The TMH Edit: the best things to do this February
The short and sweet month of Februray is here – but what it lacks for in days, it more than makes up for with a whole host of brilliant things to do and see. So much so that, for this month’s The TMH Edit, we’ve six spectacular recommendations, rather than our usual five. Yes, you’re in for a treat: we’ve cherry-picked four upcoming exhibitions, a new architecture book worthy of a place on your coffee table, and an art and furniture store opening for the design enthusiasts among us.
Spazio Leone, Hackney, London E8
If you’re a magpie for expertly sourced, one-of-a-kind or cult design, you’ll be as excited as us about the opening of Spazio Leone’s new space in Hackney, east London. The store’s Instagram drops hints about founder Gennaro Leone’s penchant for 1970s and 1980s Italian design, but he’s also a dealer of minimalist Danish furniture, British ceramics, German post-modernist pieces and the like. In his former showroom, for instance, he’s has had work by Verner Panton, Giuseppe Raimondi, Mario Bellini, sat alongside lesser-known, hard-to-trace names. Visit Spazio Leone at Hackney Downs Studios, 17 Amhurst Terrace, London E8 from 4 February. By appointment only.
Dulwich, Mid-Century Oasis by Paul Davis, Ian McInnes and Catherine Samy
Dulwich, south-east London, is arguably best known for its village-like charm, lush leafy park and the independent shops and restaurants that line Lordship Lane. But now, local architects Paul Davis, Ian McInnes and Catherine Samy are letting it be known that Dulwich is also a destination home to a wealth of mid-century architecture. The trio has released a book, suitably titled, Dulwich, Mid-Century Oasis, showcasing 31 housing estates built in the area between the 1950s and the 1970s. Photographs from the past and present, plus interviews with current residents, highlight the wonders of mid-century homes and the importance of thoughtful residential design.
Lulama Wolf: I was born wrapped in a white blanket at SoShiro Gallery, London W1
Ndizalwe nge ngubo emhlophe, which translates as ‘I was born wrapped in a white blanket’, is the title of a new exhibition on the South African artist Lulama Wolf at the SoShiro Gallery in London. On display are graphic paintings and a textile installation that she recently completed during a month-long residency in Antibes for the Undiscovered Canvas’s art programme. Lulama uses her work, which explores neo-expressionism and modern African art, Lulama questions the pre-colonial African experience. “I express my yearning for answers and clarity in ways that make my Blackness clear even when my work is abstract,” she explains in the show notes. While there, don’t miss the supporting show, which is a curation of ceramics by Nigerian artist Ladi Kwali. From 4 February to 4 March 2o22.
Louise Bourgeois: The Woven Child at Hayward Gallery, London SE1
The inimitable Louise Bourgeois’ archive of work is so monumental that its concluding chapter lasted 20 years (her career spans eight decades in total). It was during this period that she began to weave garments from all stages of her life into her art. The Hayward Gallery’s forthcoming exhibition, Louise Bourgeois: The Woven Child, is the first major retrospective to hone in on her work created using fabric and textiles. It includes a selection including figurative sculptures in fleshy pinks, behemoth installations incorporated within her signature steel spiders and abstract collages, all of which investigates themes such as identity, sexuality, trauma and memory. From 9 February to 15 May 2022.
Louise Bourgeois, Spider, 1997 © The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY and DACS, London 2021, photography Maximilian Geuter
A Century of the Artist’s Studio 1920-2020 at Whitechapel Gallery, London E1
Whitechapel Gallery gives us a glimpse into the studios of some of the world’s most alluring artists: Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele, among many others. Its upcoming show, A Century of the Artist’s Studio 1920-2020, is a 100-year study of the studio – be it an abandoned factory or kitchen table – through the work of the subjects themselves. While the roster of creative titans is a draw, the exhibition also showcases the spaces of contemporary figures, including Walead Beshty, Lisa Brice and Kerry James Marshall, plus collectives from all around the world. There are more than 100 multimedia pieces by over 80 artists on show, including a series of ‘studio corners’: recreations inspired by the real-life environments in which art has been created. From 24 February to 5 June 2022.
Kerry James Marshall, Untitled (Painter), 2008, courtesy of the artist, David Zwirner London and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York, photography Steve Briggs
Yukihiro Akama: Ki no ie at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield
Residents of and visitors to Yorkshire, be sure to explore the intriguing work of Yukihiro Akama at YSP from 26 February to 29 May 2022. The Japanese carpenter and former architect carves exquisitely detailed miniature Asian stilt houses from off-cuts of British-grown trees: oak, walnut, sapele, iroko and maple. Yukihiro draws inspiration from the houses he saw during a stint travelling around Asia, but lets the knots and grains of the wood dictate the way he sculpts. There will be 16 original works on show, including his largest piece to date, measuring 80cm tall.
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