‘Indonesian Eye: Fantasies and Realities at the Saatchi Gallery

Rudi Mantofani, The Earth and The World, 2006 

Indonesian Eye, is Europe’s first major exhibition of Indonesian contemporary art and it will open at the Saatchi Gallery in London on 1 September.

This exhibition gives the opportunity to view works by major Indonesian artists and provides a  platform for the country’s contemporary art scene to reach an international audience. It comprises a selection of paintings, sculptures and installations by 18 Indonesian artists including [Nindityo Adipurnomo, Samsul Arifin, Ay Tjoe Christine] and pays tribute to Indonesia’s ancient myths and legends, while also reflecting the influence of modern Indonesia. Several satirical works employ traditional materials to highlight the country’s rapidly changing society. Some of the works also refer to the  influence of Indonesia’s Dutch colonial past. 

Rudi Mantofani, The Earth and The World, 2006

I look forward to seeing it!


More info on: http://www.indonesianeye.com/

The Saatchi's collection in Lille, France

 Shadi Ghadirian - "Untitled from the Like Everyday Series"

While waiting for the opening of Saatchi's highly-criticised museum in London, the Saatchi Gallery presents an exhibition of more than 60 works from its famous contemporary art collection in Lille, France. 

Entitled "The Silk Road" [La Route de la Soie] this show is organised by lille3000 and takes place at the Tri Postal, a trendy contemporary art space which held exhibitions on Indian art and Pinault’s private collection in the past. I had the chance to visit it last week.
"The Silk Road" is a reference to the ancient trade routes between Asia and Europe which linked China to the Middle East via India from the 2nd century BC… Hence the fact that it showcases artworks from Chinese, Iranian, Lebanese artists amongst other nationalities... I had seen most of the artworks in London, and even had "to deal with" Pakistani artist Huma Mulji's "Arabian Delight," an artwork which consists in a camel folded in a suitcase which caused a stir at the 2008’s Art Dubai fair but I found the show of great interest.

Qiu Jie  - "Portrait of Mao"

One of the highlights is the installation of the Franco-Algerian artist Kader Attia, an aluminium-made group of no-face people praying. It is highly impressive and almost scary, I loved it!
The show runs until 16th January so go and visit it if you have a chance to!

Frieze Week - Wednesday : The Age of the Marvellous in London

One of the highlights of Frieze Week this year was the exhibition entitled the The Age of the Marvellous (14th ‐ 22nd October) at the church of Holy Trinity, Marylebone.

Inspired by the Wunderkammer or Cabinet of Curiosities, popular in the late Renaissance through the Baroque period (ca. 1550– ca. 1700), the show featured over 60 works of art, most of them especially produced for the exhibition, that displayed a new‐found tendency for contemporary artists to look beyond the limitations of aesthetic conventions, to a varied, more cross‐disciplinary approach that integrates areas of human knowledge that exist outside the boundaries of traditional art making.

George Clooney (who was earlier opening the London Film Festival) was rumoured to have come to the opening, but surely Tracey Emin, Jay Jopling or Charles Saatchi were seen that night.

Conceived and curated by All Visual Arts Director Joe La Placa, The Age of the Marvellous was the arts organization’s third major exhibition since it was launched in 2008.

I particularly enjoyed the atmosphere around this exhibition and the goth-inspired setting. A perfect show for the pre-Halloween period.

Amongst the most amazing artworks the Polly Morgan's coffin filled with baby-birds that one had the chance to see at the inaugural show of Haunch of Venison in London, the crucified Gorilla by Paul Fryer, "the Levitation of the Head of John the Baptist" by Martin Sexton (a small, life-like head of John the Baptist which seemed to levitate in a reliquary by an invisible force, without physical contact), Ben Tyers’ sculpture which draws attention to what is an otherwise largely unconscious process ‐ breathing.

The crypt will still be opened for another 6 months so run if you haven't seent it ! I loved it !

More information on: http://www.allvisualarts.org/