San Francisco Art Guide - November

As a native Californian, I feel incredibly lucky to have our special neighbor of Mexico. Mexico is an extraordinary country that has brought a lot of inspiration, vibrancy and beauty to our Californian culture. Therefore, in gratitude I will highlight two exhibitions in San Francisco that I recommend which clearly share some of the magnificence of this incredible country and culture. In Addition, make sure to visit the curated exhibition by Anna Nearburg and Evan Rieser in Space 151 before it closes on the 16th.

I.

Exhibition: Vecinos
Artists: Gwladys Alonzo, Cynthia Gutierrez, Gonzolo Lebrija,
Gabriel Rico, Eduardo Sarabia
Venue: Cult
Dates: Until January 20, 2018

Aimee Friberg re-opens Cult Exhibitions in it's new location in the hopping area of NOPA with the exhibition VECINOS. With it's vibrant colors and elegant style, this exhibition includes a group of 5 prominent artists from Guadalajara, Mexico. VECINOS "explores the relationship between memory and place. With varied
types of production and distinct methodologies the artists explore notions of modernity, citizenship and socio-political impact. Each has an embedded micro-history that speaks to the narratives and traditions of place and a distinct socio-cultural landscape. Throughout the exhibition, these artists examine collective memory and individual perception, whether putting a lens to narratives that define place, or utilizing materials and processes associated with a specific region". This thoughtfully curated show by Friberg, clearly shows the vast talent of Mexican artists today.

Vecinsos - Eduardo Sarabia : “Untitled"

II.

Exhibition: Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire
Venue: de Young Museum
Dates: Until February 11, 2018

Teotihuacan was one of the earliest and most thriving cities in all of Latin America. Today it is now the most visited archaeological site in Mexico as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 'Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire', through the artworks and architecture gives the viewer insight into the lives and culture of the people of this civilization. When wandering through the exhibition the magnitude and importance of the city is clearly present.

Teotihuacan  - Circular Relief: Sun Pyramid

III.

Exhibition: Linchpin
Artist: Joe Ferriso, Conrad Guevara, Chelsea Pegram
Venue: Some.Time.Salon
Dates: Until November 16th

Linchpin, is the first collaboration between curators and gallerists Anna Nearburg and Evan Reiser in a fabulous location in Potrero called Space 151. The group exhibition consists of recent sculpture by artists Joe Ferriso, Conrad Guevara and Chelsea Pegram. The artists work's, all very architectural, come together very nicely in a space that lends itself perfectly to the show. I hope to see more collaborations going forward with Nearburg and Reiser.

Linchpin - Joe Ferriso “Bent Entrance"

Take a tour with Marissa in San Francisco to discover more!

Munich Art Guide - November

I.

Exhibition: Henning Von Gierke - Solo Show
Artist: Henning Von Gierke
Venue: Jörg Heitsch Galerie München
Dates: November 8th, 2017 until till January 6th, 2018

Henning von Gierke has inspired an international audience with his realistic painting style. In his works, he questions our existence in the context of nature, religion and philosophy. Not only as a painter, but also as a director and stage designer, Gierke is in demand all over the world. He was awarded the German film prize for his film work.

II.

Exhibition: Christian Boltanski
Artists: Christian Boltanski
Venue: Espace Louis Vuitton München
Dates: November 8th, 2017 until March 31st, 2018

With the understatement of minimalist art and powerful emotions of expressionism, Christian Boltanski's work is rooted in an existential and essential relationship with the world, with which almost everybody can identify.

III.

Exhibition: Every Day is Different
Artists: Judy Ledgerwood
Venue: Häusler Contemporary
Dates: November 9th, 2017 until January 12th, 2018

Like almost no other artistic position, American painter Judy Ledgerwood shows an affinity for shiny colors and ornaments. Her canvasses and wall paintings captivate viewers with their rhythmized aesthetics that are full of intentional breaks and contain reflections on femininity and multilayered art historical references.

Take a tour with Sofia in Munich to discover more!

London Art Guide - November

I.

Exhibition: Superflex
Artists: Danish artists’ collective SUPERFLEX
Venue: Tate Modern
Dates: Until 2 April 2018

You can reflect and look up to the Turbine Hall while on a swing. It's fun and please, please, don't spend your time taking pictures of you on that swing for Instagram, put that phone down and swing away for hours! 

II.

Exhibition: Don't Think Twice
Artist: Jennifer Abessira
Venue: London Bridge Station
Dates: Until 26 November 2017

Have you spotted these arty bollards outside of London Bridge Station? Rush to see them as they won't be around for long!

III.

Exhibition: Alex Katz
Artist: Alex Katz
Venue: Timothy Taylor Gallery
Dates: Until 18 November 2017

Subtle, sensitive and straight to the point: the drawings of Alex Katz at Timothy Taylor are incredible. You get to see a different angle of one of America's most celebrated artists. 

Take a tour with Marine in London to discover more!

Barcelona Art Guide - November

I.

