What do contemporary artists Mona Hatoum, Yinka Shonibare and Adel Abdessemed have in common?
They've all shown at Parasol Unit, one of London's finer contemporary-art galleries. Housed in a former furniture factory in Islington (next to Victoria Miro's space), Parasol was founded 11 years ago by the Iranian-born curator Ziba Ardalan (pictured).
Ziba is unusual in more ways than one. For one thing, she has kept her name off the gallery that she funds and runs. Secondly, Parasol is a not-for-profit; artists show without worrying about whether they sell or not. Thirdly, the works are subtly chosen and displayed. For those of us overdosing on bad art, Parasol is a breath of fresh air.
Ending soon at Ziba's gallery is a fun show by Los Carpinteros, the Cuban artist collective, who riff playfully on their island's recent history. In '17m' (below), more than 200 men's suit jackets hang on a 17-meter-long clothing rail. All have a star cut out at chest level, shaped like the star of the Cuban flag. If you look into the aperture in the first suit, you can see all the way through the other end.
Ziba is unusual in more ways than one. For one thing, she has kept her name off the gallery that she funds and runs. Secondly, Parasol is a not-for-profit; artists show without worrying about whether they sell or not. Thirdly, the works are subtly chosen and displayed. For those of us overdosing on bad art, Parasol is a breath of fresh air.
Ending soon at Ziba's gallery is a fun show by Los Carpinteros, the Cuban artist collective, who riff playfully on their island's recent history. In '17m' (below), more than 200 men's suit jackets hang on a 17-meter-long clothing rail. All have a star cut out at chest level, shaped like the star of the Cuban flag. If you look into the aperture in the first suit, you can see all the way through the other end.
(Installation view at Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, 2015. Photographer: Jack Hems. Courtesy of Parasol unit)
Next up at Parasol: the first major U.K. show devoted to the Icelandic artist Katrin Sigurdardottir, whose work has been exhibited at the Met and the Venice Biennale. Her exhibition basically consists of a grotto-like sculpture so tall and bulky, it will cut through a gallery ceiling.
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art is at:
14 Wharf Road / London / N1 7RW
020 7490 7373 / [email protected]
Next up at Parasol: the first major U.K. show devoted to the Icelandic artist Katrin Sigurdardottir, whose work has been exhibited at the Met and the Venice Biennale. Her exhibition basically consists of a grotto-like sculpture so tall and bulky, it will cut through a gallery ceiling.
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art is at:
14 Wharf Road / London / N1 7RW
020 7490 7373 / [email protected]
