Art Exhibitions Live in Aberdeen – food for your mind & soul, right on your doorstep
by Rory Buccheri
courtesy of Aberdeen Art Gallery
The roar of the thunder. The anxiety of the unexpected. The cries for help when the rest of humanity is not listening. There is nothing new under the sun, nothing to see here. Nothing the arts – be they visual, musical, literary – have not explored. Raw and indistinct, follow that sound. Follow it wherever it takes you. Cherish the sky above your head not turning red, and step into a gallery.
Make art, not war. See art, not war. Choose art, not war.
Peacock & the worm – Dark Nights, Bright Stars
Bringing Spanish artist Miguel Benlloch to the UK galleries for the first time, this exhibition, small but taut, is a pleasure for the eyes and the soul. Looking at Benlloch’s works one feels in the presence of a prophet, an artist capable of using the many languages of art to challenge, provoke, and create. As far back as the 70s, his eye touches on all things queer, free, and politically invested. And if you think it’s easy now, it certainly wasn’t during post-Franco Spain. From the video footage of Benlloch’s happenings and performances to the display of his letters and other paper belongings, the exhibition covers, in a short span, a lot of ground. Yet nothing of the true essence of his art is lost or compromised. Benlloch’s cultural activism sees him enmeshed in the texture of places, orthodox and unorthodox alike, creating art. Who says where art can or can’t happen? You are sure to see him preaching and creating in ‘the street, the club, the gallery’. One of my favourite items on display is Crucigrama (2022), after Crucigrama contra la guerra (1995) – a visual puzzle of letters and poetry about the political reality of war zones, the words of conflict and the stigma they carry. Now more than ever, this piece should make you shudder…and think. If you don’t believe is an unmissable opportunity yet, I will reiterate that this is the first time the UK sees Miguel Benlloch’s works, and it is happening right here in Aberdeen. Even better: it’s taking place in a gallery and workshop space tucked in the heart of the citycentre. The workshop aspect is something thrilling in itself: Peacock offers a variety of exciting events and opportunities if you want to get creative, from RISO printing, to silk screen and etching workshops. Not just a place worth visiting, a place worth staying.
4th FEB- 26TH MAR / FREE ENTRY
Benlloch’s cultural activism sees him enmeshed in the texture of places, orthodox and unorthodox alike, creating art. Who says where art can or can’t happen? You are sure to see him preaching and creating in ‘the street, the club, the gallery’.
courtesy of Peacock & the worm
Sir Duncan Rice Library Gallery – News from Museum and Special Collections
Two years and a half later, the tiny yet magical space inside the Gallery has come back to its splendour. No more empty white walls! From now on, you can see them filled with tokens of what the Museum and Special Collections at UoA has achieved in the past years. It is clear from the things on display that they working behind the scenes to achieve great things: from the uplifting pandemic re-makes of paintings in the collections, to the glorious footage of the restitution of the Benin Bronze that took place last November. No more a hollow, silent space! The pitter-patter of students stepping in during their study breaks, chatting and browsing, is coming back to make SDR Gallery a place of happy sounds again. The Gallery is a key touchpoint between the student and staff population and the magnificent objects our University collection has to show. If you haven’t been yet, that’s ok. Times have been tough, and that wee space has been empty for a while. But now it’s your time. Now you can enjoy a trip to memory lane within 4 walls, a reminder of all the good things that happened in that enchanting space (and indeed in our University) before covid-19 shut everything down. From the Canaletto discovery, to the splendid prints of Audubon’s Walking with Birds, to…well, another hundred examples of what makes our Collections truly Special.
courtesy of Museums and Special Collections.
FREE ENTRY
Now you can enjoy a trip to memory lane within 4 walls, a reminder of all the good things that happened in that enchanting space (and indeed in our University) before covid-19 shut everything down.
AAG – Zandra Rhodes: 50 Years of Fabulous
Centred around the life and works of iconic British designer Zandra Rhodes, this exhibition is a real treat for people interested in textiles and fashion design. If you aren’t one of those but are still keen on seeing dazzling dresses on display, then I suggest you pay the Art Gallery a visit. Even when you are not a connoisseur, the exhibition sparks curiosity about how the world of fabric design met haute couture. Dame Zandra is the worthy centrepiece: she is a truly charismatic character, and her colourful personality is often capable of stealing the scene of her colourful dresses.
Highlights of the exhibition include: a luscious display of hanging fabrics creating a corridor of colour (pictured below), video material accompanied by an 80s-90s inspired upbeat playlist, and, of course, a hundred dresses of various colours, shapes and forms, each with its own unique story. What are you waiting for? Try it on, it might be just the right fit.
27th NOV - 20TH MAR / ENTRY: £7 Students & Concessions
