East End exhibitions – five of the best for June
‘Vibrant hues’: Polyptyque Sassetta, by Monique Frydman. Photograph: O. Houada
Monique Frydman @ Parasol Unit
14 Wharf Rd, N1 7RW
Monique Frydman may work with pastel colours, but the renowned Frenchwoman’s work is far from the style on offer at, say, your nearest Cath Kidston. Instead, her art drenches the observer in vibrant hues – 1989’s L’Absinthe, which opens this coming exhibition, is a perfect example with its verdant, swirling greens. The artist uses a technique called frottage, in this painting and others. Those familiar with the other meaning of that word won’t be surprised to learn that this involves some serious rubbing – in this case, pastel onto canvas. Frydman’s later pieces often escape Impressionism’s bounds and work in a more abstract, evocative way, featuring panes of pure colour. From 7 June until 12 August
A Handful of Dust @ Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX
Dust: so unpopular in domestic scenarios that people feel compelled to “bust” it. Its relationship to photography is more complicated, as this free exhibition in the Whitechapel’s Galleries 8 & 9 lays out in a series of stills – starting with Man Ray’s photograph of a Duchamp work-in-progress, deliberately left collecting particles for years in a shot eventually titled Élevage de poussière (Dust Breeding). From there: we see images of the famous American Dustbowl; the grime from Mussolini’s car; demolition and war. Writer David Campany curates, and stops by for a symposium with other writers and critics that promises to explore “notions of time, perception and the history of photography” on 17 June. From 7 June until 3 September
Sara Barker @ The Approach
47 Approach Rd, E2 9LY
The Approach gallery sits right above the lovely Approach Tavern boozer – an approach that this writer thoroughly endorses. Above the flowing beer, one can take in the debut solo exhibition from Mancunian Sara Barker. Barker aims to build on the written word – be that from feminist writers like Woolf and Stein, or from her own poetry – and creates paintings-cum-sculptures informed by said writing, that play with ideas of space, emotion and physicality. Her career has to date gravitated towards Glasgow, where she is based, but she has exhibited across Europe as well as featuring at the Tate’s space in St. Ives. From 26th May until 25th June. Gallery open: Wednesday – Sunday: 12–6pm or by appointment
Young boy, white boxing gloves from You Get Me? by Mahtab Hussain. © the artist
Sverre Bjertnæs: Silent Conditions @ BEERS Gallery
1 Baldwin St, EC1V 9NU
The Old Street gallery welcomes what is perhaps (especially since his shows at New York’s famous Armory) Norway’s most renowned living painter. Whilst his daubings of Cubist-inspired or surreally warped figures are fantastic, Bjertnæs doesn’t limit himself to the brush, and his shows are rich with collaborations and other polymathery – he describes them as in the tradition of ‘Wunderkammer’, or cabinets of curiosities. A ceramics series made with his dear old mum features, as does a canvas shared with Belgian artist Christer Glein. From 26 May to 1 July
Mahtab Hussain: You Get Me? @ Rivington Place
69 Rivington St, London EC2A 3AY
Right-minded folk should be aware of the ‘derogatory media representation’ (as the publicity for this show mildly puts it) of the lives of ordinary Muslims. Mahtab Hussain is making waves by challenging this in his bold photography project You Get Me?, which kicked off in Birmingham in 2008 and visited London and Nottingham too, in his quest to document masculinity in his community. Subjects, for the most part, are simply presented standing – be they resplendent in bling or a Bart Simpson shirt, they seem to be defiant in their facing down of the camera. A photobook of You Get Me? will be published by MACK in June to coincide with the exhibition. Until 1 July. Gallery opening times: Tues, Wed, Fri: 11am – 6pm Thurs: 11am –9pm Sat: 12–6pm