Culture Diary w/c 01-09-2014
What’s hot this week? Our pick of the listings from around Liverpool and the rest of the UK…
Monday — Exhibition Opens: David Farrell 10am-5.30pm @ Osborne Samuel, London — FREE
Nearly two year after the death of British photographer David Farrell, Osborne Samuel presents an exhibition of some of his most famous and iconic images. Farrell rose to prominence with the capturing of artists, actors and musicians in often informal situations, including Henry Moore, Helen Mirren, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. This is an exhibition that celebrates the work of a man who gave us a glimpse behind the curtain.
Tuesday — Exhibition Opens: Whose Gaze Is It Anyway? 11am-6pm @ ICA, London — £1
Examining Arab Pop Culture through the display of posters, diaries, book covers, film and video, this small reading room exhibition is brought to the ICA by former FACT curator Omar Kholeif. The juxtaposition of rare archival works next to newly commissioned pieces by artists like Sophia Al-Maria — who presents an imaginary poster and sketchbook for an unmade rape-revenge thriller – helps to create a welcome discourse into the construction of the popular gaze.
Perfume Genius 7.30pm @ Band On The Wall, Manchester — £11
It’s always a good sign when an artist is signed to Matador Records. In steps Seattle singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius; playing in Manchester tonight ahead of the release of his third studio album, Too Bright, and performing a ‘sonic palette of stylised, brittle electronics that now matches the quixotic strangeness of the lyrics’ (The Guardian). This is guaranteed to leave you wanting more. See here for all tour dates.
Wednesday — Get into This Re-Launch Party 7pm @ The Kazimier Gardens, Liverpool – FREE
The Get Into This team — headed up by editor Peter Guy — celebrate the next step in their eight years of independent music coverage with tonight’s re-launch party; breaking away, as far as we can see, from their collaborators and long-term hosts Liverpool Daily Post and ECHO. Live music comes from local talent, of course: including LIMF’s ‘One To Watch’ Sophia Ben-Yousef, and the ‘melancholic soundscapes’ of electronica duo DROHNE.
Private View: Lynda Benglis: Planar Device 6-8pm @ Thomas Dane Gallery, London — FREE
Since the 1970s, internationally acclaimed artist Lynda Benglis has continued to push the boundaries of sculpture through her continued exploration of the material properties of clay and the physical movements of her body. Planar Device shows Benglis at her best with a multitude of new sculptures; a good chance to see a more inimate presentation of her work ahead of Benglis’ first UK museum survey at The Hepworth Museum, Wakefield next year (February-July 2015).
Thursday — Corridor Screenings/The Exhibition Centre for the Life and Use of Books Closing Party 6-9pm @ International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester — FREE
The soon to be closed The Exhibition Centre for the Life and Use of Books presents a great opportunity to see the work of seven talented artists, all responding to the astonishing archive of Corridor8′s editor/co-founder Michael Butterworth, who was mentored by J. G. Ballard and founded Savoy Books in the 1970s; a publishing house frequently targeted by censors, raided by the police and taken to court for publishing ‘obscene’ material. Each of the seven artist films will also be shown online via The Exhibition Centre website throughout September.
Botanical and Mechanical Art: Artists Talk with Rob Kesseler and Junko Mori 6-8pm @ Metal, Liverpool – FREE (booking essential)
Artists Rob Kesseler and Junko Mori discuss how botany has inspired their own creative practice and provide a unique insight into their making processes, botanical form and their chosen mediums. The talk complements the current exhibition of Japanese artist Macoto Murayama, whose current exhibition at Metal demonstrates the influence of technology on traditional forms of botanical art.
Friday – Private View: TomTom 6-9pm @ MODEL Liverpool – FREE
A collaborative effort by nine artists — all named Tom, naturally — exploring the fortuitous as a means to examine the working environments of Toms throughout the UK, through the diverse mediums of drawing, sculpture, film and audio installation.
Syndrome Sessions 2.2: Holly Herndon Live 8pm til late @ 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool — £5 ADV, £6/7 OTD
Syndrome Sessions 2.2 is all about the hypnotic sounds of Holly Herndon, performing as part of a recent residency at 24 Kitchen St. Tonight, Herndon will play experimental electronic tracks live with support from Kepla and The Hive Collective. The performance precedes the unveiling of her collaboration with artist Mat Dryhurst in the development of a new ‘ambisonic’ instrument 10 September 2014.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Saturday – Matisse: The Cut-Outs All-Nighter 10am-10pm Sunday Night @ Tate Modern, London — £16.30/14.50
Your last chance to see this critically acclaimed exhibition of the last, artistic phase of Henri Matisse’s life, defined by the pure colour of his paper cut-outs. Described as ‘high summer from first til last’ by The Guardian, the most comprehensive show of his paper collages ever has brought together cut-outs from collections all over the world. Enjoy talks, film screenings and food in this unique all-night closing weekend.
Exhibition Opens: Erica Eyres: Biography Channel 1.30-5pm @ ASC Gallery, London — FREE
This week sees the opening of Biography Channel, which presents the dark humour and narrative driven works of Erica Eyres in no uncertain terms. Alongside an installation inspired by the video Autobiography (2013), the exhibition displays recent drawings and clay sculptures created from wigs, balloons and gloves, thereby subverting their functional purpose.
Sunday – Last Day: The Venus Show 12-4pm @ Studio 2, Chester Film Co-op — FREE
A collective of local film makers and artists that have taken over this familiar (former Odeon) corner venue on Northgate Street – and part of Chester’s much-needed RE:NEW project – the Chester Film Co-op hosts regular new film works and talks for the public. This is your last chance to see The Venus Show, artist Graham Rimmer’s week long showcase of recent work; blurring the constricting boundaries that may occur between object and spectator and exploring light and image.
Heather Garner
