What to See in London This Summer
- Ed Atkins presents heartfelt drawings inspired by childhood at Tate Britain.
- Francesca Mollett explores material honesty in her exhibition at Modern Art.
- Jenny Saville’s impactful piece ‘Witness’ challenges perceptions of trauma.
- Huma Bhabha and Alberto Giacometti investigate human fragility at Barbican.
- Alexandra Metcalf’s show juxtaposes domesticity with underlying tension.
Ed Atkins at Tate Britain – An Artistic Refuge
From expansive surveys to intimate displays, London is a treasure trove of art awaiting discovery this summer. Starting off, Ed Atkins showcases his work at Tate Britain until 25 August. His drawings, which were born out of the COVID-19 lockdown, have a mellow yet profound connection with life. Created over breakfasts and slipped into his daughter’s lunchbox, they embody a strange kind of devotion, and they’re not nearly as careless as they might seem at first glance. Atkins invites viewers to experience a sanctuary within the chaotic video installations around, celebrating the accumulation of life’s moments.
Francesca Mollett Explores Honest Abstraction
On the other hand, at Modern Art, London, starting 5 June and lasting until 19 July, we’ve got Francesca Mollett’s exhibition titled ‘Annual Honesty’. It’s named after the money plant, a fitting reference because her work reflects an honest approach to nature and forms, layered both physically and conceptually. Mollett’s most figurative pieces to date challenge the observer with textures and depth, drawing parallels with Baruch Spinoza’s thoughts on unity in diversity. This layered handling keeps viewers engaged, making them ponder over the essentials of art while glancing at the canvases.
Jenny Saville Challenges with Powerful Imagery
Meanwhile, at the National Portrait Gallery, Jenny Saville’s powerful exhibition offers a stark contrast from 20 June to 7 September. One notable piece is ‘Witness’, a haunting 2.7-meter-tall painting that portrays immense trauma. The brutal imagery of a body, captured from a crime scene photo, raises eyebrows immediately. Critics might label it as ‘gross’, yet its scale and the sweeping strokes of Saville’s oil paints shift the focus from horror to an abstract exploration of violence. Observing it closely, one realises the synthesis of figuration and abstraction, highlighting Saville’s touch.
Exploring Trauma: Bhabha and Giacometti at Barbican
At the Barbican, from 8 May to 10 August, the intriguing works of Huma Bhabha and Alberto Giacometti tell a story of trauma intertwined with resilience. Their display, with fragmented forms and heads, resonates with experiences marked by conflict and the fragility of life. Giacometti’s ‘Figurine Between Two Houses’, for instance, captures deep existential torment. Its surface speaks through expressive bronze mark-making, and yet there’s a sense of quiet strength in this gaunt figure, suggesting a forward march despite the surrounding chaos.
Alexandra Metcalf Reveals Domestic Unease
Lastly, Alexandra Metcalf’s exhibition, ‘Gaaaaaaasp’ at The Perimeter from 16 May to 25 July, leads the viewer through a whimsical yet unsettling landscape. It took me back to my childhood dollhouse experience, complete with mismatched furniture that led to a not-so-wonderful clutter. Metcalf echoes this theme; her work elicits a sense of domestic comfort but is tinged with a brooding unease. This tension resonates deeply, suggesting that beneath the charming facades of our own spaces lies an institutional confinement waiting to surface.
This summer in London, the art scene offers diverse experiences, from Ed Atkins’ reflective drawings at Tate Britain to Francesca Mollett’s honest abstractions at Modern Art. Jenny Saville and her visceral exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery starkly contrasts with the explorative works displayed by Bhabha and Giacometti at Barbican. Finally, Metcalf’s nostalgic yet uncomfortable exploration rounds off the artistic offerings. Each exhibit offers not just art but a perspective on life, beauty, and humanity’s fragility.
