The art world is buzzing with a diverse array of exhibitions this week, headlined by an illuminating showcase of Joseph Wright of Derby's scientific masterpieces at London's National Gallery. The exhibition "Wright of Derby: From the Shadows" brings together two of the most celebrated paintings ever created about science, featuring mesmerized audiences observing lectures on an Orrery and Air-Pump. This compact yet brilliant exhibition runs until May 10.
David Hockney continues his prolific output with fresh works displayed at Annely Juda gallery in London through February 28. The renowned artist has created new pieces since his successful Paris exhibition opened in the spring, demonstrating his relentless creative energy. Meanwhile, the David Zwirner Gallery presents haunting portraits by photographer Diane Arbus until December 20, showcasing what critics describe as the work of a "dark genius of the camera" whose images are simultaneously astonishing, upsetting, and memorable.
International perspectives feature prominently in this week's offerings. Uzbek artist Saodat Ismailova presents films exploring the collapse of the Soviet Union at Baltic in Gateshead, running from November 8 through June 7. In Edinburgh, the Fruitmarket Gallery hosts "Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Wilding" until February 1, marking the first posthumous exhibition of work by the enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, who passed away while the exhibition was being planned.
This week's standout image comes from Düsseldorf's Kunstpalast museum, where performance artist Carl Brandi, performing as Joseph Langelinck, has created a sensation with "7 Grumpy" guided tours. During these 70-minute experiences, Langelinck deliberately berates visitors about their general ignorance, creating an unexpectedly popular attraction that has become a sellout hit.
Several significant developments emerged across the art world this week. David Hockney's latest London exhibition confirms his continued innovation in contemporary art. Cuban artist Wifredo Lam is receiving his first major United States retrospective in New York, bringing long-overdue recognition to his contributions. The Victoria and Albert Museum East is actively targeting Generation Z audiences with boldly diverse content that reflects contemporary cultural values.
Additionally, artist Stacey Gillian Abe's Indiegogo project examines the historical use of indigo dye in the slave trade, highlighting art's role in addressing historical injustices. The publishing world has noted the emergence of existential art books as the newest form of self-help literature. In Nottingham, The New Art Exchange claims to be the first gallery operated entirely by a citizens assembly, representing a new model of community-driven cultural institutions.
Photo Oxford is offering an eclectic range of programming, from documenting historical locations to exploring attempts to deceive artificial intelligence systems. Meanwhile, researchers at King's College London have conducted studies using sensors on gallery visitors to scientifically demonstrate the health benefits of viewing art.
The week's featured masterpiece highlights the historical context for Wright of Derby's dramatic light-and-shadow techniques. "Interior of a Church at Night" from 1632, attributed to an imitator of Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger, demonstrates how Dutch 17th-century artists were deeply fascinated with darkness and its psychological effects. The painting depicts the shadowy, less-visited areas of a church where "fears and phantoms might dwell," contrasting with the brightly lit public spaces. Intriguingly, the work bears both the signature and tomb inscription of van Steenwyck the Younger, creating a mysterious narrative about whether it was painted posthumously or by a skilled imitator. This piece exemplifies the long European tradition of chiaroscuro effects that influenced Wright of Derby's revolutionary approach to British art.
