A Season of Art
Pictured: Dendrophiles by Jane and Louise Wilson.
It’s time to whet your appetite for a feast of art and antiques this Autumn, culminating in The Berkeley Square Fair from October 28 until November 2.
What better way to do that than to enjoy the best that London has to offer in the form of art exhibitions throughout the summer. Here are two of the most interesting.
The 14th edition of Sculpture in the City, which runs from July 11 until October 6, features 11 artworks from Ai Weiwei, Jane and Louise Wilson, Andrew Sabin, Julian Opie, Maya Rose Edwards, Samuel Ross, Richard Mackness, Elisa Artesero, Daniel Silver, and Oliver Bragg. Make your way around the City of London via the exhibition map, available by app.
Looping the Loop – Andrew Sabin – Portrait
It is a fascinating trail because not only does it present you with a visual feast of art – sometimes in the most surprising of places – but it also reminds you of the history and architecture of our capital at the same time. This makes for a great family outing. You will also be able to see sculpture from previous years too.
Virtual Beauty takes you to Somerset House by Waterloo Bridge from July 23 to September 28. The show, which features over 20 international artists, explores the influence of artificial intelligence, social media, and virtual identities on self-image. The theme could hardly be more topical considering the debate surrounding AI now.
Interactive installations and pioneering works will challenge traditional beauty standards, with highlights including ORLAN’s Omniprésence (1993), a ground-breaking performance in which the artist live-streamed her own facial aesthetic surgery to critique Western beauty ideals.
Amalia Ulman’s Excellences & Perfections comments on the authenticity of social media personas, while the perception of beauty through AI comes under the microscope via AI-generated portraits by Minnie Atairu, Ben Cullen Williams, and Isamaya Ffrench. Harriet Davey, Frederik Heyman and Andrew Thomas Huang examine digital self-expression and the creation of avatars beyond human boundaries.
Virtual Beauty promises to break boundaries at Somerset House from July 23.
