Earth : art of a changing world

Royal Academy, London
3 December 2009 – 31 January 2010

This show sets out to consider the impact of climate change, and our transition to a new world, on the practice of a broad range of contemporary artists, working in a wide-variety of media. Some of the artists featured are heavily involved in the issue itself, others have shown it to find a place, or resonances, within their work but not as a singular, direct focus.

You can read more about the exhibition here.  The website also features a section of artists’ films, including films by Darren Almond, Mariele Neudecker and Antti Laitinen.

Artists interpret the Christmas nativity

What does the nativity scene, and most particularly the symbol of the mother and child, mean to a modern, more secular society? The Guardian recently challenged nine leading contemporary artists – including Mark Wallinger, Martin Parr, Rebecca Warren and Fiona Banner – to create their own version.   You can view the final artworks here or read a discussion of the project by Jenny Turner.

Mimi Mollica – Terra Nostra

In today’s Guardian, Sean O’Hagan reviews Mimi Mollica’s reportage photographs that subtly hint at the mafia’s enduring influence in contemporary Sicily.

You can read the review on the Guardian website or see further examples from the series on Burn, an online journal for emerging photographers.

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2009

National Portrait Gallery
Until 14th February 2010

The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 presents the very best in contemporary portrait photography, showcasing the work of some of the most talented emerging young photographers , alongside that of established professionals, photography students and gifted amateurs.

Through editorial, advertising and fine art images, the mix of international entrants have explored a range of themes, styles and approaches to the contemporary photographic portrait, from formal commissioned portraits to more spontaneous and intimate moments capturing friends and family.

The exhibition is free, and to find out more, please visit the gallery website.

Chasing Mirrors

National Portrait Gallery, London
Until 10th January 2010

Chasing Mirrors is a free exhibition of new work exploring alternative forms of self-representation and portraiture by contemporary artist Faisal Abdu’Allah and the Chasing Mirrors Collective, a group of young people from Arabic speaking communities in Brent, Barnet and Ealing.

In response to the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection, the artists have created reflections of their own identity. Avoiding conventional portraiture, the finished works express differences and similarities between members of the Collective and the viewer in multi-dimensional portraits.

Find out more at www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/chasing-mirrors1.php

Decode: Digital Design Sensations at the V&A

From 8th December – 11th April 2010. Open daily 10.00 – 17.30, Fridays 10.00 – 21.30

Showcasing the latest developments in digital and interactive design, from small, screen-based, graphics to large-scale interactive installations. Works by established international artists and designers such as Daniel Brown, Golan Levin, Daniel Rozin, Troika and Karsten Schmidt are included.

The V&A has commissioned Karsten Schmidt to design a digital identity for the Decode exhibition using open source code, and are giving you the opportunity to recode Karsten’s work and create your own original artwork. If they love your work it could even become the new Decode identity. Find out more at http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/decode/

Make-out (2009)

Computer Baroque

Launched in March 2009 at Tate Modern in London, ‘Computer Baroque’ is an online archival collection of exemplary and innovative short films, all made using computer animation between 1982 and 1995. 15 short films from this period are freely available to view on the website, and are presented using Flash video. Films are accompanied by substantial curatorial notes by curator Richard Wright.

For more information visit the Animate website.

Prelinger Archive

The Prelinger Archive is a collection of ‘ephemeral’ films: things like ads, educational films, industrial films, things that don’t usually get collected in archives. All are downloadable and free for all to use. Includes Duck and Cover, the infamous 1951 film explaining to children how to protect yourself from a nuclear explosion by hiding under their desk.

To find out more, visit the Prelinger Archive website.

Miniature Furniture

This collection of more than 500 images of “pieces of miniature furniture, decorative arts and accessories, and architectural elements represents nearly all the major English and American design styles from the Renaissance through the Early Modern period.”

For more information, visit UNL Libraries Digital Collections