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So many exhibitions have opened in the last few months, I feel like I’m still trying to catch up with them all - and for every five I visit it feels like there are five I’ve missed. Though I am looking forward to taking an evening off exhibitions for the Londonist 20th birthday party this week, make sure you have your tickets.
I’ve seen a lot of exhibitions in the last week and in this newsletter, I have:
A varied top 5 exhibitions to see this month
Applications for the Discerning Eye open call can now be submitted
Londonist has published 20 great things about London and I’ve written about London’s galleries for the piece
Thanks as always for keeping tabs on me, and have a great week ahead.
A paid subscription to Londonist Urban Palette costs £5 a month or £45 a year. If you’re enjoying the newsletter, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription to keep it going - plus you’ll get regular bonus newsletters, with more interviews, reviews, insights and stories I’m excited about from the London visual arts world.
Tab’s World
My latest articles and events for your reading pleasure.
From a powerful film to stories of migration, this week’s top 5 on FAD are as varied as ever.
Organised by fellow critic and Substacker
, I’ve visited the Contemporary British Portrait Painter’s exhibition in Brixton and selected one artist I’d like to paint my portrait. You can read how I and my fellow writers made our choices on the website.Plus, catch up on editions of my new bonus newsletter for paid subscribers, including:
A look at a work so controversial it was attacked twice
Exhibition review: Fragile Beauty at V&A
The Top Art Podcasts to Listen To - We’ve got your commute covered
Impressive Expressionism at Tate Modern
Click below to see all the subscription options, and a big thank you to everybody who’s supporting the newsletter already - couldn’t do it without you!
I’m a proud trustee of Discerning Eye and its open call to all artists is now open. Time to apply or let someone know who should apply.
I’ve also contributed to this 20 things we love about London article for Londonist - no prizes for guessing that my entry related to galleries.
Tab’s Weeks Ahead
Highlighting my top events for the weeks ahead. Let me know if you'd like to join me!
Londonist is turning 20 and to celebrate we’re having a party and you’re all invited. It’s ticketed and that includes two drinks, plus a chance to meet the wonderful team behind Londonist. Wednesday 12 June, £15.
My Saturday plans aren't fixed yet, but I’m aiming to visit the open studios at Thames-side in Woolwich. All are welcome to join me, just drop me a line (or DM me on Substack) and I'll share the full itinerary with you so you can drop in at any point throughout the day. Saturday 15 June, 11am-5pm.
The Wider Arts
Here are my top picks of culture that may be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. Paid subscribers have access to my full back catalogue of recommendations.
LEGAL DRAMA (FILM): A woman is on trial for possibly pushing her husband out of a window in Anatomy of a Fall. The only witness is her partially sighted son in this brilliantly acted and gripping winner of last year’s Palme d’Or. On Prime.
HUMOROUS NOVEL: How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie is a hilarious novel about a woman who decides to kill members of her estranged family. The dark humour of her inner monologue is brilliant and despite the fact she is committing multiple murders it makes you warm to her deadly plans. The links go through to my online bookshop and you can follow me on Goodreads here.
NATURE DOCUMENTARY SERIES: Life on Our Planet uses impressive effects to show the fascinating history of life on our planet from the very first life forms, via the dinosaurs, the earliest mammals and right through to today. Plus it’s narrated by Morgan Freeman and I’d happily listen to him talk about anything. On Netflix.
Articles I’m Reading
Interesting stories that I recommend, largely from beyond the art world. If you fancy reading offline at another time, I recommend the app Pocket.
This is a selection of articles I found thought-provoking in one way or another; opinions expressed in the articles don’t necessarily reflect my own views or those of Londonist. Paid subscribers have access to my full back catalogue of recommendations.
COMEDY ON TV: Is canned laughter the most hated sound on television? The Atlantic investigates in a 7 minute read. With Curb Your Enthusiasm coming to an end The Ringer looks at How Larry David Made Magic in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ (10 minutes) and The New York Times gives us Larry David’s Rule Book for How (Not) to Live in Society (19 minutes). GQ answers the question of How Did Frasier Afford His Apartment? (6 minutes) and The Simpsons debunks its own fan theories (2 minutes on Mental Floss). Sticking with Mental Floss it looks at How An Obscure British Comedy Sketch Became The World’s Most Repeated TV Program (4 minutes).
COLOUR: Knowable takes us inside the science of how we perceive colour (19 minutes) and Aeon looks at how new research is uncovering the hidden differences in how people experience the world (18 minutes) and this one will divide people - what colour is a tennis ball - yellow or green? (9 minutes). BBC shows us why your favourite colour is probably blue and CNN shows us how the colour purple was accidentally discovered in fashion (4 minutes). Finally, The Hustle asks who chooses the world’s Colour of the Year? (9 minutes).
FASHION & CLOTHING: The New Yorker has a great story on the man who invented 1,500 necktie knots (17 minutes), New York Magazine looks at an idea that stuck: how George de Mestral Invented the Velcro Fastener and Guardian examines how Adidas Sambas took over the world (5 minutes). Business Insider takes a peek at how flash fads took over the world (5 minutes) and Atmos shows us Why One H&M Skirt Travelled 15,000 Miles After It Was Brought Back to the Store (8 minutes).