around galleries in October

'Mathematical Nature Painting Nested' (2008) by Keith Tyson (img via guardian.co.uk)

Keith Tyson at Parasol Unit (until 11 November)

Eduardo Paolozzi at Raven Row (until 1 November)

John Baldessari at Tate Modern (until 11 January 2010)

Miroslaw Balka at Tate Modern

‘How It Is’ by Miroslaw Balka, Tate Modern

‘How It Is’ by Miroslaw Balka, Tate Modern

‘How It Is’ by Miroslaw Balka, Tate Modern

‘How It Is’ by Miroslaw Balka, Tate Modern

Simple, terrifying, cold, and beautiful. Miroslaw Balka’s work ‘How It Is’ at Tate Modern hits hard without being overtly provocative. More of this kind of art, please.

Art Container [13]

Johanna Billing video installation (via artscouncil.org.uk)

Autumn is upon us, the wind is turning chilly and days become shorter and shorter. Summer exhibitions are closing down and London gets ready for the Turner Prize, Frieze, Zoo, etc. Some shows have been quite underwhelming, but it’s not the case of Johanna Billing’s exhibition at the Camden Arts Centre, which I stumbled upon and loved from start to end. The Swedish artist has the ability to elevate small events to poetic visions through her videos that feature light-hearted songs that will stick to your memory. Johanna Billing: ‘I’m Lost Without Your Rhythm’ closes on September 13, try not to miss it!

20×20 magazine issue two

front cover: ‘Coin of the realm’ by Christopher Clack

'Design your own confetti' by Francesca Ricci

Read the second issue of 20×20 magazine on issuu: http://issuu.com/20×20magazine/docs/20×20_issue_2_issuu

We also have a website, and in case you want to contact us please email info@20×20magazine.com

20×20 magazine is a square platform for writings, visuals and cross-bred projects. Rather than on a theme, each issue is assembled around meta-words to be interpreted, researched, illustrated according to a loose, wide and multi-angled perspective. The intent is to create homogeneity of spirit within each issue, without the restrictions of a ‘theme’ as such.

The magazine includes 3 sections:

Words – in the shape of fiction, essays, poetry
Visions – drawings, photography and visual projects
The Blender – where words and visions cross paths

Psycho buildings on the Southbank

The new exhibition at the Hayward is a mix of architecture, installation and design. Best works on display are Life fog frog… fog frog by Ernesto Neto, Fallen Star 1/5 and Staircase V (my favourite, pictured) by Do Ho Suh, In the memory of H. P. Lovecraft by Mike Nelson, and the exploding (?) Show room by Cuban duo Los Carpinteros. Not so sure about the rest, it looked a bit like a funfair.

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Thanks to my friend B. I’ve discovered Bon Iver, a.k.a. American singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. I can’t stop listening to For Emma Forever Ago, truly beautiful.

books [1]

I have 4 books on my desk. I’m trying to read them all at once, and miserably failing. The two volumes I’m more interested in are The $12 million stuffed shark (the curious economics of contemporary art and auction houses) by Don Thompson, and Vitamin D, new perspectives in drawing edited by Emma Dexter and published by Phaidon. The first one is, so far, very entertaining and it gives a good insight into the commercial aspect of contemporary art. The second is great for a quick browse and, when time permits, a good source for up-and-coming artists (although it was published in 2005). Guess I’ll have to buy the other Phaidon catalogues Vitamin P (painting), Vitamin Ph (photography), and also the product design anthology &fork. I’m turning into a book collector. Help.

[imgs via foyles.co.uk]