Art Weekly Dispatch: Murals, Rebels, and a Stark Parisian Vision
This week in the art world brings a mix of political commentary, feminist activism, and historical digitisation, alongside a masterful yet bleak painting by Edgar Degas that challenges romanticised views of 19th-century Paris.
Exhibition of the Week: Wilhelm Sasnal's Political and Domestic Blend
Poland's leading figurative artist, Wilhelm Sasnal, presents family/history at Sadie Coles HQ in London until 23 May. This exhibition features unsettling new paintings that intertwine family life with global current affairs, including greyed-out visions of the Oval Office, offering a provocative look at the intersection of the domestic and political spheres.
Also Showing: Diverse Artistic Voices Across the UK
- Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh until 28 June, pairing Scotland's rough, expressive mid-century painter with masters like Constable and Monet.
- Tizta Berhanu: Love Is a Practice at Tiwani Contemporary in London until 16 May, showcasing soft, gentle group portraits by a young Ethiopian painter focused on interconnectedness.
- Guerrilla Girls at Charleston in Lewes until 6 September, where the infamously rebellious feminist art collective critiques art world inequality in a modernist East Sussex setting.
- Shane Keisuke Berkery: Shane, Come Back at Carl Kostyál in London until 3 May, a debut London exhibition exploring the slippery nature of identity through complex paintings by an Irish-Japanese artist.
Image of the Week: Digitising UK Street Art
Art UK has digitised over 6,700 street murals, far exceeding its target of 5,000, reflecting a national explosion in mural art. The collection includes works from medieval church paintings to photorealistic portraits, such as Lola the Barras Pirate in Glasgow. Katey Goodwin, Art UK's deputy chief executive, noted, "It has gone from seeing a few murals here and there to them being everywhere." This initiative captures the vibrant diversity of UK street art, from local heroes to large-scale decorative motifs.
What We Learned: Art World Updates and Discoveries
- Adrian Searle stepped down after 30 years as the Guardian's chief art critic.
- Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan invites public confessions of sins.
- A stolen 2,500-year-old Romanian gold helmet has been recovered.
- Generations of gay artists found inspiration on Fire Island.
- Thieves stole valuable paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse from an Italian museum.
- Denby Pottery is calling in administrators.
- Dean Sameshina's photos reveal hidden queer stories in ordinary buildings.
- Veronica Ryan filled Whitechapel Gallery with seeds and recycled materials.
- The National Museum of American History highlights Filipino heritage stories.
- Church architect Desmond Williams was remembered for his contributions.
Masterpiece of the Week: Edgar Degas' Au Café
Edgar Degas' painting Au Café (c1875-77), held at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, offers a brutally miserable counterpoint to the rose-tinted view of 19th-century Paris as a hub of energy and hope. Instead, it depicts a sickly, pale woman in a grey-green hue, with no signs of cafe life, leaving questions about her condition and companions unanswered. Similar to his work L'Absinthe, this blurry, almost monochrome piece—possibly unfinished—captures the grim, daily grind of Parisian existence, revealing a stark reality beneath the city's glamorous facade.
This week's art news underscores the dynamic and often critical nature of contemporary and historical art, from digital preservation efforts to feminist critiques and poignant historical reflections.
