Piers Secunda, Alderney: The Holocaust on British Soil
15 March – 16 April
Arc Gallery, Cromwell Place
Piers Secunda’s exhibition is the result of three years of extensive research into the Nazi occupation of the Channel Island, Alderney, in World War II. During which time he has discovered historically important sites, previously unknown to either historians or the public alike, which highlight the experience of Holocaust victims on the island and the dramatic markers their suffering has left behind. Such as the execution wall, which the artist has moulded. The exhibition will fundamentally alter our understanding of the Holocaust in the British Isles.
Spirit of Ukraine
5 April - 9 April
Galleries 1 and 3, Cromwell Place
Spirit of Ukraine is a group show curated by Nataliya Sophia Lysenko, who says of the exhibition, “since the start of the war, Ukrainian culture has never been of higher interest as it is now. Perhaps it is time for the spotlight to move away from Russian art and instead move towards Ukrainian art. The collection comprises carefully selected artworks. We have picked a variety of pieces which we hope will illustrate the rich artistic quality of Ukrainian art. We wish to show Ukrainian art as having its own part in the art world and away from the umbrella term of ‘Russian art’ by which it has previously been known. Recently, The National Gallery, London renamed Degas’ Russian Dancers as Ukrainian Dancers, which acknowledges Ukrainian culture as separate from Russian. The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York has also renamed multiple artists in a similar manner. In the same regard, we wish to promote Ukrainian art and to present it as independent, showcasing the rich culture Ukraine has to offer. The main artwork is by Maria Prymachenko, one of the Ukraine’s most celebrated artists. Several of their works held in the Maria Prymachnko Museum have recently been destroyed during the conflict and some of the profits from this show will go towards supporting museum”.
Artists: Maria Prymachenko, Oleg Tistol, Mikhailo Deyak, Vladislav Shereshevsky, Nina Murashkina, Vladimir Kozhuhar, Artem Andreichuk, Petro Lebedinets, Anastasiia Podervianska, Serhiy Reznichenko, Egor Zigura, Nikita Zigura, Polina Kuznetsova, Artem Volokitin, Tetiana Albitska-Kostomarova, Tata Kolesnik, Tanya Vasilenko, Marina Skugareva, Maria Kulikovska, Andrey Tsoy, Victor Gontarov.
Phoenix Rising
28 March – 9 April
Galleries 7, 10, 11, Cromwell Place
Curated by Alice Nanavova, Tetiana Malinovska, Phoenix Rising, is a group exhibition created to promote the power and importance of Ukraine’s cultural identity. Talking about the show, the curators say "[Phoenix Rising] marks the first occasion for Ukrainian artists to exhibit their work collectively in London since Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. [This exhibition] is a statement of Ukraine's resilience and determination to preserve its unique cultural identity in the face of decades of Russian and Soviet interference. By showcasing the historical works of prominent Ukrainian artists, this exhibition presents a compelling narrative of courage and fortitude, highlighting the enduring resilience of Ukrainian culture... Today, the world is discovering the beauty and complexity of Ukrainian culture, which has suffered repression for centuries. This exhibition presents the united response of Ukrainian artists to the escalation of the war, in tune with the cohesion of society and the government, affirming Ukraine’s national identity. Its persuasiveness is manifested in the polyphony of voices that are confident in their right to freedom and dignity."
Artists: Artem Volokitin, Arsen Savadov, Pavlo Kerestey, Roman Mykhailov, Maria Kulikovska & Uleg Vinnichenko, Valeria Troubina, Masha Shubina, Yuriy Musatov, Roman Minin, Julia Beliaeva, Ksenia Hnylytska, Tetiana Malinovska, Daria Koltsova, Petro Bevza, Tiberiy Silvashi.
Ares
30 March – 9 April
Pavilion Gallery, Cromwell Place
Curated by Henry Hussey and Sophia Olver, Ares is a group exhibition exploring motifs and themes of war in contemporary art featuring established and emerging artists and loans from numerous galleries.
Artists: Tim Shaw RA (Anima Mundi Gallery), Martyn Cross (Hales Gallery), Justin Mortimer (Parafin Gallery), Thom Trojanowski (Brooke Benington), Carl Anderson (Meakin + Parson x Hannah Payne), David Cooper (Anima Mundi Gallery, St Ives), Hugh Mendes (Charlie Smith London), Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh, Jo Dennis, Michael MacGarry, Miroslav Pomichal, Tamsin Relly, Becky Tucker, Salvatore Pione, Joe Preston, Harry Whitelock.
Cromwell Place x Philharmonia Orchestra: Art in Conflict
1 April, 2:30pm
Pavilion Gallery, Cromwell Place
The latest recital in Cromwell Place’s ongoing partnership series with Philharmonia Orchestra reflecting the themes of the programming moments. For Art in Conflict, members of the Philharmonia Chamber Players will perform Borys Lyatoshynsky’s String Quartet No.4 and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet. Both pieces were composed during World War II and both composers trod the perilous tightrope of working under the Soviet authorities whilst also expressing their own truth.
The Philharmonia Orchestra recital series at Cromwell Place is supported by NJA Limited.
