Leytonstone gallery to showcase Palestinian art

A Leytonstone gallery is to launch a new exhibition next week showcasing the work of five Palestinian artists. 'Defiance' is being held at The Stone Space, in Church Lane, from Thursday April 19 until Sunday May 6.

Organisers say the show, put together in conjunction with the Arts Canteen group, illustrates the determination of the Gaza-based painters to both overcome and be inspired by the difficult conditions in which they live.
Entry is free.

Visit www.thestonespace.com for more information.

Josiah McElheny: The Past Was A Mirage I Had Left Far Behind

The Bloomberg Commission: Whitechapel Gallery

Josiah McElheny has transformed what was previously the reading room of the former Whitechapel Library into a hall of mirrors. Seven large-scale mirrors are arranged as multiple reflective screens for displaying abstract films which are programmed to change throughout the year.  The sculptures reflect and refract the projected film selection, saturating the whole gallery in images and light. Refracted, distorted and multiplied, the images are visually very striking.

The Stone Space, E11

Leytonstone has a new art gallery:

The Stone Space
6 Church Lane
Leytonstone
E11 1HG

http://www.thestonespace.com

Pinakothek Der Moderne - Munich

Deadly & Brutal. Movie Posters from Ghana.

The Pinakothek Der Moderne holds some of the best of the German modernists in its collection so we checked out the usual suspects – Kirchner, Beckmann, Beuys but the most memorable part of the visit was a temporary exhibition of movie posters from Ghana. Hand painted by artists who had never seen the films (most of the films were made in Nigeria), the posters are what the artist imagines might have been in the film and therefore not necessarily anything to do with what actually happens in the film. A bit of a strange concept as they are meant to be adverts for the films but why not – we all know that form is more important than function. No subject is seemingly too extreme, babies being butchered, dismembered penis’ and huge breasts all feature but the pictures have the effect of making the viewer LOL rather than experience any feelings of revulsion.

The day was rounded off with an amusing encounter with an over officious attendant who told off one of our party at length for sitting on the floor and then proceeded to follow us around like an amorous pigeon in pursuit of a mate in order to ensure we did not commit any other grievous transgressions. This resulted in a game of hide and seek inbetween the exhibits as we tried to evade capture by zee guards.

Haus der Kunst - Munich

Took the Easy Jet special to Munich yesterday & after some (vegetarian) dumplings (a Bavarian speciality) and some of the local beer of course, headed to the Haus der Kunst. After showing solidarity with the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who exhibited recently & is now being held by the Chinese authorities we went to a group exhibition titled Aschemünder - film & media art from the Ingvild Goetz collection which is showing in the building's former air-raid shelter. The works, by David Claerbout, Willie Doherty, Harun Farocki, Omer Fast, Mona Hatoum, Anri Sala and others, make reference to war, dictatorship, torture and persecution, some of which are very moving. Showing the works in the air-raid shelter adds to a feeling of imprisonment and confinement.

We then headed to the Goldene Bar which is located at the side of the building. Built in 1937, possibly as a nazi casino, a wine tavern or an officer's club, the former curator's of Haus der Kunst must have felt this was a burden for they left it's golden walls with original paintings of the wine, liquor or champagne areas of the world by professor Karl-Heinz Dallinger covered and the premisses closed for the larger public for decades.  The original room opens in a glow of gold and is very impressive, the minimalist arrangement of the laid-back furniture and the chandelier make for a lovely room.  The atmosphere is relaxed and the service excellent, hence this not being posted untill the morning.

Off to Pinakothek Der Moderne today to take advantage of the EUR1.00 entry fee on a Sunday. I'll report back on the visit later.