Latest news with #OperaGallery
Identity
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Identity
Exploring Movement & Balance: Calder/Hiquily Exhibition at Opera Gallery
March 2025–Opera Gallery is pleased to present 'Calder/Hiquily: Balancing Act', an exhibition dedicated to the artists Alexander Calder (1898-1976) and Philippe Hiquily (1925-2013) from April 15- May 4, 2025. Featuring 8 works on paper and 21 sculptural works, this exhibition presents a visual dialogue about Calder and Hiquily's shared fascination with movement, material, and form. Alexander Calder, who studied mechanical engineering before pursuing art at the Art Students League in New York, is known for his pioneering mobiles and kinetic sculptures, that revolutionised modern sculpture with the innovative use of wire and metal. With his use of mathematics and principles of engineering, Calder's practice represented a broader conceptual engagement with the relationship between humans and machines, as well as art and technology. By Calder's estimation, kinetic art was striving to 'lift the figures and scenery off the page and prove undeniably that art is not rigid'. Calder's 1953 mobile New Old Universe, with its colourful, spherical forms suspended in perfect harmony, exemplifies the synchronicity between precision and coincidence at the core of his practice.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Culture Agenda: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week
Monday, monday - always a bit of a slog. The good news is, April is bringing sunshine and eclectic events to help hurry us out of hibernation. Alongside this week's suggestions, we also recommend checking out the Mauritshuis museum's showcase of 60 charismatic takes on Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', and Centre Pompidou's celebration of Black artists in Paris. Following the sad news of Val Kilmer's passing, there's never been a better time to watch (or re-watch) some of his classics - put Kiss Kiss Bang Bang at the top spot. Speaking of cinema, keep in mind that this Thursday is the announcement of this year's Cannes Film Festival line-up... And it's already looking mighty promising. Keep your eyes peeled for our full coverage. Until next time, have a great week. José María Velasco: A View of Mexico Where: National Gallery (London, UK) When: Until 17 August 2025 To see a José María Velasco painting is to fall in love with Mexico, every brushstroke an encapsulation of the country's natural beauty and evolving state. The 19th-century polymath was renowned for his landscape works, combining fascinations in geology, archaeology and botany (to name a few) alongside commentary on creeping industrialisation. What resulted were deeply personal, intellectually textured and elegantly detailed studies of a place few had truly ever seen before, caught in periods of both gentle and dramatic transformation. Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of Mexico and the UK establishing diplomatic relations, this is also the first exhibition to be dedicated to a historical Latin American artist at the National Gallery. Inner child Where: Opera Gallery (London, UK) When: Until 5 May 2025 Openness on social media alongside a gradual shattering of stigmas around mental health have led to increased discourse on the concept of the inner child, a way for people to reconnect with and process early experiences and their ripple effect. It was an idea born from Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung's 'child archetype', who would have been 150 this year. The subject is explored in-depth at Opera Gallery's latest exhibition by two artists: Yayoi Kusama and the late Niki de Saint Phalle. A total of 41 artworks depict the playful, eclectic whimsy of childhood while sometimes subverting it, capturing the ways in which returning to our childlike selves opens up a renewed worldview that's both liberating and conflicting, tangled fragments resurfacing. A merging of creativity and psychology, it's a vibrant visual reminder of how art can help us to find and heal ourselves. War Child's Secret 7" 2025 exhibition Where: NOW Gallery (London, UK) When: 11 April – 1 June 2025 For their 2025 exhibition, the charity organisation War Child will display 700 specially designed record sleeves to be auctioned on 1 June 2025. Contributors include The Cure, Gregory Porter, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Jessie Ware, in collaboration with artists Yinka Ilori, Sir Paul Smith and Antony Gormley. It's the ultimate record sale for those looking to add something completely one-off to their collection while donating to a good cause. There's also an element of surprise: buyers only find out which artist designed their album cover after the auction ends. For those simply looking to admire, the