'The Galapagos Project' - Julie Saul Gallery

'The Galapagos Project' is an exhibition of work by Sarah Anne Johnson on display at the Julie Saul Gallery. The work itself comprises of photographs, drawings and sculptures.

'The Galapagos Project' addresses the romantacised 'Eden' image that most people have of the Galapagos, and presents the poverty and the struggle of its people.

The concept is thought-provoking, but the photographs seem somewhat sanatised and distanced. Johnson's depictions of the people can come across as condescending, and without the historic background of the Galapagos, the exhibition presents nothing new.

The composition of the images is somewhat twee and cliched, though technically sound. The images themselves are pleasant, and if you are unfamiliar with this type of photography it's worth a look. However, poverty is a subject that has been covered extensively, and there are more intense works to see.

'The Galapagos Project' is running from February 16 - March 24

Julie Saul Gallery

535 West 22nd Street

6th Floor

New York, NY 10011

tel: 212-627-2410

email: mail@saulgallery.com

'Through the Eyes of Shigeru Ban' - The Barbican

'Through the Eyes of Shigeru Ban' is an exhibition at The Barbican, curated by Shigeru Ban, looking at the work of the Finnish architect, Alvar Aalto, who designed not just buildings, but interiors, including glassware, fittings, and textiles.

Alvar Aalto is heralded as one of the masters of modernism, and the title is a fitting one. The exhibition features photographs, drawings, models and artefacts from 14 of Alvar Aalto's key projects. The work itself is fascinating; Aalto's designs fluid and unique.

'Through the Eyes of Shigeru Ban' is running from 22 February - 13 May

Barbican Art Gallery

Barbican Centre

Silk Street

London

EC2Y 8DS

tel: 020 7638 8891

email: tickets@barbican.org.uk

'Family Pictures' - The Guggenheim

'Family Pictures' is an exhibition of photographs drawn from The Guggenheim's permanent collection.

The work of 16 prominent photographers is on display, so although you won't find a running style through the exhibition, you'll be hard pressed to not find something you like.

For photography lovers, this exhibition is a must. With the work of photographers of such a high caliber, Nan Goldin and Robert Mapplethorpe to name just two, even if you don't like the work, at least you can say you've seen it. An analysis of some of the work can be found in the Village Voice review.

'Family Pictures' runs from February 9 - April 16

Solomon R Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street)
New York, NY 10128-0173
Sat-Wed 10am - 5:45pm
Fri 10am - 7:45pm
Closed Thurs
212 423 3500

'Kylie'- The V&A

'Kylie' is on display at The V&A, and features Kylie Minogue's costumes, photographs, and general memorabilia from Kylie's career. The exhibition is made possible by Kylie's donations and has attracted huge audiences.

However, the exhibition has drawn criticism based on its presentation of a mainstream celebrity as art (The Observer Review). It has been said that the exhibition is designed not to appeal to 'art lovers', but fans and 'celeb worshippers'.

Personally, I think if you're a fan, you're bound to find something you like at 'Kylie - The Exhibition'. If you're not, I'd steer well clear.

The V&A is in South Kensington, on Cromwell Road, London, SWL 2RL
tel: +44 (0)20 7942 2000
email: pdp@vam.ac.uk

Hammons 'New Works' - L&M Arts

David Hammons is a veteran artist, and at 63 has produced high quality work for years. His most recent installation is at L&M Arts.

When you enter the gallery, you are confronted by the front viewing space... which is empty. In the next room are 5 fur coats. Upstairs is a single coat on its own. The coats themselves have been burned, stained, painted, and from a consumer point of view, written off.

The simplicity of the exhibition, coupled with the opulence of the coats and their subsequent 'destruction', provides a strong and emotive display. The installation questions consumer culture and the use of fur in the fashion industry, and so far has been well received (Village Voice Review)

Hammons work is on display till March 10.

L&M Arts is at 45 East 78th Street, New York
email: info@lmgallery.com
tel: 212-861-0020

'Delivered' - Sara Tecchia Gallery

'Delivered' is a solo exhibition by Duston Spear, featuring contemporary figurative representation. Spear's paintings are based on war photographs, originally printed in The New York Times, and reflect on the media's representation of war. As a result, the original images that appeared in the Times would not have been graphic, but the artist is given the option of making them graphic. Some of the paintings may have been given this treatment, but subtly.

For example, the painting of the adult leading the two children across a bloody floor. The original image in the Times is unlikely to have featured this graphic content, but the painting itself is subject to Spear's 2nd hand perspective and personal interpretation of the image.

The paintings themselves are emotive, yet simplistic. The images that would have been featured in the Times would have been compelling in themselves, but Spear has adjusted them, taking out distractions. The lack of complexity focuses the viewer's attention and asks them to interpret the paining for themselves.

'Delivered' is running from March 1 - April 7

SARA TECCHIA ROMA NEW YORK is located at 529 West 20th Street, between Tenth Avenue and Eleventh Avenue. The gallery is on the second floor. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm. For more information, contact 212-741-2900, or visit www.saratecchia.com