Barby Asante started the year with work featured in ‘Untitled’ at New Art Exchange, Nottingham and is currently part of the ‘Starless Midnight’ show at Baltic, Gateshead. The London-based artist, who was also part of the Diaspora Pavilion in Venice, reflects on a year of career highs and the tragedy of Grenfell.
London-based artist Larry Achiampong has had a busy year, including commissions for Somerset House, the Jerwood Visual Arts 3-Phase programme and the Diaspora Pavilion during the Venice Biennale. He reflects on a “full on” 2017 that has been tainted by the avoidable tragedy of Grenfell.
Five a-n News writers – based in London, Liverpool and Glasgow – pick, in no particular order, their top five exhibitions/art events of the year.
Ten artists and a-n members were awarded an a-n bursary to visit to the 57th Venice Biennale. They have been sharing their views via a-n Reviews and Blogs. AIR Council member Binita Walia, who visited the Venice Biennale at the same time, presents a collection of their thoughts and reflections.
69 works by 65 artists have been selected for the latest edition of the UK’s longest-running annual open drawing exhibition, which will also be Jerwood Charitable Foundation’s final year as the show’s key partner and funder.
Diaspora Pavilion artists and organisers are calling on Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to vigorously pursue the criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire.
The 24-year-old artist, whose work is featured in the Diaspora Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, lived on the 20th floor of the block.
London-based artist Kimathi Donkor is among 12 artists featured in the Diaspora Pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale, presented by the International Curators Forum and University of the Arts London. He talks about the importance of the British black arts movement in the 1980s, history painting, and the idea of diaspora.
We asked this year’s Venice Biennale a-n travel bursary recipients and AIR Council members attending the biennale preview to tell us what their highlights were. They came back with 26 different recommendations – and a few repeats.
The UK’s presence at this year’s Venice Biennale is particularly strong, with Phyllida Barlow’s sculptures at the British Pavilion, Rachel Maclean’s new film for Scotland + Venice, James Richards’ sound and film work representing Wales, and the new Diaspora Pavilion reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of UK-based artists. Moira Jeffrey reports.
International Curators Forum receive Arts Council fund of £300,000 for Black British Diaspora Pavilion, with ten artists set to exhibit work at Venice Biennale 2017.
