Blog
Guy Bourdin
Bourdin, born in Paris in 1928, was one of the most radical and influential fashion photographers of the twentieth century. His unique blend of surreal and erotic imagery filled the pages of international magazines such as French Vogue during the 1970s and also became synonymous with the revolutionary advertising campaigns for Charles Jourdan. Rejecting the typical ‘product’ shot in favour of staging unsettling scenarios that hint at consumption, sex and desire, his photographs sought to shock and play on viewer’s curiosities.
This exhibition introduces rarely-seen before, limited edition work of some of his most captivating images - including a selection from his renowned series for the Pentax Calendar of 1980. Michael Hoppen Gallery is the exclusive representative of the Estate of Guy Bourdin.
Through March 10, 2012
David Shrigley – Brain Activity
David Shrigley is best known for his humorous drawings that make witty, wry and sometimes dark observations on everyday life. His deliberately crude graphic style has an immediate and accessible appeal, while simultaneously offering insightful commentary on the absurdities of human relationships.
Brain Activity is Shrigley’s first major survey exhibition in the UK and covers the full range of his work, extending beyond his drawings to include photography, taxidermy, sculpture, animation, painting, and music. In addition, Shrigley presents a number of new works created especially for Hayward Gallery, all of which are characterised by their varied use of humour and his abiding impulse to ‘communicate as simply and directly as possible’.
Through May 13, 2012
Thoughts on a book
The Most Beautiful Swiss Books competition was established to promote and reward top-quality book design in Switzerland. It was established at the behest of the famous typographer and designer Jan Tschichold in 1943. The competition is open to graphic designers, publishers and printers. An internationally staffed jury, currently chaired by Cornel Windlin, selects the most beautiful Swiss books each year.
The awarded books become part of an exhibition which travels to various cities around the world. When the books stop off in London this December, they will be the subject of discussion at ‘Thoughts on a Book’, an evening of talks at the St Bride Foundation.
Each speaker has chosen a book to present. They will hold a 10 minute presentation about their experience of reading that particular book. We will finish the event with a Q&A chaired by David Crowley.
Exhibition talk: 7pm
December 14, 2011
St Bride Library
Bride Lane, Fleet Street
London EC4Y 8EE
Rasha Kahil & Liane Lang
Both Rasha Kahil and Liane Lang’s artistic practices deal with the human body as form that is alien in its contextual landscape – their work is sometimes confrontational or unsettling, often beautiful and always compelling.
Each of their works shown in this exhibition is irreverent in its own way – in Kahil’s body of work “In Your Home: 2008-2011″ she subverts the domestic sanctity of other peoples living spaces as she covertly disrobes and documents her fleeting nudity in a series of unlikely looking living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.
Liane Lang’s series “Spectres” utilizes a more reverential environment – the classical cast museum at Heidelberg, Germany – in which to interject. In and around the pure-white casts of Herculean & mythic figures she places finely crafted mannequins, creating intimate and subversive relationships.
Through November 12, 2011
André Thijssen
If there is such a thing in photography as a “decisive moment”, the term coined by Henri Cartier-Bresson, then there must also be the opposite – the casual, corner of the eye event. These, almost unnoticed events are what photographer André Thijssen captures.
Thijssen literally looks beyond the obvious subject. He is a photographer who concentrates on the periphery of the frame, he sees beauty in things that most people aren’t interested in. Thijssen’s work provides access to parallel worlds, of which we are occasionally also aware, however we prefer to ignore these unfathomable moments in time.
A selection of images and short films will make up Thijssen’s exhibition at KK Outlet. Fringe Phenomena One & Two are published collections of Thijssen’s work and will both be on sale throughout October.
Through October 29, 2011
Postmodernism
This is the first in-depth survey of art, design and architecture of the 1970s and 1980s, examining one of the most controversial phenomena in recent art and design history: postmodernism. It shows how postmodernism evolved from a provocative architectural movement in the early 1970s and rapidly went on to influence all areas of popular culture including design, art, music, film, performance and fashion. By the 1980s consumerism and excess were the trademarks of the postmodern.
The exhibition explores the radical ideas that challenged Modernism; overthrowing purity and simplicity in favour of exuberant colour, bold patterns, artificial looking surfaces, historical quotation, parody and wit and above all, a newfound freedom in design. See over 250 objects across all areas of art and design and revisit a time when style was not just a ‘look’ but became an attitude.
Through January 15, 2012
Wim Wenders
In April this year, Haunch of Venison London is delighted to present an exhibition of photographs by the internationally renowned filmmaker and artist Wim Wenders (b.1945). Bringing together almost 40 images, taken from 1983 to 2011, this show is Wim Wenders highly anticipated second exhibition at Haunch of Venison since 2003. Entitled ‘Places,strange and quiet’, it will feature many photographs not yet exhibited in this country including several recent works.
