Art Review: This is London @ Shizaru Gallery

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 139 months ago
Art Review: This is London @ Shizaru Gallery
tpajax-sideveiw-001.jpg
hyo-myoung-kim-dancing-to-aphex-twin-courtesy-of-the-artist-and-the-shizaru-gallery-001.jpg
Alex Hoda, Breathcrystal. Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
Alex Hoda, Breathcrystal. Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
James Capper 'Miller e'. Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
James Capper 'Miller e'. Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
Idris Khan 'St.Pauls'. Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
Idris Khan 'St.Pauls'. Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
Bouke de Vries 'The Olympic Spirit (it's not the winning, it's the taking part). Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery
Bouke de Vries 'The Olympic Spirit (it's not the winning, it's the taking part). Courtesy of the artist and the Shizaru Gallery

London has such a diverse and evolving art scene — can one exhibition ever capture it fully? The Whitechapel Gallery has tried at its London Open, and now it's the turn of the Shizaru gallery.

The work varies from Soheila Sokhanvari's taxidermy horse holding what appears to be a giant plastic brain between its legs, to Vicky Wright who paints directly on the frame or a crate that would normally hold a painting.

As so often found with London artists, a dark and playful sense of humour is present here. Bouke de Vries has created gold, silver and bronze versions of the crucifixion upon a podium. It is a nod to both the Olympics and the supplanting of religion by sport in modern society.

Also of note are Idris Khan's spectral sketch of St Paul's and David Esser's 'Fired Up', which writes these words with old wires that are anything but full of energy. David Harrison has painted a set of famous London landmarks on a sculpture of a fox — the urban fox being as much a feature of London as its skyline.

As with any groups show, every visitor will find pieces that they like and those they don't, but with over 60 works on display this is a solid exhibition of London artists.

This is London is on at Shizaru gallery until 112 Mount Street, W1K 2TU until 28 September. Admission is free.

Last Updated 01 August 2012