Saskia Olde Wolbers, Pareidolia, 2011 Saskia Olde Wolbers’ twelve-minute video work Pareidolia currently on display at Maureen Paley is based on the following story: in the 1930s a German university professor called Cassar moves to Japan where he meets the Zen bowery master Okakura. Fascinated with ‘all things Japanese and Zen’, Professor Cassar felt that…
Hisaji Hara, A Study of ‘Therese’, 2009 and Balthus, Therese, 1938 The provocative paintings of the French-Polish artist Balthus are the starting point for Japanese photographer Hisaji Hara’s visually arresting photographs currently on display at the Michael Hoppen Gallery. Like in Balthus’ work, the photographs are deeply voyeuristic, sexually suggestive, and fetishistic. As their titles…
Anouk Kruithof, ‘Wall of fading memory’, 2012 Tucked away at the back of Hewett Street in Shoreditch, B&N Gallery, which opened its doors in October last year, was the venue for Dutch artist Anouk Kruithof’s first solo exhibition in the UK. Kruithof, better known for her innovative photographic portraits and limited edition artist’s books, made…