Hajime Sorayama, JAY-Z Collaborator Arthur Jafa, & More Captivating Works of Art You Need to See
Also featuring an intimate exhibit review by Takashi Murakami.
Our previous weekly art roundup highlighted a variety of fascinating artwork including zombie performance art, a psychedelic fish aquarium, and a NSFW photo series to name a few. For the latest installment, we spotlight a troop of most-acclaimed artists from all across the globe. From a NYC group show featuring new work by Hajime Soriyama to a massive installation of banned books in Germany, take a look at this week’s list of artwork that you should jot down on your must-see bucket list.
Hajime Sorayama, Shepard Fairey, & More Artists Featured At New Group Show in NYC
Credit: Jacob Lewis Gallery
Jacob Lewis Gallery in New York City has launched its summer show featuring acclaimed artists from all across the globe. A selection of new works by Hajime Sorayama, Shepard Fairey, Inka Essenhigh, Emilio Perez and more are on display in the space located in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood. The show is currently on view up until August 18. Head over to Jacob Lewis Gallery’s official website to learn more and find the address below.
Jacob Lewis Gallery
521 W 26th St.
New York, NY
10001
Arthur Jaffa’s “A Series of Utterly Improbable, Yet Extraordinary Renditions” Exhibit in London
Credit: Serpentine Gallery
You may recognize Arthur Jaffa’s enthralling cinematic work from JAY-Z’s recent “4:44” album or his collaborations with Beyoncé, and Solange. Recently, the multifaceted artist opened a politically-charged exhibition located in London’s Serpentine Gallery. Dubbed “A Series of Utterly Improbable, Yet Extraordinary Renditions,” the showcase spotlights a series of films, photography as well as art objects that portray haunting depicts of black life. Jaffa’s portraits of Black Panthers, Black Confederate flags, and sculptures of southern juke joints are now open to the public up until September 10, 2017. Visit Serpentine Gallery’s official website to learn more.
Serpentine Gallery
Kensington Gardens, London
W2 3XA, UK
Yoshitomo Nara’s “For Better Or Worse” Exhibit in Japan
Credit: Yoshitomo Nara
Widely-recognized Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara has taken his ongoing “For Better Or Worse” exhibition to Japan’s Toyota Municipal Museum of Art. The exhibit features both recent and archival works from as early as the 1980s. His most famous character—a young girl with fierce eyes—is shown on an array of paintings alongside highly emotive paintings that evoke “emotional responses, ranging from catharsis to political defiance and hope,” said the gallery in a statement. Takashi Murakami recently took to Instagram to relay several deep thoughts on the exhibit. Find Murakami’s critique of the show below. “For Better Or Worse” will be on view up until September 24.
Murakami’s takeaways from the exhibit:
1. For all the things he has been going through, wow, he has done an amazing job.
2. The checklist of the show looks like a “greatest hits” compilation.
3. The way he installs and presents his work is truly masterful.
Toyota Municipal Museum of Art
8 Chome-５-１ 小坂本町
Toyota, Aichi Prefecture 471-0034
Japan
Hélio Oiticica’s “To Organize Delirium” Retrospective in New York City
Credit: Whitney Museum of American Art
Brazilian artist Hélio Oiticica has launched his first full-scale U.S. retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Titled “To Organize Delirium,” the large presentation is comprised of immersive installations, writing as well as short films that reflect Oiticica’s fascination with nature, music, and literature. The retrospective is currently open to the public up until October 1, 2017. Drop by the Whitney Museum’s official website to learn more and find the address below.
Whitney Museum of American Art
99 Gansevoort St.
New York, NY
10014
Marta Minujín’s Parthenon of Books Installation in Kassel, Germany
Credit: Roman Maerz
Argentine artist Marta Minujín is sparking controversy for her monumental installation called Parthenon of Books. The work of art is located in Kassel, Germany and is made up of approximately 100,000 banned books from all over the world. Minujín deliberately wanted to install the piece on Friedrichsplatz—a park in which thousands of books were burned during the Aktion Wider den Undeutschen Geist campaign in 1933. Head over to the Minujín’s website to view more projects and let us know your thoughts.
