EXHIBITION: SÃO PAULO
Magnus Plessen
Hamburg-born artist Magnus Plessen’s first solo exhibition in Brazil is a visual tease. The collection of six main canvases along with smaller works explores human relationships by giving paintings different appearances when viewed from near or far. “Narcissus”, based on a Greek myth about vanity, first appears to be based around a striking source of light, yet up close is revealed to be a surreal facial portrait. Plessen’s work reminds viewers to find their own perspective on familiar sights, whether that’s light, darkness, a figure or a face.
White Cube São Paulo, Rua Agostinho Rodrigues Filho 550. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11.00-19.00. Until 24 August.
whitecube.com
FILM FESTIVAL: CYPRUS
Lemesos International Documentary Festival
The eighth edition of the Lemesos International Documentary Festival brings a selection of 27 documentaries to the big screen of Theatro Ena in the heart of Cyprus’s second-largest city, Limassol. This Sunday, US film director Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing documents the brutal actions of Indonesia’s most notorious death squad after the overthrow of the Sukarno regime during the 1960s. The film won best documentary at the Danish Film Academy 2013.
Theatro Ena, B Municipal Market, Limassol. See website for full schedule. Until 8 August.filmfestival.com.cy
PHOTOGRAPHY: HONG KONG
From Su Shi to Bada Shanren
Hong Kong artist anothermountainman’s (or Stanley Wong, as he also known) latest exhibition From Su Shi to Bada Shanren is a photographic series recreating the iconography of classical Chinese painting. The images allude to stylistic references from historic literary and art figure Su Shi, who used to write and paint on bamboo, and Bada Shanren, a master painter from the late Ming to early Qing dynasties. Wong’s photographs both revere yet subtly subvert the classics, creating new work while refining old sentiments.
Blindspot Gallery, 24-26A, Aberdeen Street, Central. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11.00-19.00 and closed on public holidays. Until 24 August.
blindspotgallery.com
ART: BERLIN
Cycle No. 3
Berlin is the third and final chapter of a series of art exhibitions in Jakarta and New York by Indonesian artist Agus Suwage. Through the use of mixed-media installations and paintings, Suwage invites viewers to explore the three aspects of a cycle – life, death and renewal. Ranging from macabre charcoal drawings to playful sculptures that incorporate elements of his own past works to signify renewed ideas, one might expect a show with death as a central theme to be downbeat. Cycle No. 3 is anything but, thanks to an artist who is able to stare the subject in the face, and crack a smile.
ARNDT, Potsdamer Strasse 96, Berlin. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11.00-18.00. Until 31 August.
arndtberlin.com
FESTIVAL: TORONTO
The Grove Music Festival
Taking over the wide open green of Garrison Common at Toronto’s historic Fort York this Saturday, is a selection of the world’s finest indie, electronic and hip-hop acts playing The Grove Music Festival. On a refreshingly manageable yet talent-packed roster, music lovers can check out sounds ranging from the smart dancefloor pop of London’s Hot Chip, to California slacker-pop guitar act Wavves. The evening closes with those French festival favourites, Phoenix, but get down there early to hear the energetic melodies of Toronto locals Nightbox kicking things off in the afternoon.
Fort York National Historic Site, 100 Garrison Road. Doors open 13.30. Saturday 3 August.
thegrovefest.com
