Monster Chetwynd: Hell Mouth 3, Eastside Projects, Birmingham
Monster Chetwynd’s latest show channels the decline of Western civilisation and legacies of heavy metal through ‘the mouth to hell of a 16th century engraving of a human-devouring monster’. The artist’s large-scale sculptural and performative work, housed within the industrial space and area of Eastside Projects and surrounding Digbeth, explores the ‘failure of current society to support and empower the once and future workers of the hell mouth of industrial Britain’. Part of the ‘Home of Metal’ series of exhibitions in partnership with organisations in and around Birmingham.
Until 27 July 2019. www.eastsideprojects.org
Cory Arcangel: BACK OFF, Firstsite, Colchester
American artist Cory Arcangel uses the ‘conventions of popular culture’ – such as video games, web browsers, iconic musicians, and textiles – to question consumer technologies and fashion. This bumper survey of his practice features everything from drawing and photography, to lorry lights, a laser, a drum machine, and a baby monitor. Also on show are a new series of prints on Ikea table tops made specifically for Firstsite, and an online artwork, Bomb Iraq (2005-2014).
Until 7 July 2019. www.firstsite.uk
BL CK B X: Morgan Quaintance, LUX, London
The first London solo exhibition by artist and writer Morgan Quaintance features a trilogy of short films under the title Hysteresis. Using archival material, newly shot 16mm film and standard definition video, the works explore how the recent past impacts on, or is occluded from, the conditions of Britain’s artistic and socio-cultural present. New commission, Early Years, offers an account of a woman’s first generation diasporic experience in Britain, while Anne, Richard and Paul is a portrait of the experimental music of artist group Bow Gamelan Ensemble. Meanwhile, Another Decade explores the distance between academic art world debates of the 1990s and the ‘dynamic vitality of cultural and political life outside institutions in the UK’s capital’. This Wednesday (22 May) also sees a ‘breakfast opening’ from 9-10.30am, with tea, coffee and pastries provided.
Until 22 June 2019. www.lux.org.uk
David Nash, National Museum, Cardiff
This exhibition is the largest show of land artist and sculptor David Nash’s work ever presented in Wales and marks the 50th anniversary of his studio space in Capel Rhiw, a former Methodist chapel in Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales. It includes key works from the late 1960s through to the present day, highlighting how Nash manipulates wood to produce both abstract and figurative sculpture. The exhibition has been developed in partnership with Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, where it will be redisplayed later in the year.
Until 1 September 2019. www.museum.wales
From the Kitchen Table: Drew Gallery Projects 1984-90, Southwark Park Galleries, London
This touring group exhibition featuring work by more than 30 artists highlights the work of Australian curator Sandra Drew, who throughout the 1980s staged a series of ground-breaking shows in various locations in and around Canterbury. Under the guise of Drew Gallery Projects, she organised exhibitions in what at the time were deemed to be unusual public sites such as crypts, theatres, empty shops, town squares and graveyards. Drew supported a number of artists in the early stages of their careers who later went on to great success, including Phyllida Barlow, Rose English and Rob Kesseler, who were experimenting with new media and installation. Other featured artists include Rose Finn-Kelcey, Laura Ford, David Mach and Alison Wilding.
Until 30 June 2019. www.southwarkparkgalleries.org
Images:
1. Monster Chetwynd: Hell Mouth 3, Eastside Projects, Birmingham
2. Cory Arcangel: BACK OFF, Firstsite. Photo: Maddie Pierce
3. Morgan Quaintance, Early Years, 2019
4. Phyllida Barlow, Threat, 1986. Image courtesy: the artist and Hauser and Wirth. Photograph: Maryrose Sinn, copyright UCA Canterbury
More on a-n.co.uk:
Venice Biennale 2019: debate rages over Christoph Büchel’s display of tragic migrant ship
Exploding myths about money: the ‘bank’ printing artworks to pay off community debt
a-n Degree Shows Guide 2019: 40-page guide with interviews and information on shows across the UK
