ART: LONDON
Max Gimblett: Love Conquers All
Now on display at London’s Kashya Hildebrand gallery is the latest collection from New Zealand-born painter Max Gimblett. Eschewing the conventional four-sided frame, Hildebrand’s images think outside the box by using circular and creatively shaped spaces with the artist especially fond of the quatrefoil – a shape made of four circles intersecting at the same point – commonly seen in architecture. In combination with vibrant singular brush strokes in his pieces that are influenced by mythological messages garnered from beliefs ranging from Buddhism to Christianity, it means the now New York-based Gimblett’s vision is truly a meeting point of ideas – and circles.
Kashya Hildebrand, 22 Eastcastle Street. Open Monday to Friday, 11.00-18.00; Saturday, 12.00-18.00. Until 25 January.
kashyahildebrand.org
FILM FESTIVAL: SINGAPORE
Singapore International Film Festival
The Singapore International Film Festival returns for its 25th edition this weekend to showcase the best independent films from the island city-state and overseas. Saturday marks the premiere of native filmmaker Jason Lai’s Ms J Contemplates Her Choice, a gripping psychological thriller starring fellow Singaporean actress and singer Kit Chan. Chan plays a radio presenter faced with a moral dilemma when an on-air caller involves her in a hostage-bargaining situation and tough choices follow. A less tough choice presents itself to film lovers in Singapore – with over 100 titles on show from 50 countries to pick from. But only 9 days left to catch them.
Screening at venues across Singapore. See website for details. Until 14 December.
sgiff.com
DESIGN: MIAMI
Design Miami
Running parallel to Art Basel Miami, the Monocle headline-flummoxing Design Miami event celebrates a 1970s/1980s theme this year. Keep an eye out for first-time participant gallery Edward Cella Art+Architecture from LA, who are bringing stoneware and ceramics from potter Adam Silverman. The art show might be nearby but that hasn’t stopped the artfully named Galleria O crashing the design show. The Rome-based studio represents works by such Italian design luminaries as Gabriella Crespi and Bevilacqua Architects. The latter’s crystal ceiling lamp is a tribute to Italian art deco glassware designer Pietro Chiesa.
Miami Beach Convention Center, Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, Miami Beach. Open Wednesday to Saturday, 12.00-20.00; Sunday, 12.00-18.00.
designmiami.com
ART: DUBAI
EL Seed: Declaration
Tashkeel gallery in Dubai is hosting “calligraffiti” artist (the combination of calligraphy and graffiti) eL Seed’s first solo exhibition in the Middle East this weekend. Declaration fuses the culture of eL Seed’s Tunisian ancestors with the street art of his home city, Paris. On show is a selection of the artist’s work that in the outside world adorns walls from New York to Melbourne spreading eL Seed’s message of peace and unity. Following his most impressive commission to date – the Jara Mosque in the Tunisian city of Gabes – eL Seed has also recently published his first book, Lost Walls: Graffiti Road Trip through Tunisia, which hit shelves earlier this year.
Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba 1. Open Saturday to Thursday, 8.00-22.00. Until 27 December.
tashkeel.org
MUSIC: BRIGHTON
Drill festival
Brighton in the UK is known for its summer take on the SXSW-style citywide festival model – the Great Escape – but this weekend, a far more savvy line-up of the world’s top music talent takes to the stage at Drill festival. The new event has an emphasis on the artier side of rock and will be ushering in a series of unique collaboration between bands. New Yorkers of the moment, Swans, will collaborate with UK post-punk icons Wire on Sunday. Meanwhile, on Saturday catch a performance of Italian prog-rock specialists Goblin playing their celebrated score to horror flick Suspiria at the city’s St Bartholomew’s Church. Other acts across the weekend include recent Mercury Music Prize-winners Young Fathers and London-based beatmaker Gold Panda. With line-ups as strong as this weekend’s inaugural event, perhaps soon everyone will get to know the Drill.
Wristband event at venues across the city. See website for box office.
drillfestival.com
