If in need of post-Easter, pre-sunshine cultural inspirations, look no further. Here, AnOther presents the 10 best things to do, see and watch in April...
If in need of post-Easter, pre-sunshine cultural inspirations, look no further. Here, AnOther presents their Top 10 things to do in April, from a miscellany of shoes in New York and Pattern Power in London, to the first cinematic offering from Alexandra McGuiness and the subversively tweaked, readymade works of Hans-Peter Feldmann.
1. Icons of the Stage and Screen from Rex Editions
Opus Fine Art is currently offering the opportunity to buy limited edition prints of some of the lauded Rex Editions collection's most striking portraiture of cultural icons – from a dashing Sean Connery on the set of Woman of Straw to the ever-chic Brigitte Bardot, decked in white chiffon, captured by David Magnus.
2. Lotus Eaters
Alexandra McGuiness makes her directorial debut with Lotus Eaters, a black and white film about self-destruction and discovery. An in-depth look at London's social elite and accompanying party scene, the film centres on ex-model and ambitious actress Alice (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) as she adventures between Glastonbury Festival and the South of France, struggling to meet the high standards of living expected of her by her peers.
3. The Loughran Gallery Pop-Up, April 4-7
This month, the Loughran Gallery will launch another of its pop-up installations, offering visitors the chance to view and purchase art in an “intriguing, fun and exciting environment”. Featured artists will include Harland Miller, Marc Quinn and Damien Hirst.
4. Black Eyes and Lemonade: Curating Popular Art, until September 1
A newly opened archive display at the Whitechapel Gallery revisits the 1951 exhibit Black Eyes and Lemonade, organised by artist, designer and writer Barbara Jones. The original display looked to challenge conventional ideas about everyday British objects (from the traditional and handmade to the mass produced) and their associated cultural value, as well as the hierarchies of value, making and manufacturing. Now, over half a century later, the exhibition “looks afresh at the presentation and curation of popular art.”
5. Shoe Obsession, until April 13 & The Amazing Shoemaker, from April 9
For those in New York, don’t miss your chance to see the Fashion Institute of Technology’s wonderful display of over 150 of the most innovative shoe styles of the 21st century, alongside a detailed consideration of the new concepts, constructions, materials and embellishment which define contemporary shoe design. Meanwhile a new exhibition at Florence’s Museo Salvatore Ferragamo will hark back to shoes’ heritage, exploring their role and symbolism in fairytales, myth and legends, which so enthralled Ferragamo as a young boy.
6. Hans-Peter Feldmann at Simon Lee Gallery, from April 5
Artist and collector Hans-Peter Feldmann is renowned for his unique, and often humorous blend of found images and ephemera with minimal artistic intervention. Now, a new exhibition allows viewers to explore his latest collections – a mishmash of nudes, portraits, still lifes and seascapes – which are presented in the manner of a classical painting exhibition, thus highlighting Feldmann’s playfully subversive tweaks.
7. Pattern Power/Superstripe, April 6-21
Patternity is a creative organisation that researches and explores the application of pattern. This April will see them playing host to Pattern Power/Superstripe, the first in a series of annual exhibitions that will delve into the presence of pattern – this time with a focus on stripes. A series of events, from discussions to workshops, will offer a fresh approach to pattern viewing and how it can be used it as a tool that can educate and inspire.
8. Each x Other
Each x Other is an androgynous fashion and art collaboration involving an array of unique artists, stylists, poets, musicians, filmmakers and fashion designers, including artist and Dazed Group Associate Publisher, Rob Montgomery. The label, now selling their S/S13 collection, sees each piece designed with a signature masculine twist that is then shaped for the women’s collection.
9. Under the Influence, April 11
An upcoming, live-streamed auction at Phillips, Under the Influence will see a diverse range of works, from both up-and-coming and widely acclaimed contemporary artists, go under the hammer, including pieces by Alex Katz, Andy Warhol and Bridget Riley.
10. The Place Beyond the Pines, from April 12
The latest offering from Derek Cianfrance, of Blue Valentine fame, The Place Beyond the Pines is a thrilling crime drama which investigates the unbreakable bond between fathers and sons. Ryan Gosling stars as a motorcycle stunt rider who turns to bank robbery as a means of providing for his lover and their newborn child, and what unfolds is a generation-spanning fight to overcome a legacy of blood.
Compiled by Daisy Woodward and Jane Fayle
