What not to miss: the best art events taking place across London this month

This month's diary is packed with unmissable events in London's art world. Here's our pick of the best...
Kilian O'Sullivan/VIEW
Kate Gordon10 July 2018

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

It started as a Nuit Blanche, or White Night — an all-night festival of art — and three years on has grown into London’s largest free contemporary art festival. Art Night can be found south of the river, from Southbank to Battersea.

Curated this year by Hayward Gallery’s Ralph Rugoff, there are 12 major projects on view at locations including Battersea Power Station, pictured above, Vauxhall Park and the British Interplanetary Society.

Look out for Bosco Sodi’s wall outside the National Theatre. Built of 1,600 clay bricks, viewers are invited to dismantle it brick by brick, taking a piece of the artwork home.

There’s also video artist Jeremy Deller’s collaboration with the Melodians Steel Orchestra. The band will play in Prince of Wales Drive, Battersea.

Try to see Tamara Henderson’s work in New Covent Garden Market. Floral Ensemble, her musical performance, is inspired by plants.

Prem Sahib will install a maze-like structure in Vauxhall, based on the footprint of a one-bedroom flat.

Co-founder Ksenia Zemtsova wants “to present London as a 24-hour city”. Our insider’s tip is to book the Thames Clipper in advance, and visit each major project at each stop, enjoying cocktails along the way from Bompas & Parr.

Art Night 2018, July 7-8, from 6pm on Saturday to 6am Sunday

COMPASSION AND CONTEMPORARY ART

It doesn’t officially open until July 19, but do stop by St Paul’s Cathedral and look at Hughie O’Donoghue’s new work of St Martin Divides His Cloak, pictured above, commissioned by the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor Council for St Martin’s Chapel.

The painting looks at chivalry and reflects the story of St Martin giving his cloak to a destitute beggar. O’Donoghue found insight from both past and present for this painting.

The artist says: “The core ingredients of the story are timeless. The destitute are still with us and the chivalrous gesture of St Martin, sharing his cloak, is a timeless symbol of charity and compassion.”

The work will be included in the normal St Paul’s Cathedral admission ticket price.

SETTING THE SCENE

London in its Original Splendour, showcasing artist Pablo Bronstein’s work, has opened at Bloomberg’s Mithraeum SPACE in the City. Known for beautifully executed drawings and his love of stage-setting, Bronstein has created “3D wallpaper” inspired by archaeological finds beneath the financial giant’s European HQ, and by nearby buildings created by Wren, Soane and Lutyens.

Anthony Upton/PA Wire

Visit the Roman Temple of Mithras, Bloomberg’s immersive installation seven metres underground that recreates the ancient place of worship.

London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, 12 Walbrook, EC4, free admission, Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun and Bank Holidays, 10am-5pm. Pre-booking advised.

NARCISSUS: A ONE-SIDED LOVE STORY

We all know phrases such as “the Midas touch” and “Achilles’ heel”. Ancient myths endured to become part of our everyday life, inspiring creations from Disney cartoons to Hollywood epics and so many works of art. Yet how much do we really know about the stories on which so much cultural creativity is based?

Flying Too Close to the Sun: Myths in Art from Classical to Contemporary (£39.95) by James Cahill, is our book of the month, pictured above, and places works in context down the ages, from Caravaggio and Bernini to Louise Bourgeois and Damien Hirst. Published by Phaidon.

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