Natasha Hoare on Yi Zhou @ Hoxton Square

There is something strange going on in Hoxton Square. No, not the emergence of actual grass. No, not a badminton tournament. Rather the beer sodden square is playing host to a small cinema screen with strange wailing and chopping noises emanating from speakers. The reason for this interesting intrusion, which follows that of sculptor Marc Quinn for White Cube, is that chinese, multi media artist Yi Zhou is in town. Thanks to 20 Hoxton Square, her unique, witty and haunting films, which blend 3-D amimation, Illustration and film, are being shown both in the gallery and the scrubby environs of the square.

Natasha Hoare on Alice Neel Exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery

The Whitechapel Gallery’s new show of the paintings by Alice Neel struck me as a slightly strange choice of show for a gallery with such a forward thrusting curatorial line. Her figurative oil paintings from the 1930’s – 1980’s stand outside of mainstream art history and criticism. Whilst the big American muscle of her heyday in the 1950’s was in Abstract Expressionism, she was producing a stream of portraits of the cerebral celebrities of her day. Coming so soon after their Elizabeth Payton show, in which wistful watercolours of Jarvis Cocker et al adorned their walls, I wondered if the Whitechapel hadn’t come over all celebrity worshipful.

I am extremely glad, however, that they have decided to give this travelling show a European home. Fresh from exhibition in Huston, Alice’s paintings are beautifully wrought canvas’s which tell the story of the past 100 years of American domestic culture. From labour movements, to Harlem, the Upper East Side and the domestic space, each reveals the turmoil, strain and joy of the times with an honesty and directness. Their lightness of touch and deftness of form is testimony to her incredibly individual and developed painterly skill. Each figure is a transient and immediate rendering of the inner psychology of the sitter – she never sketched or prepared her images, instead marking straight onto the canvas the blue outlines of the figures.

Where Beats This Human Heart

The art scene in East London is often referred to as underground, suggesting its young and non-commercial nature. This week art in the East End was literally taken underground when the dynamic curatorial trio 'Space In Between' hosted its latest exhibition,'Where Beats This Human Heart,' in a WWII bunker.

It is unbelievable how a space such as this has remained undiscovered for so long. My fascination to experience a true bunker made me wonder whether, unavoidably, the sheer magnitude of it would over power the art work that I had initially been invited to see.

I was quickly assured that was not the case.And, surely 'Where Beats This Human Heart' was a prime example of how art and architecture challenge one another, and, how in this polemic relationship absolute harmony can also be established.

I leave you with some images that capturthe exhibition's highlights.