| |
<<previous reviews
REVIEWS - May 2005:
Keisuke Kishi
|
|
The Art of Keisuke Kishi:
Amazing 3D Figures and Computer Graphic Designs
Showing until 22 May 2005
Oxo Gallery
Oxo Tower Wharf
Bargehouse Street
South Bank London SE1 9PH
Admission: FREE
Open 11am-6pm daily
|
This is sure to be the first of many exhibitions in the UK for Japanese artist Keisuke Kishi. As part of the 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges official events, the Oxo gallery has been taken over by a series of magical handmade robotic creations that stand from 15 cm to a meter tall. Kishi magically combines traditional Japanese motifs with futuristic graphic illusions in this exhibition which includes digital art, 3 short animated projections, a group of spectacular creatures which are long extinct as well as a series of incredible robots which range in profession from accountant and toy seller to rain (illustration) and wind makers.
His premise is that this is an exhibition about what the world would be like today if we’d had robots from 400 years ago.
Kishi not only demonstrates a formidably creative mind but the detail and care with which his creations have been crafted and painted allows you to see both a functional creature and an art sculpture in each of his pieces.
This is definitely one not to be missed, and judging from the delight of child and adult visitors alike, the robots will certainly be back in the UK soon.
ize.
|
| |
World Press Photo
Royal Festival Hall
Exhibition Foyer, Level 2
Admission: FREE
6 May –June 5th 2005
World Press Photo is run as an independent, non-profit organization. Its mission is to encourage high professional standards in photojournalism and to promote a free and unrestricted exchange of information. 2005 marks its 50th anniversary.
Promotional activities include an annual contest and the prize-winning photographs are assembled into a travelling exhibition which is currently on display at the Royal Festival Hall in the foyer.
For three years now I have been drawn to this annual event. It is a struggle between wanting to pay tribute to photographers who risk their lives to show the rest of the world what is happening in war-torn and disaster struck places and the knowledge that many of the photos will be harrowing. The photographs are stunning not simply because of the technical skill but also for the human aspect. The introduction to the exhibitions speaks of wanting to make the people who come to see these photos think, and that it certainly does.
The winning picture this year captures in the corner the swollen forearm of a victim of the Tsunami lying on a beach with a focus on the mourning female relative beside him with her palms to the sky and her cheek on the sand. There are photos of the tragedies that were mourned widely around the world such as the aftermath of the Beslan School number one occupation and the Tsunami, as well as the smaller-scale tragedies that might be missed such as would-be immigrants being saved off the coast of the canary island where many drown, women who have suffered domestic violence captured next to the weapon used on them, snapshot of a young Danish sex worker’s life as she tries on a revealing outfit gifted by a client and she injects her friend with heroin in her throat, the destruction of 200 shacks by fire in a Sao Paolo favela.
Other pictures are a tribute to the force of nature from desert sandstorms to tornados. It is not all sorrow though, there are impressive photos of the Olympics and the Paralympics with great underwater shots and artistic gymnastic ones as well as a touching record of the successful operation which separated conjoined twins Jade and Erin Buckles.
Through the powerful snapshot of world events during the last twelve months, this exhibitions captures and presents us with the best and the worst in us. It would be deceitful to say you walk away with joy but it certainly is not ‘empty handed’ that you leave. Many images stay with you and questions arise.
|
a sun spread out...