Through May 14, 2011
John Stezaker
This first major exhibition of John Stezaker offers a chance to see work by an artist whose subject is the power in the act of looking itself. With over 90 works from the 1970s to today, the artist reveals the subversive force of images, reflecting on how visual language can create new meaning.
Through March 18, 2011
Beard and Wonderful
Beard and Wonderful is the first solo exhibition of London based illustrator Suzie Winsor. A collection of great men and their even greater folical accomplishments, Beard and Wonderful features brilliant illustrations of the likes of Charles Darwin, Jarvis Cocker, Daniel Kitson and the mighty Geoff Keegan of Byker Grove fame.
All prints are limited edition and will be on sale throughout February in Gallery Two at KK Outlet.
Through February 24, 2011
Tom Wesselmann
American painter, sculptor and printmaker Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004) is widely regarded as one of the leading figures of American Pop Art. Haunch of Venison London will present ‘Tom Wesselmann: Works 1958-2004′, the most extensive exhibition of his work to date in the UK. The exhibition brings together a selection of major paintings and drawings from across his career. Spanning four decades, the show will examine the evolution of Wesselmann’s style, revealing his openness to a range of subject matter, scale and media.
Through November 4, 2010
Rachel Whiteread
This is the latest in a new series of sculptures for outdoor spaces in which Whiteread has substituted robust materials such as stone and concrete for the more fragile plaster, rubber, and resin of many of her best-known works. It comprises five approximately cubic forms of varying size and surface texture, arranged in a straight line. Small linear cutouts disrupt the otherwise smooth surface of each cube.
Gagosian Gallery, 17-19 Davies Street, London
Shop swap
This summer, KK Outlet welcomes colette to their Hoxton Square space. In return, KesselsKramer has taken over colette, installing a unique range of products, books, and artwork. From ‘divided loyalty’ scarves that allow you to support both KK and colette, to a yes/no cube that makes navigating relationships easy, this collection reflects the agency’s great diversity.
Maison Martin Margiela ‘20′
Recently opened at Somerset House is Maison Martin Margiela ‘20′, an extensive showcase that celebrates 20 years of the brand’s conceptual approach to fashion. On display are installations, photography, video and film that elaborate on designer Martin Margiela’s philosophy, from its deconstructivist design aesthetics to avant-garde couture and understated branding to store interiors and love for Trompe-l’œil. The show was previously staged at Modemuseum in antwerp and Munich’s Haus Der Kunst.
Through 5 September, 2010
Burberry AW10 in 3D
Fashionistas in Tokyo, Dubai, New York, L.A., and Paris gathered on Tuesday to witness a fashion (and techology) world first: Burberry streamed its AW 2010 women’s runway show live in 3D, becoming the first major fashion house to do so. In addition, they live-streamed the show on live.burberry.com, as well as some 70 other sites, including Sky News, CNN and The Times.
Self Service 1-31
Launched 15 years ago, world-renowned fashion magazine Self Service are opening their entire archives with the help of Idea Books. The exhibition/pop-up shop will be housed in the front room at the St Martin’s Lane hotel, London from February 18th-25th. All issues can be purchased, priced according to availability, as well as limited-edition signed posters by David Sims, Terry Richardson, and Roger Deckker.
Stuart Haygarth at Haunch of Venison
Mayfair gallery, Haunch of Venison, is staging its first exhibition of British artist and designer Stuart Haygarth with an exhibition called ‘Found.’ The show examines his ongoing relationship with abandoned objects and his fascination with taxonomy through a series of new furniture works, lamps and chandeliers.
Closing Jan 30, 2010
Geneviève Gauckler — Digitally Isolated
Paris-based illustrator and designer Geneviève Gauckler embarks on her first London exhibition. On display is a series of limited edition silkscreen prints and acrylic paintings of her signature loveable characters. The show which opened at the Kemistry Gallery will run until December 19th, 2009.
StudioThompson and B Store
StudioThomson is celebrating its fifth birthday with a pop-up exhibition at London’s oh-so-cool B Store on Savile Row. For those not in the know, StudioThomson is a design and art direction agency that has worked across all media from fashion, to music, to art and interiors. The exhibition showcases a selection of their work for key clients including Pringle, Aquascutum and Preen. You can also pick up one of their notebooks displayed in the windows as a memento, which retail for only ten pounds and come come in 40 different shades.
Anish Kapoor at The Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts presents a major solo exhibition of the work of the internationally acclaimed artist Anish Kapoor, winner of the 1991 Turner Prize and one of the most influential and pioneering sculptors of his generation.
26th September to 11th December 2009
Pop Life: Art in a Material World
A new blockbuster exhibition at Tate Modern considers the legacy of the Pop Art movement. The show takes Andy Warhol’s notorious statement that “good business is the best art” as a starting point and examines the way artists such as Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, Richard Prince, Martin Kippenberger and Damien Hirst, to name a few, have embraced mass media to build their own ‘brands’.