London Art Scene: Postmodernism, Kuri, Barlow, Dean, Djurberg, Rist

A survey of London exhibitions in autumn-winter 2011-2012, starting with the Victoria & Albert Museum's 'Postmodernism, Style and Subversion' (24 Sept 2011 – 15 Jan 2012), which explored 1970s-1990s design and architecture against economic crisis and AIDS, featuring Madelon Vriesendorp, Rem Koolhaas, Alessandro Mendini, Robert Venturi, and Ron Arad. At South London Gallery (29 Sept – 27 Nov 2011), Gabriel Kuri's first London solo show 'Before Contingency After the Fact' used objects like tarps and credit cards to comment on property and boundaries. Phyllida Barlow exhibited precarious sculptures at Hauser & Wirth (2 Sept – 22 Oct 2011), including 'RIG: Untitled, blocks (2011)'. At Tate Modern (11 Oct 2011 – 11 Mar 2012), Tacita Dean's 'Film' in the Turbine Hall celebrated analog cinema with a 13-meter-high projection, opposing digital dominance. Nathalie Djurberg at Camden Art Centre (7 Oct 2011 – 8 Jan 2012) explored sexual discovery with violent videos set to Hans Berg's music. Pipilotti Rist's 'Eyeball Massage' at Hayward Gallery (22 Sept 2011 – 8 Jan 2012) featured over 30 works, including panoramic 'Lobe of the Lung', with vivid colors and psychedelic imagery. The Frieze Art Fair positioned art as a safe-haven investment amid institutional budget cuts.