June Art Gallery Highlights

Growth, Soojin Kang at UNIT9 opens Thursday 1^st June until 2^nd July

Three large pods woven from linen, silk and jute are suspended full-height occupying the space of the gallery. A hybrid between organic and alien forms, they look lightweight and present themselves as welcoming and soothing cocoons despite their rough finish. Reminiscent of giant plant pods and insect nests, each form has a muted colour with fibers and threads that let us see through. Soojin Kang (b. 1978, Seoul) graduated with an MA in textiles from Central St. Martins in 2009. Her work focuses on sculptural textiles and weaved materials. Her objects offer humble beauty with an emphasis on the handmade, imperfect and unfinished.

Things That Soak You: Laura Aldridge, Rana Begum, Francis Upritchard & Bethan Laura Wood at Kate McGarry opens Friday 2^nd June until 15^th July

A playful approach to sculpture and materials. From Bethan Laura Wood’s oversized shrimp and eggs in the shape of cake-like creations in pastel colours to Rana Begum’s investigations on how light and colour affect form. I visited Rana in her studio a few weeks ago and you can see more of her work here. Francis Upritchard is also included with two sculptures. Her work is currently included in Viva Arte Viva, The 57th Venice Biennale. If you want to have a deeper look at her work, this article will help.

31 Women at Breese Little opens Friday 2^nd June until 31^st July

31 Women channels the pioneering spirit of the exhibition at Peggy Guggenheim’s New York gallery in 1943. 31 Women combines works by successive generations of artists from the 1940s to the present day. The exhibition sets itself to a testing exercise, the survey of nearly 80 years of art history through the work of prominent artists today, from the emerging to the established. Starting with early works from the 40s when Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism co-existed in New York, the exhibition explores two thematic threads. The first, embracing introspective ideas: the psychological, instinctual and erotic. The second, establishing a continuity of artistic propositions focused on formal qualities and abstraction.  The success in this group show is in the loving choices of artworks. At the entrance of the gallery, a heartfelt letter written and framed by Tracey Emin from 1996 serves as a prelude.