RA Magazine's pick of this week’s art events (22 – 28 June)

Posted: 21 June 2012 by Sam Phillips

Mark Wallinger
Until 14 October 2012
British conceptualist Mark Wallinger gained some richly deserved recognition in 2007 by winning the Turner Prize. At Gateshead’s Baltic today he unveils four major new works (three extra-large-scale installations and one film) that collectively amount to the largest exhibition by the artist in the UK in the last decade. Wallinger’s abiding interest in how we classify the world around us continues in pieces such as 10000000000000000 (2012), an immense black-and-white checkerboard that features 65,536 stones, each of its squares occupied by a different stone.

Mark Wallinger, 'Study for 10000000000000000', 2012. © and courtesy the artist.

Francis Bacon, 'Head VI', 1949. Oil on canvas. 93.2 x 76.5 cm. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London. © The estate of Francis Bacon. All Rights Reserved, DACS. Francis Bacon to Paula Rego
23 June – 16 September 2012

Abbot Hall in Kendal, Cumbria, presents sparkling examples of modern and contemporary British painting from this Saturday, drawn from both their own holdings and national major collections.

All the leading lights of the School of London are represented, such as Michael Andrews, Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon (the Arts Council lends the latter’s Head VI, 1949, one of his chilling series of screaming Popes), and the exhibition contrasts these modern masters with the generation that has followed, including Paula Rego and Christopher Le Brun PRA.

Carlson Gallery
25 June – 30 July 2012

Milanese contemporary art dealer Massimo De Carlo is one of Europe’s most influential gallerists, representing international artists that range from the well-established to the newly prominent. He has been steadily building a presence in London, having opened a space on Heddon Street under the name Carlson Gallery in 2009.

This Monday sees the inauguration of another Carlson Gallery at 55 South Audley Street, Mayfair, although renovation work has not taken place for the opening exhibition by Californian artist Kaari Upson – September will see the premises, formerly an office and carpet shop, converted into a high-spec space.

Diane Arbus
26 June – 17 August 2012

Timothy Taylor Gallery in London’s West End focuses from Tuesday on the New York portrait photographer Diane Arbus (1923–71) with an exhibition of 32 of her works, several of which have never been exhibited before in this country.

Arbus achieved notoriety in the 1960s for turning her camera lens to society’s outsiders: the disadvantaged, disabled and marginalised. But as the title of the show ‘Affinities’ suggest, rather than criticising difference she empathetically examines her subjects’ common humanity.

Alexander Calder, 'Ohne Titel' (Merry Christmas), 1972. Gouache and ink on cardboard. 30 ½ x 22 ¾ inches / 77.5 x 58 cm. Alexander Calder
Last chance: Until 30 June 2012

If you’re close to Hyde Park or Kensington over the next week, make sure you drop in on Crane Kalman Gallery before their small exhibition of Alexander Calder tapestries and gouaches ends on Saturday 30 June.

The American-born Surrealist’s works in two dimensions, characterised by semi-figurative geometric shapes, have the same animated energy as the magical mobile pieces for which he is best known.

Royal Academician shows opening this week:

Newly elected RA Jock McFadyen shows at The Fine Art Society (27 June – 17 July 2012), a solo show of Tony Cragg opens at Cass Sculpture Foundation (21 June – 4 November 2012), Richard Long shows two new works at Hepworth Wakefield (23 June – 14 October 2012) and Jenny Saville's first UK solo show opens at Modern Art Oxford (23 June – 16 September).

_{From left to right: Jock McFadyen RA, 'Cable Street', 2011. Oil on canvas, 146 x 122cm; Richard Long RA, portrait taken at Abbot Hall. Photo: Tony West. Image courtesy the artist and Abbot Hall; Jenny Saville RA in her Oxford studio, working on a large drawing for her show at Modern Art Oxford. Photo © Eamonn McCabe; Tony Cragg RA, 'Current Version', 2010. Fiberglass, 335x152x147 cm. © Tony Cragg studio. Courtesy the artist and Cass Sculpture Foundation.}