London Exhibitions Explore Wood's Materiality Through Collaborative Shows at Modern Art and Kupfer
In the spring of 2021, two exhibitions in London highlighted the artistic versatility of wood. From April 23 to May 22, Modern Art Bury Street displayed 'Will-o'-the-wisp,' featuring Russian artist Sanya Kantarovsky alongside French sculptor Camille Blatrix. Kantarovsky produced Ukiyo-e woodblock prints inspired by gothic folk tales in partnership with Tokyo's Adachi Hanga Institute, showcasing mysterious scenes. Blatrix contributed sleek Corian frames enhanced with marquetry techniques, presenting futuristic imagery in her basement works. Concurrently, Kupfer in Hackney exhibited the works of Brazilian artists Alexandre Canonico and Anderson Borba from April 12 to May 8, with Canonico utilizing MDF and plywood offcuts, while Borba crafted totemic sculptures from industrial wood remnants, illustrating diverse approaches to the medium.
Key facts
- Two collaborative exhibitions in London explored wood as artistic material in spring 2021
- Modern Art Bury Street showed Sanya Kantarovsky and Camille Blatrix from April 23 to May 22
- Kantarovsky created Ukiyo-e woodblock prints with Tokyo's Adachi Hanga Institute of Printmaking
- Blatrix made Corian frames with sliding doors and marquetry elements for Kantarovsky's prints
- Kupfer presented Brazilian artists Alexandre Canonico and Anderson Borba from April 12 to May 8
- Canonico used MDF and plywood offcuts with rough slotting techniques
- Borba assembled sculptures from discarded industrial wood fragments with varnish and acrylic
- The exhibitions contrasted refined wood techniques with DIY approaches to materiality
Entities
Artists
- Sanya Kantarovsky
- Camille Blatrix
- Alexandre Canonico
- Anderson Borba
Institutions
- Modern Art Bury Street
- Adachi Hanga Institute of Printmaking
- Kupfer
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Hackney
- St James's