Kokesz, Stanisław Kulon, Magda Leja, Rafał Malczewski, Henryk Morel, Roman Olszowski, Igor Omulecki, Stefan Osiecki, Grzegorz Pecuch, Edward Piwowarski, Józef Rajchel, Zbigniew Rogalski, Antoni Rząsa, Rita Sacchetto, Jerzy Sacha, Henryk Schabenbeck, Władysław Skoczylas, Jerzy Skolimowski, Oskar Sosnowski, Zygmunt Sowa- Sowiński, Zofia Stryjeńska, Karol Stryjeński, Jan Szczepkowski, Ludomir Szpadkowski, Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer, Stanisław Witkiewicz, Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Jan Koszczyc Witkiewicz, Leon Wyczółkowski, August Zamoyski, Tadeusz i Stefan Zwolińscy, and architectural teams participating in the competition for the shelter at Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea) in 1959, students of the State School of the Wood Industry (later the State High School of Art Techniques) in Zakopane, the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, folk artists and others.
Venue: The Xawery Dunikowski Museum of Sculpture
Dates: Until 6 August, 2017


The exhibition tells the story of a strong culture-forming link between the two capitals: the political-Warsaw and the winter one- Zakopane. The show presents paintings by Zofia Stryjeńska or Witkacy's drawings from the twenties, fabrics and toys designed by the students of Antoni Kenar after the World War II or bold modernist designs of the shelter by the Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea) from the fifties. The “connection” is continued by contemporary artists such as Janek Dziaczkowski or Zbigniew Rogalski. 
The exhibition in Królikarnia in an intriguing way depicts how the myth of Tatras was constructed and asks the question if it is still present in polish art.

II.
Exhibition title: Seven sisters
Artist/s: Ketuta Alexi-Meskhishvili, Dragana Bulut, Liz Craft, Barbara Leoniak, Nevine Mahmoud, Mélanie Matranga
Venue: Kasia Michalski Gallery
Dates: 1 June - 27 July, 2017


Inspired by such an unprecedented women’s march, Seven Sisters brings together the work of six international female artists whose practices of installation, sculpture, photography, film and performance evoke and deconstruct—with distance, humor and a recurring sense of poetry—the omnipresence of the feminine body in the public realm, and the mystified notion of interior and intimate space.

III.
Exhibition title: Bródno Sculpture Park. Chapter 9
Artist/s: Paweł Althamer, Youssouf Dara, Olafur Eliasson, Jens Haaning, the group Nowolipie, Susan Philipsz, Katarzyna Przezwańska, Monika Sosnowska, and Rirkrit Tiravanija.
Venue: Bródno Park Kondratowicza/ Chodecka, Warsaw
Dates: Until 3 September, 2017

June is a perfect time to visit The Bródno Sculpture Park. The project was launched in 2009 as a joint initiative of the artist Paweł Althamer, the Targówek District, and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. The park functions as an evolving exhibition of contemporary art, presented outdoors and accessible to visitors 24 hours a day.
The 9th edition of the Bródno Sculpture Park is a “repeat” of museum materials. We review the 8 previous editions of the exhibition, revisiting our dear old friends: artists, works, realized and unrealized concepts.This year’s program includes initiatives helping stakeholders get to know one another better—museum staff, local audiences, tourists, recreational users of Park Bródnowski—and critical reflection on the functioning of the sculpture park here on the east side of the Vistula. This will include hikes from the Museum on the Vistula (in the Powiśle district) to the Bródno Sculpture Park, inspired by Situationist dérives (“drifts”); social consultations in the form of picnics; a flying university of art landing at community centres, libraries, prisons.

Barcelona Art Guide - June

The top Gallery and Museum shows that you don't want to miss this Spring if you are visiting Barcelona.

I.
Exhibition title: Retrospective
Artist: Duane Michals
Venue: Casa Garriga i Nogués│Fundació Mapfre
Dates: Until 10 September 2017


The retrospective exhibition dedicated to the work of the US photographer, Duane Michals runs until 10 September. The itinerary of the exhibition is distributed in successive stages, that show the different, gradually invented ways of expression of the photographer, along with the varying series made on specific subjects over time.

II.
Exhibition title: WS & CSSC, Drawings and Paintings
Artist: Paul McCarthy
Venue: Fundació Gaspar
Dates: Until 16 July 2017

InWS & CSSC, Painting and Drawings, McCarthy presents his paintings and drawings exploring his two main in-progress projects within his multidisciplinary practice: White Snow and Stagecoach. Within these works, McCarthy masterfully mixes the history of painting with contemporary motifs in dramatic scenes that expose latent desire and exploit the uncomfortable space where childhood innocence meets adult knowledge.