exhibition includes a dedicated listening space where visitors can tune in to all seven records included, as well as the entire Secret 7" archive. Milan Design Week View this post on Instagram A post shared by milan design week 2025 (@ Where: Milan, Italy When: 7 - 13 April 2025 The world's biggest design festival somehow feels even bigger this year, featuring everything from striking modular lights by designer Michael Anastassiades, an installation by filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, and a collection of exquisite urns by acclaimed architects and designers like David Chipperfield and Audrey Large. While the main event is focused around the Salone del Mobile furniture fair, there are a plethora of diverse events happening all around the city, including plays, talks, and even an exhibition where visitors can live and sleep in the gallery - good to know, we'll undoubtedly need a nap after exploring everything here. Barcelona Beer Festival Where: Barcelona, Spain When: 11 April - 13 April 2025 Beautiful Barcelona and bountiful beer? Need we convince you more?! An idea brewed up by four friends in 2012, the BBF has become the largest craft beer event in Spain. More than 100 breweries from all over the world take part in this yeasty haze of tastings, workshops, talks and good old fashioned communal spirit fuelled by a shared love of sipping something refreshing in the heady glow of Spring. Did we mention that there are also over 600 craft beers on tap (including limited-edition brews)? Cheers to that - and drink responsibly, of course! Drop Where: European cinemas When: 11 April 2025 Ever been sitting on a train when someone airdrops you a meme of a cat wearing sunglasses, leaving you feeling deeply unsettled but also ever so slightly amused? Just us? Ok. Well, imagine that scenario BUT you're on a first date and the airdrops become increasingly sinister, asking you to murder the man you're with else they'll kill your son and sister. Ain't nothing amusing about that. This is the basis for Christopher Landon's latest horror film, Drop. It stars Meghann Fahy as Violet, a widow enjoying a fancy date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) when the mysterious and nerve shredding events mentioned above start to unfold. A good reminder to switch off your phone when watching - and avoid dating? Death of a Unicorn Where: European cinemas When: Out now Don't mess with unicorns - especially ones with girthsome horns. This latest release from A24 stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter trying to repair their rocky relationship when they accidentally crash into and kill a unicorn. This leads to the revelation that it has mystical abilities to cure cancer - something Rudd's boss (Richard E. Grant in full Saltburn mode) is excited to exploit, leading to gruesome consequences when the creatures retaliate. Out critic David Mouriquand wrote: "From the premise alone, there's plenty to love about Death Of A Unicorn. Caricatures of pharma arseholes getting bloodily impaled while a fractured father-daughter dynamic gets healed in the process. It sounds like something Roger Corman would have saluted." Then he liked it less... Read the full review here. The Last of Us Where: HBO When: 13 April 2025 After two long years, the wait is finally over baby girls. We last saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) during that explosive finale that had the rebel Fireflies militia dropping like, well, (fire)flies. Based on the seminal post-apocalyptic franchise by Naughty Dog, it takes place in a world ravaged by a mutated fungus called Cordyceps that transforms people into rabid zombies, with Ellie's character harbouring a rare immunity. Four years on from the events of season 1, we're now following Ellie on a revenge mission alongside her girlfriend Dina (Shannon Woodward). Expect more high tension, heartbreak and screaming 'holy shiitake' at the screen (we hope the book of puns returns too). Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE When: 11 April 2025 Bon Iver has always captured transitions; the pause between thoughts, between moments, between who we were and who we're becoming. It feels like perfect timing, then, that we get this new album at the advent of spring, as softer realisations blossom from the chilly ruminations of winter. Recorded in Justin Vernon's hometown of Wisconsin at the tail end of the COVID pandemic, 'SABLE, fABLE' completes last year's EP release, which we called 'an achingly lovely confrontation of anxiety and change.' Through his trademark repetitions, reverberations and layered harmonies, Vernon soothed the restless emotions of a generation - and from the album's already released tracks, like 'If Only I Could Wait', it's clear we're about to be collectively healed once again.
