Nico Vascellari, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
This installation by Italian artist and hardcore punk musician Nico Vascellari in Whitworth’s Landscape Gallery uses multiple projections to explore the Bus de la Lum (or ‘hole of light’) – a natural cavity located in the woodland of the Cansiglio plateau in Italy. Associated with satanic legend and magic, it also has real-world horrors to tell due to its reputation as a death pit during the second world war. The piece features a soundtrack created in collaboration with Turkish-born musician Ghédalia Tazartès.
Until 18 September 2016. www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
Bridget Riley, Graves Gallery, Sheffield
With a career spanning six decades, Bridget Riley is widely recognised as a pivotal figure in the development of abstraction. The focus here is the period of 1967-1972 and the introduction of colour in her work. This breakthrough had a massive impact on her ensuing painting, with a number of works showcased here alongside a series of studies.
Until 25 June 2016. www.museums-sheffield.org.uk
Gavin Jantjes, The Herbert, Coventry
This painting exhibition – created in partnership with the Black Artists and Modernism project – explores the transatlantic slave trade. It features work by South African artist Gavin Jantjes painted whilst he was in Coventry escaping the apartheid in his home country. The works depict dark scenes of stormy sea journeys of slave trade ships, which appear as floating coffins, as well as distorted figures and menacing skies.
Until 21 August 2016. www.theherbert.org
AV Festival: Meanwhile, what about Socialism?, Newcastle/Gateshead
For the first time, this year’s biennial AV Festival has curated a group exhibition of solo installations across eight venues in Newcastle and Gateshead. Drawing on the festival theme of left-wing politics of resistance, works on display range from satirical coins made by the late-18th century English revolutionary Thomas Spence, to contemporary Indian filmmaker Pallavi Paul’s trilogy (pictured above) about the revolutionary Indian poet Vidrohi (the rebel).
Until 27 March 2016. www.avfestival.co.uk
Piero Manzoni, Mazzoleni, London
Best known for his work Merda d’Artista (Artist’s Shit, 1961), this exhibition brings together two groups of works by the influential Italian artist Piero Manzoni (1933-63): the Achromes (1957–63) and the Linee (1959–63). Including previously unexhibited pieces and rarely seen works, the exhibition focuses on the relationship between the two bodies of work, looking at their shared conceptual and material qualities.
Until 9 April 2016. www.mazzoleniart.com