Exhibition: Objects on the New Landscape Demanding of the Eye (part 3)
Artist: Julião Sarmento
Venue: Galeria Joan Prats, Barcelona
Dates: Until November 25th, 2017

Julião Sarmento produces paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos, and mixed-media works infused with literature and architectural imagery. He is heavily influenced by the Postmodern aesthetic, in which existing texts and images are appropriated and re-combined to create new meaning and to challenge ingrained patterns of thinking. From his beginnings, in the middle of the seventies, the work of Julião Sarmento has been characterized by its archival character. Thus, in his work describes feminine silhouettes, architectural plans, literary fragments and objects. Often, these coded iconographies explicitly present us with the signs needed to identify the source of his imagery and its meaning. 

Julião Sarmento

II.

Exhibition: Vicky Uslé, Solo show
Artist: Vicky Uslé 
Venue: Tat Art Gallery
Dates: until November 3rd, 2017

Vicky Uslé is an emerging female artist born in Santander, Spain in 1981 that is enjoying a mid-career visual maturity. The exhibition will show the most recent work produced by Vicky, a constant journey through divergence and painting codes understood as vivid language, place of experience, desire and her own personal narrative. 

Vicky Uslé 

III.

Exhibition: Esteban Vicente. Color and Form
Artist: Esteban Vicente
Venue: Galeria Marc Domenech
Dates: Until November 17th 2017

"Esteban Vicente. Color and Form" is the most important exhibition of this artist ever organized in Catalonia. With almost 40 works, this exhibition proposes a complete view of the artist's aesthetic development, starting with his figurative works, when he exhibited in Barcelona in the early 30's, until his latest abstract paintings of the 90's after going through the abstract expressionist stage that became so relevant in the United States during the 40s and 50s. In fact, Esteban Vicente (Segovia, Spain, 1903 – Long Island, USA, 2001) was the only Spanish artist that belonged to the first generation of the renowned New York School. 

Esteban Vicente

Take a tour with Angel in Barcelona to discover more!

Australiana to Zeitgeist: An Interview with Melissa Loughnan

Oh So Arty Editorial Coordinator, Sophie Weinstein, sat down with our Melbourne guide, Melissa Loughnan, to discuss her new book Australiana to Zeitgeist: An A-Z of Contemporary Australian Art.

Why do you think many critics have traditionally dismissed Australian art as derivative?

Historically, Australian artists have been led by the prevailing art movements of the UK, Europe and America. Our sense of national identity is also often shrouded by our commonwealth heritage. We tend to be looked upon as a small subsidiary of the UK, rather than a nation with its own unique cultural fabric.

How are you hoping to change the public’s opinions of Australian art with your new book?

Australiana to Zeitgeist focuses on a number of Australian artists who are practicing internationally, and are perhaps better known overseas than in their home country. Andy Boot, Ry David Bradley and Michael Staniak, who are featured in my ‘I for Internet’ chapter, are prime examples of this. It also focuses on artists whose practices are worthy of greater attention in a global context. Ultimately I hope that my book will contribute to a reappraisal of Australian art among international collectors and curators.

What inspired you to write this book?  What void were you hoping to fill by publishing it?

My aim for the book was to present an alternative view on Australian art to other surveys that have been previously published, with less of the ‘usual suspects’. Additionally, as the Australian art world is quite small, the number of collectors and institutions that support it is also quite small. So I was also motivated to write the book in the hopes that it might increase the audience for, and eventually the support of, contemporary Australian art - both locally and internationally. 

“Ultimately, my aim is for Australiana to Zeitgeist to provide an accessible introduction to the broad range of contemporary art practices in Australia today.”

— Melissa Loughnan

As you have acknowledged, Australian art is often overlooked within the global art scene, what contributions do you think Australian artists can make to the international world of contemporary art?

There are a number of artists who mine Australia’s history and cultural fabric to make internationally relevant work. Helen Johnson, who features in my P for Painting chapter, is a good example of this. Her work explores ideas of Australia’s colonial history, the construction of national identity and our current political environment. She recently held a solo exhibition at ICA, London, and is currently exhibiting at the New Museum, New York. 

Can you tell us about your arts initiative, Utopian Slumps?

Utopian Slumps opened as a non-profit curator-run arts initiative in 2007, focusing on early to mid career Australian artists through curated group exhibitions and a focus on art that is ‘of the hand’. The gallery shifted its model to commercial in 2010, where it maintained its focus on curated group exhibitions while representing seventeen artists from Australia and New Zealand. Utopian Slumps operated for eight years in total and participated in a number of art fairs locally and internationally, including Art Forum Berlin, Art Stage Singapore and Art Basel Hong Kong. 

How did your experience at Utopian Slumps motivate you to write this book?

Through Utopian Slumps I came to know the Australian art scene intimately, and found that there were many artists that were deserving of greater attention, or who, in my opinion, had been overlooked. I have attempted to re-dress this balance, albeit from my singular perspective, through this book.

What criteria were you looking for in the artists who you included in the book?

The book focuses on artists who I see as unrepresented and under-represented. The book is thematic, which ultimately fed my selection of artists, seeking out the strongest examples whose works or practices sat within each theme. Ultimately, my aim is for Australiana to Zeitgeist to provide an accessible introduction to the broad range of contemporary art practices in Australia today.

Internationally you can purchase Melissa's book here and in Australia here.

Take a tour with Melissa to discover more!

All photos for this story are by Christo Crocker.