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Adventures in AI, inner children unleashed and provocations from a master prankster – the week in art
Mat Collishaw: Move37How many artists are really 'cutting edge'? Collishaw is. He catches the essence of now in this eerie experiment with AI. Seed 130, London, until 31 May Niki de Saint Phalle and Yayoi Kusama: Inner ChildTwo legendary, subversive artists together at last in a delirious encounter. Opera Gallery, London, until 5 May Maurizio Cattelan: BonesThe artist whose gold loo got heisted at Blenheim reveals his latest ironies and japes. Gagosian Davies Street, London, from 8 April until 24 May Mark Wallinger: Gravity is the Weakest Force in the UniverseThe Turner prize winner shows new works about gravity which is, he reminds us, 'the weakest force in the universe'. Tension Fine Art, London, from 5 April until 31 May Anne CollierMarilyn Monroe, Sylvia Plath and Valerie Solanas are represented by relics in Collier's photographs. The Modern Institute, Glasgow, until 21 May There can be few sewage facilities designed with the finesse of the new €139m (£117m) wastewater treatment plant in Arklow, which stands like a pair of minty green pagodas on the edge of the Irish Sea and whose inspiration was Sydney Opera House. Read the full article Pete Sedgley, key collaborator with fellow op artist Bridget Riley, has died aged 94 Artists shared grave fears over Donald Trump's attacks on 'anti-American art' 700-odd Post-it notes Ed Atkins drew on for his child are central to his new show New York's Frick Collection is set to reopen after a five-year, $220m renovation Berlin's Works on Skin project is selling artworks to be etched on the human body The brilliantly odd work of Ken Kiff is being reassessed A huge new show highlights how Paris became a haven for Black artists The work of Vanessa Bell is emerging from the shadow of the Bloomsbury Group Tate Modern was given a six-metre Joan Mitchell painting from a billionaire's bedroom Trees and humans merge in Giuseppe Penone ecstatic new show Saint Sebastian by Matteo di Giovanni, probably 1480-95 How do you survive having your body pierced by a shower of arrows? According to the medieval Golden Legend, the Roman soldier Sebastian, who had converted to Christianity, pulled through after being shot many times by pagan archers. That made him a popular symbol of endurance, resilience and, above all, recovery from plague. This painting from 15th-century Tuscany may not be massively distinguished but it is typical of images of Saint Sebastian that were placed in churches and homes to protect people. It may have been commissioned as a personal prayer or spell. We need to remember the otherness of the past and the religious atmosphere of former centuries before leaping to what may seem, to us, the obvious interpretation that Sebastian is a gay icon. That said, even this humble painting stresses his nudity, depicted with an elegant combination of muscularity and grace, as well as his dreamy face and an arrow just above his loincloth: there is sensuality in his suffering. Homoeroticism and piety may not have have been mutually exclusive: later medieval religion sought emotional contact, and if secret desire helped unlock it – why not? National Gallery, London If you don't already receive our regular roundup of art and design news via email, please sign up here. If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@
National News
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- National News
Sundus Al Khalidi Returns with "Boundless Vision" at Rebirth Beirut
NNA - The renowned Iraqi artist Sundus Al Khalidi makes her highly anticipated return in Lebanon with "Boundless Vision," a solo exhibition curated by Dr. Tony Karam at Rebirth Beirut CulturalSpace. The opening will take place on April 3rd, 2025, from 6PM to 9PM, with the exhibition running until April 12th (1PM – 7PM daily, except Sundays). Known for her powerful contemporary works, Al Khalidi has exhibited across the Middle East and Europe, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and cultural heritage. A graduate of Baghdad University's Fine Arts College, Al Khalidi has held exhibitions in Baghdad, Amman, Beirut, Milan, Madrid and Germany. Since 2019, her work was part of Opera Gallery in Beirut and she contributed to the 2020 "For Beirut with Love" exhibition, organized by Opera Gallery to support the rebirth of Beirut following the city's devastating explosion. "Boundless Vision" marks her triumphant return, showcasing a bold evolution of her artistic style. Gaby Fernaine, Founder and President of Rebirth Beirut, stated: 'We are honored to host Sundus Al Khalidi's return. Her work reflects the resilience of both the artist and Beirut, and this exhibition is a testament to hope, creativity, and renewal.' Part of the proceeds from the exhibition will go to Rebirth Beirut's initiatives, including infrastructure rehabilitation, street lighting projects, and other efforts aimed at revitalizing the city.
