My favourite group exhibition right now
Also: Banksy bought a zoo and Zuck bought a sculpture
The art world gets a little sleepy in the Summer. Collectors spend more time out of the city, at beach homes or family vacations, and galleries react to the lack of clients by slowing their operations before big September shows. What that means for the rest of us that stay put is there’s a surplus of group shows to attend.
I love summer group shows. They’re a great way to learn about new artists, often emerging. Summer exhibitions are the time gallery’s exhibit new artists since there’s the ability to take more chances (less risk) and show work outside the roster.
Why does this matter? An artist's trajectory often starts with group shows. From there, they’ll get picked up by the same gallery or others for a solo exhibition. If you want to get in “on the ground floor” of an artist’s career, group shows are the time to do so.
Without a doubt, my favourite group exhibition right now is at Make Room LA titled “I Go to Seek a Great Perhaps.” From the press release: “Ultimately, the exploration of emergence in this exhibition invites us to reflect on our own journeys of discovery and transformation. The works challenge us to seek our own "Great Perhaps," to embrace the unknown with curiosity and openness, and to recognize the profound interconnectedness of all things.” All things good art should do! Some of the work in the exhibition, like Shana Hoehn’s boat sculpture, feel like literal representations of a journey or introduction to new horizons. While others, like Alice Ningci Jiang, are more metaphorical representations of the theme.
I’ll add my favourite artworks from the exhibition below.
art news etc.
I have a theory about the new Banksy work at the London Zoo: