David Hockney Autumn Trees. 2008.
2016 has been interesting year in the art world, from the controversial Berlin Biennale to the Whitney Museum’s “Open Plan” exhibition. Nevertheless, 2017 promises to be even better, with upcoming exhibitions from Wolfgang Tillmans, Bill Viola and David Hockney, as well as the Venice Biennale and a Queer British retrospective at Tate Britain. Below is a round-up of the best upcoming exhibitions to look forward to in 2017.
Wolfgang Tillmans At The Tate Modern
Freischwimmer 93′. 2004. Wolfgang Tilmanns.
Fourteen years after his last major exhibition at the Tate Britain, Tillmans’ next show at the museum will look at the groundbreaking work that followed his debut appearance. Running from 15 February until 11 June, the exhibition will show how the photographer has diversified his portfolio to include music, projections, abstractions and magazine work.
David Hockney At The Tate Britain
This unmissable David Hockney exhibition will span over six decades of his work, including never-seen-before paintings, drawings and photographs. Running from 9 February until 29 May, the sheer range available makes this one of the most essential upcoming exhibitions all year.
Queer British Art At The Tate Britain
Coming 50 years after male homosexuality was legalised, the Tate Britain is offering a deeper look at what constituted queer identity from its definition in the 19th Century until its eventual decriminalisation. Moving from the personal to the political, this collection of works from artists as distinguished as John Singer Sargent and Dora Carrington will shed a light on trans, gay and lesbian lives during a time of intense oppression. It will run from 5 April to 1 October.
Abstract Impressionism At The Bilbao Guggenheim
Yellow Islands, 1952. Jackson Pollock
Currently running at the Royal College of Arts, this collection of Post-War art from artists as revolutionary as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and William De Koonig will be on display at the Bilbao Guggenheim from 3 February to 4 June. Curator Dr David Anfam has labelled it a highly important event, stating that: “‘Abstract Expressionism’ will explore this vast phenomenon in depth and across different media, revealing both its diversity and continuities as it constantly pushed towards extremes. It will bring together some of the most iconic works from around the world in a display that is unlikely to be repeated in our lifetime.”
The Venice Biennale
Generally considered to be the glitziest Biennale of them all, Venice 2017 promises to be a stand-out event. The years theme is “Viva Arte Viva” (Live Life) and looks to counter and comment upon today’s uncertain world. As curator Christine Macel, puts it, “More than ever, the role, the voice and the responsibility of the artist are crucial in the framework of contemporary debates.” It runs from 17 May to 26 November and features artists as distinguished as Phyllida Barlow, representing Britain, Tracey Moffat, representing Australia, and Mark Bradford, who is representing The USA.
Documenta 14
A quinquennial event designed to showcase the best in modern and contemporary art, documenta 14 takes place between Kessel, Germany and Athens, Greece from 8 April to 16 July. It looks to highlight the importance of art in a time of makeshift refugee camps and political instability. Curator Adam Szymczyk has said the event aims to promote “the possibility of working together towards scenarios that offer strategies against the dominant modes and modalities of passivity, control, terror”. Famed for keeping its list of participants under wraps until just before the exhibition begins, the attendance for documenta has been growing larger and larger with each instalment.
Hannah Black At The Chisenhale Gallery
https://vimeo.com/85791107
Marking her debut solo exhibition, Hannah Black will be hitting the Chisenhale Gallery from 15 September to 10 December. Known for her work in video and sculpture, as well as a prolific essayist, the Berlin artist Hannah Black‘s work is marked by its interrogation of representation by looking at how bodies, identity, race and power intersect, all the time drawing from her personal experience as a means of understanding.
Raymond Pettibon At The New Museum
With thousands of drawings to his name, this long-gestating survey of Pettibon’s work is a long time overdue. With a unique style that expertly straddles the line between image and text, this major retrospective — which will run at The New Museum from 2nd February to the 16th April — is not worth missing.
Istanbul Biennale
Always with an emphasis on dialogue between audience and artists, the Istanbul Bienalle has been slowly growing in esteem. With curators Elmgreen & Dragset focusing on the timely concept of “a good neighbour” the biennale will run from 16th September to the 12 November.
Accra: Portraits Of A City At ANO
Deo Gratias Studio, Accra, Ghana. 1922. J.K Bruce Vanderpuije.
The first exhibition to take place in the recently built ANO space in Accra, it creates an artistic map of the city through methods such as installation, sculpture and film. With work from J.K. Bruce Vanderpuije, Mae Ling Lokko and Latifah Idriss, it opens on the 4th March 2017.