Daniel Silver: Dig, The Odeon Site, London
Daniel Silver, whose sculptural work is featured as part of a new Artangel commission in central London, examines our reading of found objects. Framed as a kind of archaeological find, fragments of figures are strewn across the abandoned space close to Tottenham Court Road tube station. Made in a range of materials including marble, plaster and terracotta, the figures have been worked by hand, modelled and then deformed. Both ancient and modern in appearance, these are unearthed objects from an unfamiliar culture.
Until 3 November, www.artangel.org.uk
Nicola Ellis & Aura Satz, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
For its annual Head to Head exhibition, Castlefield Gallery presents an intriguing show exploring a tangential view of the world through the lens of technologies and materials that are modern, but no longer considered cutting edge. Featuring film, sculpture and drawings, artists Nicola Ellis and Aura Satz have both created new pieces in relation to previous works, with old and new continuing to inform the understanding of each other.
Until 20 October, www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk
Tacita Dean: JG, Frith Street Gallery, London
Shortly before JG Ballard died in 2009, he set artist Tacita Dean a challenge – to solve the mysteries of Robert Smithson’s iconic earthwork and film, Spiral Jetty. The result is this new 26½ minute work, shot on location in the saline landscapes of Utah and California, and using Dean’s recently developed and patented system of aperture gate masking, which she developed for her 2011 Tate Turbine Hall commission, FILM.
Until 26 October, www.frithstreetgallery.com
David Blandy: Anjin 1600: Edo Wonderpark, The Rose Lipman Building, London
Navigating our interpretation of time and space, David Blandy’s new work is a complex meditation on colonialism, cultural tourism and identity. Based upon a reimagining of the story of William Adams (1564-1620), a sea navigator known as the first Englishman to set foot in Japan in 1600, Blandy channels his love of cartoons and video games to produce this multi-room installation.
Until 26 October, davidblandy.co.uk
Mel Brimfield, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton
Another exhibition offering a snapshot of the past is Mel Brimfield at John Hansard Gallery. Taking a skewed and humorous look at the history of performance art, a series of films and installations invent characters and histories that playfully associate performance art with significant cultural developments over the last 100 years. Part of ArtSOUTH, a series of new commissions.
Until 2 November, www.hansardgallery.org.uk
Selection compiled by Jack Hutchinson
