With hundreds of exhibitions and events vying for attention in London during Frieze week, Apollo’s editors pick out the shows they don’t want to miss.
Cindy Sherman has been disguising and photographing herself for so long that it’s easy to take what she does for granted. While the early film-still works feel as fresh as they ever did, Sherman’s playing with prosthetics and props in the intervening years has sometimes smacked too much of the dressing-up box. Early glimpses of the Fabric Matrons series at Hauser & Wirth, however, have made me sit up (13 October–23 December). The artist seems to have moved into a new phase: Mar-a-Lago face meets loud luxury, outfitted and accessorised by Chanel. What could be more of the moment?
‘Julio Le Parc’ at Tate Modern is perhaps the most joyful exhibition in London (until 3 May). No need to avoid touching the works: some of these kinetic sculptures and paintings have buttons to be pushed and handles to be turned. Mobiles made of steel ribbons have mechanical motors but could be sea creatures with a bioluminescent glow. The collective Le Parc founded in 1960, the Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel, wanted to lead people out of an ‘apathetic dependency that makes them passively accept not just what is forced on them as art, but an entire way of life’. Curious of Tate to accept sponsorship from Anthropic, then.
Amar Kanwar is showing three films, one of them new, at the Serpentine (until 31 January 2027). Like most films made by artists, they demand you slow down to the pace set by their maker. The Charcoal Man (2026) has perhaps the closest to a narrative, as it uses clips of archive and feature films accompanied by intertitles to recount a series of short stories. Though don’t be deceived by the sense of lush quietude – amped up by Utsav Lal’s piano score: these are tales of violence and rupture; a reimagining of the events leading up to and proceeding from Partition.
Gülsün Karamustafa has had museum exhibitions around the world and represented Turkey at the Venice Biennale, but she has not had a solo show in the UK until now. Ab-Anbar Gallery continues on its mission to introduce important modern artists to the capital and the grande dame of Turkish contemporary art is up next with ‘Remains of a Forgotten Promise’ (8 October–12 December). Expect wryly political paintings, sculptures and collages and a recreation of the Venice installation. It will be interesting to find how Hollow and Broken: A State of the World (2024) hits now.
Cindy Sherman (Hauser & Wirth, 13 October–23 December)
Julio Le Parc: Light, Colour. Action (Tate Modern, until 3 May)
Amar Kanwar (Serpentine North Gallery, until 31 January 2027)
Gülsün Karamustafa: Remains of a Forgotten Promise (Ab-Anwar Gallery, 8 October–12 December)