III.
Exhibition title: International Airport
Artist: Group show including José Benítez, Andrew Bush, César Delgado, Evol, Gerard Fernández Rico, Pablo Genovés, Joy, Mark Laita, Mr. Brainwash, Gerard Mas, Alejandro Monge, Erwin Olaf, Lluis Roig, Samuel Salcedo, Ramon Surinyac, Loes Van Delft.
Venue: Galeria 3 Punts
Dates: until 10 July 2017


INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is a group exhibition made of a selection of paintings and sculptures by young mid-career living artists with an international reputation and projection. The confluence of a diversity of visual languages constitutes a globalized and updated version of our culture, a melting pot enriched and nourished by exchange, collaboration and inherent human curiosity. 

Vienna Art Guide - June

Mumok, Josephinum, Belvedere/Winterpalais: Jakob Lena Knebl rethinks the collection of modernist and contemporary art, a spacial sound installation by Samuel Schaab at one of Viennas most interesting hidden museums and an international fashion statement at the Winterpalais.


I.
Exhibition title: Vulgär?  Fashion Redifined
Artists: Manolo Blahnik, Chritian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood etc.
Venue:  Belvedere / Winterpalais
Dates: Until June 25, 2017


The Winterpalais is a wonderful Baroque jewel in Vienna´s city centre. It was originally built as a lavish stately residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. This exhibition is curated by Judith Clark. Organised by Barbican, London.

Picture: Christan Wind © Belvedere, Vienna

II.
Exhibition title: Lonely Old Slogans
Artist: Jakob Lena Knebl
Venue: Mumok
Dates: Until October 22, 2017


Mumok is Vienna's Museum of Modern Art – located in the Museums District. The exhibition is designed by Jakob Lena Knebl – it is a new arrangement of the mumok collection of modernist and contemporary art. Knebl combined her selection with new own works. Curated by Barbara Rüdiger and Susanne Neuburger.

Picture: © Itai Margula

III.
Exhibition title: Artificial Hearts – The Bridge to Survival
Artists Judith Fegerl, Peter Garmusch, Stephanie Pflaum, Samuel Schab, Anna Witt
Venue: Josephinum
Dates: Until October 17, 2017


External Curator and Museology Consultant Moritz Stipsicz redesigned the collections of the Medical University and curates group shows  and permanent intervantions with contemporary artist. The exhibiton reflects Vienna´s artificial heart programme and combines this theme with five artist statements: science meets fine art. Curated by: Klaus Wassermann and Moritz Stipsitz.

Picture: © Itai Margula

Jerusalem Art Guide - June

Jerusalem is heating up this time of the year, lucky for us, there are some really exciting art exhibitions to draw us into the delightfully air conditioned galleries. From an epic Ai WeiWei exhibit to reinventing venerable design concepts, to questioning our contemporary social culture - here is a list of recommendations that will keep you cultured and busy during your stay in Jerusalem! 
 
I.
Exhibition title: Maybe, Maybe Not
Artist/s: Ai WeiWei
Venue: The Israel Museum 
Dates: Until 20 October, 2017

Ai Wei Wei is an internationally renowned multimedia artist known for his powerful installations and exhibitions that are politically charged with the brave artist’s voice. Wei Wei’s works often result in dramatic exhibitions, and this highly anticipated one at The Israel Museum (Wei Wei’s first time exhibiting in Israel!) is no exception. “Maybe, Maybe Not” takes up almost the entire third floor of the Israel Museum and criticises human condition, begging the world to respond to the world’s injustices.

Exhibition view photo by Eli Posner

II.
Exhibition title: Repositioning
Artist/s: Various Artists
Venue: The Museum for Islamic Art
Dates: Until 30 November, 2017


Twelve artists were asked to choose an object from the permanent collection of The Museum for Islamic art and reinterpret for this stunning group exhibition. Featuring works from the plastic arts, design and video - each artists’ interpretation questions the value of each object and its importance - whether it is inherent, and whether its value changes once the artists fills it with his or her own interpretation and meaning. 

Remy Tarif, "Significant Other" Photoby: Shay Son Ephraim

III.
Exhibition title: Shared Taxi
Artist/s: Malki Tesler
Venue: Barbur Gallery 
Dates: Until 16 June, 2017


Tesler is a Tel Aviv based artist who works primarily with painting and video works. Although her exhibition will only be up for the first two weeks in June, I highly recommend having the chance to view the artist’s bold and comic approach. Tesler questions social boundaries and human condition vis-a-vis her childish introverted illustrations along with successfully crass videos where you view the artist interacting with the public in order to draw attention to mundane social situations. 

Video still by Malki Tesler


HEADER IMAGE: View of “Maybe, Maybe Not” at The Israel Museum, photo by Elie Posner .