Durham's new art gallery, The Light, has opened with a grand survey of light art titled 'Victory Over the Sun', drawing its name from a Russian futurist spectacle of 1913. The exhibition features luminous works by Olafur Eliasson, Ceal Floyer, and other artists, and will remain on view until 17 January.
Exhibition Highlights and Other Shows
Alongside the Durham display, Tate Modern in London is presenting 'Ana Mendieta', a retrospective journey through the imagination of the late Cuban-American artist, on view until 17 January. At Jupiter Artland near Edinburgh, Irish artist Sgàire Wood explores heraldry, fashion, and sectarian politics in a wooded sculpture park, with the exhibition closing on 18 October. In St Ives, Claire Curneen's 'Anima Mundi' offers spooky sculptures that brood on death, running until 4 September. 'Eyes in the Soil', featuring Neal Jones, Vivian Lynn, and others, opens at Phillida Reid in London from 1 September to 1 October.
Remembering Yayoi Kusama
The art world mourned the loss of Yayoi Kusama, who died this week at the age of 97. The prolific Japanese artist achieved global superstardom across multiple eras for her sculptural works, political 'happenings', and her signature spotty style and infinity mirror rooms. Her work often centered on themes of the infinite and 'self-obliteration', inspired by hallucinations she experienced. Despite her fame, she identified as an outsider artist until her death. The accompanying image showed her in June painting a work from her 'My Eternal Soul' series.
Art World News and Masterpiece
Other developments this week include the death of Betye Saar, known for found-object assemblages exploring racism and religion, at age 99. Freddie Mercury's eight iconic costumes are set to go on display. A Rotterdam waterfront plan drew criticism for resembling something 'Shrek would throw up'. Gao Zhen, sculptor of Mao, was jailed for slandering 'heroes and martyrs'. The Wulz sisters defied fascist Italy by photographing modern women and their cat. Photographer William Yang reflected on six decades of LGBTQ+ life. The Bauhaus, once hounded by Nazis, faces renewed attacks from the far right. Korean painter Ha Chong-Hyun, aged 91, sees abstraction as rebellion. A priceless collection of Bronze Age gold artefacts was stolen in a Spanish heist.
The masterpiece of the week is 'A Herdsman with Five Cows by a River' by Aelbert Cuyp (1650-55) at the National Gallery, London. The painting's quiet simplicity was revolutionary, showing a countryside moment without mythological or biblical narrative. Artists like Constable and Turner imitated Cuyp's natural eye nearly 200 years later, and would have been struck by his subtle sunlight pervading the scene. Cuyp uses the stillness to focus on reflective water against the dark masses of cows, a lesson in weightless light and weighty flesh.
