Here are the top five exhibitions to explore in London during early November, as selected by Tabish Khan, the @LondonArtCritic: 1. Alexis Peskine: Forest Figures @ October Gallery – Bold portraits created using nails incorporate herbal plants and cowrie shell forms associated with the slave trade. – Open until: 9th November. 2. Susan Aldworth: Belongings @ King’s College London, Bush Arcade – A personal narrative inspired by her grandmother’s 1924 migration, showcasing antique dresses and family stories about migration to London. – Open until: 8th November. 3. Shaan Bevan + Owen Pratt: Ex-Voto @ Palmer Gallery – Featuring intimate drawings of body tissues relating to illnesses, sealed metal sheets resonate sounds of nature, reflecting on life’s fragility. – Open until: 9th November. 4. Yelena Popova: Of Dust and Breath @ Ione & Mann – Paintings crafted from natural earth tones and materials depict themes of nature, spirituality, and healing, with a striking tapestry illustration. – Open until: 7th November. 5. Gustavo Nazareno, Orixás: Personal Tales on Portraiture @ Opera Gallery – Skillful portraits of Black figures challenging traditional European art narratives, inspired by Afro-Latin religious deities. – Open until: 9th November.

The London art scene in early November showcases diverse exhibitions that reflect personal and cultural narratives. This period features artists exploring themes from migration and intimacy to spirituality and ecological concerns, utilising varied media including fabric, metal, and natural pigments. The aim is to engage with deeper societal issues through artistic expression.

These exhibitions highlight the rich tapestry of London’s art scene, offering insights into personal histories, cultural critiques, and environmental themes. Visiting these shows provides a profound way to connect with contemporary art and its reflections on society.

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The exhibition ‘Frank Auerbach: Portraits of London’ at Offer Waterman and Francis Outred showcases 25 paintings from Auerbach’s extensive career, illustrating London’s urban transformation over seven decades. This survey brings together significant works housed in notable private and public collections, focusing on areas affected by Auerbach’s experiences, such as Oxford Street, St Pancras, and Camden Town, along with natural sites like Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath. Auerbach, who fled Germany as a child, reflects on his early years in London: his explorations of the city shaped his artistic vision as he sought to immortalise the changing cityscape through his art. His thick, impasto technique captures the physicality and chaos of urban change, creating a dialogue between building and erasure akin to the city’s reconstruction post-war. Lucien Freud noted the authority of Auerbach’s work, emphasising how the architecture depicted can dominate their spaces: “It is the architecture that gives his paintings such authority.” Auerbach’s art transcends traditional painting, incorporating sculptural qualities that evoke a psychological response, making his work a profound commentary on time and place in London’s evolving environment.

Frank Auerbach, a prominent post-war artist, is well-known for his dedication to representing London’s landscapes and urban life. Arriving in Britain as a child refugee, his formative experiences in the city profoundly influenced his art, leading him to explore and depict urban scenes with a unique depth. The exhibition at Offer Waterman and Francis Outred offers insight into Auerbach’s remarkable ability to capture the spirit and transformation of London through a blend of rich textures and emotional landscapes, providing a reflective narrative rooted in the artist’s own migrations and experiences in the city.

The ‘Frank Auerbach: Portraits of London’ exhibition highlights Auerbach’s profound engagement with London’s landscapes, showcasing his mastery in leveraging texture and technique to articulate the city’s evolution. From his personal journey as a refugee to an artist, Auerbach’s work remains a poignant testament to the interplay of memory, place, and the urban experience.

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