This weekend’s highlights include Hong Kong’s annual book fair, a pop-art car exhibit to celebrate London’s Cultural Olympiad and the latest album by The Very Best.
1. EXHIBITION: LONDON
—The Tanks, Art in Action
Celebrating the launch of the new Tanks galleries, for the next 15 weeks Art in Action at the Tate Modern will host a varied selection of live performances and events from over 40 artists. Continuing the Tate’s strong international reputation for original exhibition spaces, the Tanks themselves become part of the visual experience. Featuring highlights from prolific Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and a special commission from South Korean Sung Hwan Kim in an immaculately curated and diverse display.
Bankside, London, SE1 9TG. Open Sunday to Thursday 10.00–18:00, Friday to Saturday, 10:00–22.00. Until 28 October
2. BOOK FAIR: HONG KONG
—Hong Kong Book Fair
Of all exhibitions hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the city’s annual Book Fair is a celebrated fixture on every Hong Konger’s calendar. Now into its 23rd edition, this year sees an unprecedented 530 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions – a sign that print media is alive and well in the city. Frenzied book sales are accompanied with a week-long agenda of workshops, talks and other literary activities.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai. Until 24 July
hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/
3. EXHIBITION: LONDON
—Art Drive BMW Car Collection
The Institute of Contemporary Art will this weekend be annexing an East End car park in an exhibition sure to pique the interests of design lovers and car enthusiasts alike. On show for the first time in the UK as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the display includes 16 vehicles adorned by legendary artists from the likes of David Hockney, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons as well as contributions from emerging local talents.
35-45 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch. Open daily 12:00-21:00. Until 4 Augustica.org.uk
4. HOTEL: NEW YORK
—Greenwich Hotel
New Yorker socialites and the well-heeled Tribecans know that having drinks at The Drawing Room or a bite to eat on the sidewalk tables of the adjacent Locanda Verde Italian restaurant is a unique experience, especially during summer when a celebrity (or two) can be spotted strolling around the neighbourhood. But it’s not only the Cosmopolitans and hand-made sorbet that make the Greenwich Hotel special – it’s the rooms; above all the 2,000 sq ft penthouses, exclusive relaxation dens for premium guests.
377 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013
thegreenwichhotel.com
5. MUSIC: GLOBAL
—The Very Best, MTMTMK
The genre-dwarfing musical spread of The Very Best, a band made up of London-based Swedish beatmaker Johan Hugo and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya, means categorisation isn’t easy. What we can say is that the follow-up to 2009’s Warm Heart Of Africa album has ramped up the synthy dancefloor stompers while losing none of the melodic warmth and optimism that made the band so popular. We can also say that jumping from these high-energy odes to global thinking, are stars such as Baaba Maal and Amadou & Mariam on a loud, lighthearted mess of a record unashamedly of its time. It will probably sound terrible in a few years and excellent again in a decade.
MTMTMK is out now
theverybestmusic.com
