As Frieze Week descends on London, the city has come alive with activity - making it a hub for contemporary art lovers. There’s a lot happening around town for those brave enough to venture out of Regents Park, here are five key things to do around the city, from live performances to large-scale installations.
1 - Auto Italia - Hamedine Kane: Salesman of Revolt
Auto Italia presents Salesman of Revolt, the UK debut of Senegalese-Mauritanian artist Hamedine Kane. The exhibition explores themes of exile and migration, featuring Kane’s ongoing research into African modernity and the impact of colonialism. Key works include the site-specific installation Trois Américains à Paris (2024) and woodcut prints from his series Salesman of Revolt (2018), which depict significant moments in the history of African diaspora literature and activism.
Don't miss the in-conversation event with curator Cédric Fauq and Kane on 6 October at 2 pm, where they will discuss the artist’s research and practice
Book tickets:
https://autoitaliasoutheast.org/events/event-in-conversation-with-cedric-fauq-and-hamedine-kane/
2 - ICA - Geumhyung Jeong: Under Construction
The ICA hosts Geumhyung Jeong’s live performance series Under Construction, where the Korean artist, known for her work in robotics and choreography, interacts with self-made animatronic figures. These mechanical bodies, constructed from medical skeletons and DIY electronics, explore the boundary between human and machine.
Jeong’s performances are a dialogue of movement, as she manipulates her mechanical collaborators through physical touch and remote control. The slow, deliberate choreography reveals the quirks of these machines, offering viewers an uncanny reflection on our own relationship with technology. Book your tickets now for scheduled live events throughout Frieze Week at the ICA.
Book tickets:
https://www.ica.art/exhibitions/geumhyung-jeong-under-construction
3 - Camden Arts Centre - Jack O'Brien: Emerging Artist Prize
Camden Arts Centre presents a new commission from Jack O’Brien, the recipient of the 2023 Emerging Artist Prize at Frieze. O’Brien’s work, which often repurposes historical objects, interrogates queer aesthetics and the commodification of desire. His Frieze Focus presentation, Volent, featured a horse-racing carriage tightly bound in industrial polythene, symbolizing both restraint and fetishization.
O’Brien’s practice extends beyond sculpture into painting and drawing, manipulating materials to challenge cultural and historical norms. This exhibition in Gallery Three marks a major milestone in his career, continuing his exploration of the production of desire.
4 - Tate Modern - Mike Kelley Retrospective
Explore the provocative and experimental world of Mike Kelley at the Tate Modern, in a comprehensive retrospective covering his career from the 1970s to 2012. Kelley’s work, which spans found objects, textiles, video, and multimedia installations, challenges societal norms with humor and irreverence. His iconic sculptures made from plush toys and craft materials critique the roles society assigns us through media and culture.
From Kelley’s acclaimed Day Is Done to his collaborative projects with artists like Paul McCarthy, the exhibition reflects on themes of memory, identity, and the complex ways we consume images and narratives.
5 - Frieze Sculpture Park
Head to Regent’s Park for the 12th edition of Frieze Sculpture, curated by Fatoş Üstek. This public art initiative showcases works by 22 leading international artists, including Frances Goodman’s ceramic sculptures, Leonora Carrington’s whimsical piece The Dancer, and Theaster Gates’ interactive installation The Duet.
Frieze Sculpture embraces a diverse range of mediums, from sound and light to performance and video, creating a multi-sensory experience. Explore Frieze Sculpture through curator-led tours, live activations, and an interactive guide on the Bloomberg Connects app—all part of London Sculpture Week.