This weekend see photography and design combined in Taipei, learn the art of sushi in the UK, and enjoy soulful singer Cold Specks in Hamburg.
1. ART: LONDON
—Martin McGinn – Volume 1
Opened in Summer 2012, The Piper Gallery just north of London’s Oxford Street is committed to longevity and focuses on contemporary artists who have been dedicated to their craft for 40 years or more. This weekend it plays host to London-based artist Martin McGinn, whose provocative reworkings of classic paintings are also held in collections including the Contemporary Art Society and the Saatchi Gallery. McGinn’s latest exhibition, entitled Volume 1 examines the notion of reproduction through his depiction of art-history books as still-life paintings.
The Piper Gallery, 18 Newman Street. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00-18.00.
Until 8 February.
thepipergallery.com
2. FILM: UK
—Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is finally hitting screens in the UK this weekend. New York-born director David Gelb’s artfully rendered documentary follows the story of 85-year-old sushi chef Jiro Ono. The feature focuses on his intimate, 10-seat restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo – the first of its kind to receive three Michelin stars (and an eight-month waiting list for reservations if you’re thinking of swinging by). The film documents the aging chef’s pursuit of perfection and also explores the pressure placed on his eldest son and heir-apparent Yoshikazu.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is now at cinemas across the UK.
sodapictures.com/cinema/200
3. PHOTOGRAPHY: TAIPEI
—Medium
Xue Xue Institute, a platform for international design in Taipei opens a new exhibition this weekend, Medium, a collaboration between industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa and renowned commercial and advertorial photographer Tamotsu Fujii. The exhibition showcases Fukasawa’s classic design pieces with Fujii’s photographs and also collaborations between the two. For emerging talents, the Institute will also be holding a lecture on Saturday with Taiwanese photographer Simon Chang joining Fukasawa and Fujii (online registration required).
Xue Xue Institute Building, 207, Tiding Boulevard Sec 2, Neihu District. Open Monday to Sunday 10.00-19.30. Until 31 August.
xuexue.tw/medium
4. EXHIBITION: ANKARA
—Ali Kotan: Have We Taken Refuge Within Timelessness
Ankara’s Siyah Beyaz Art Gallery welcomes the latest works by award-winning local artist Ali Kotan. The Have We Taken Refuge Within Timelessness exhibit showcases paintings from Kotan’s white series, which has been in the making for the past two years. Siyah Beyaz and Ali Kotan have been working together since 1988; since then Kotan has won six regional awards and had over 20 solo exhibitions. His latest reflects Kotan’s idea of personality in constant struggle with time and culture.
Galeri Siyah Beyaz, Kavaklidere Sokak, Sili Meydani. Open Monday to Saturday, 11.00-19.00. Until 13 February.
galerisiyahbeyaz
5. MUSIC: GERMANY
—Cold Specks
One of 2012’s best albums came from London-based soulful singer-songwriter Cold Specks – aka Al Spyx, who plays a collection of dates across Germany in the coming week starting in Hamburg on Saturday. Raised in Etobicoke Toronto, Spyx’s sound has been described as “doom soul” by slightly ambitious critics. But to our ears it sounds like sparse, sober, yet heartfelt music arranged around beautiful vocals from a long-lost Aretha Franklin demo. If only that could happen every year.
Cold Specks is at Knust in Hamburg on Saturday 12 January, playing shows across Germany until 18 January. See website for more dates.
coldspecks.com
