This weekend check out Asian cinema in Toronto, enjoy art celebrating hidden spaces in Ankara, and catch Afrobeat band Antibalas throughout Europe.
1. FILM: TORONTO
— Reel Asian International Film Festival
This weekend the Reel Asian Film Festival celebrates its 16th edition with an impressive display of films including the Korean blockbuster, Architecture 101 and action-drama Cold Steel, directed by John Woo collaborator, David Wu. This year’s festival seeks to provide awareness of Canada’s diversity with an introspective look at the cultural and social influences of Asian heritage through film.
The Royal, 608 College Street. Feature presentation: Blue Steel, Saturday 10 November, 22.44. Closing Night Gala, Sunday 11 November, 20.15
reelasian.com
2. EXHIBITION: ANKARA
— Burcu Percin: Under the Rose / Under the Walls
Galeri Nev prepares for the New Year with a local contemporary painter Burcu Percin. Launching this weekend, her exhibition Under the Rose / Under the Walls explores abandoned urban spaces as her main theme, bringing out the character of these places by playing with brush stokes, the layout of objects and dimensions of the room. Famed for producing enormous oil paintings, Percin’s new line of canvases for Galeri Nev are a warped reality of almost photographic quality.
Galeri Nev, Gezegen sokak 5, Gaziosmanpasa 06700. Open Monday to Saturday 11.00-19.00. Until 1 December
galerinev.com
3. FOOD: NEW YORK
— L & W Oyster Co
Casual New England clam shack by day, classy New York oyster bar by night, L & W Oyster Co opened its doors this week just steps away from Madison Square Park in Manhattan. Run by the owners of Almond, the American bistro located a few blocks away, the restaurant presents dishes concocted by chef David Belknap, formerly of Per Se. Lobster BLT and smoked bluefish fondue will feature on the upcoming lunch menu, while a selection of oysters from the East and West Coast can already be slurped for dinner, accompanied by a Martini.
254 Fifth Avenue, between 28th and 29th Streets. Dinner 18.00-23.00, lunch starts mid-November
landwoyster.com
4. EXHIBITION: LONDON
— Floris Neusüss: Ancient and Modern
A stone’s throw from Monocle’s London headquarters on Dorset Street in Marylebone is the picture-perfect Atlas Gallery. This weekend the intimate space will host the work of German photographic pioneer Floris Neusüss. Neusüss’s work draws heavily on the photogram, a camera-less technique that places objects in front of light-sensitive paper to create bold and colourful silhouettes. The exhibition includes a selection of images from nudes to ancient Greek statues that convey the dreamlike quality of the artist’ innovative work.
49 Dorset Street, Marylebone. Open Saturday 11.00-17.00, Monday to Friday 10.00-18.00. Until 12 January 2013
atlasgallery.com
5. MUSIC: FRANCE/UK
— Antibalas live dates
The shuffling, infectious rhythms of Afrobeat don’t always come from Africa and one of the world’s most celebrated specialists in the genre are Brooklyn’s Antibalas. They’re in France this weekend, bringing their 10-plus-members ensemble to locations including Agen’s Florida venue on Saturday, La Rochelle’s La Sirene on Sunday, before crossing the channel to play London on Wednesday. So make an effort to be at one of the shows for a celebration of soulful, danceable funk from Africa, because Antibalas brought all the way from the US.
Antibalas are on tour throughout November. Check their website for more dates
[antibalas.com])http://antibalas.com/)
