April once again offers many inspiring exhibitions for lovers of minimalist art around the world, and I am delighted to present my top picks for this month. In Madrid, the introspective works of Spanish artist Antonia Ferrer can be seen. In Antwerp, the Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA) delves deep into the oeuvre of Willy De Sauter, which spans more than five decades, while in Málaga, the CAC offers an encounter with Günther Förg’s legacy of modernism. The touring exhibition “lucent”, curated by artist David Quinn, stops off in Drogheda, while Richard Serra can be seen in London and Paris.
Pioneers like Robert Ryman and Constantin Brâncuși are also on view in Paris at the same time (more information here), while Alberto Giacometti’s profound explorations of perception are inspiring visitors in Copenhagen. And last but not least in this monthly selection, Andreas Diaz Andersson weaves abstract thread works into a poetic interplay of light and shadow in Milan.
Antonia Ferrer “Después del agua”
Madrid, Alzueta Gallery
21 March → 20 April 2024
In her first solo exhibition “Después del agua” at Alzueta Gallery Madrid, Antonia Ferrer presents a haunting collection that captures the stillness after a storm in powerful, almost sculptural images. Ferrer, known for her introspective and tranquil art, uses monochrome hues and natural materials in her art. Her latest works, inspired by the textures in the sand after a storm and the rocks of Cap de Creus, combine the beauty of natural landscapes with human emotions and experiences.
More Information: https://www.aesence.com/antonia-ferrer-despues-del-agua-at-alzueta-gallery-madrid/
Willy De Sauter
Antwerp, Museum of Contemporary Art (M HKA)
20 January → 5 May 2024
Since January, the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp has been presenting an exhibition of the work of Belgian artist Willy De Sauter. Belgian artist Willy De Sauter, who has been known for more than five decades for his search for the foundations of the art experience. De Sauter’s work is characterized by a strong reduction to the essential. More than a quarter of a century after his comprehensive retrospective at M HKA, the current exhibition shows some of his early key works and illustrates the enduring depth and fascination of his oeuvre.
More Information: https://www.muhka.be/en/programme/detail/1638-willy-de-sauter
Günter Forg “Legacy of Modernism”
Málaga, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Málaga (CAC)
15 March → 26 May 2024
The exhibition “Legacy of Modernism” at the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Málaga (CAC) presents the work of German artist Günther Förg. The show offers an in-depth insight into Förg’s minimalist art through a selection of 29 paintings from 1987 to 2004. The works, including large-format paintings, works on paper and on lead, are arranged in such a way that they harmonize with the modern architecture of the CAC Málaga. They harmonize and reflect Förg’s interest in architecture, as well as his inspiration from renowned artists such as Barnett Newman and Mies van der Rohe.
More Information: https://cacmalaga.eu/gunther-forg/
lucent, a touring exhibition
Drogheda, Highlanes Gallery
10 February → 27 April 2024
The touring exhibition “lucent” is a remarkable project curated by Irish artist David Quinn that presents small-scale works by twelve national and international artists. The show is characterized by a fine sensitivity for materials and the quality of line. Quinn selected works that span a variety of styles and mediums, blurring the distinction between painting and sculpture. Some featured artworks are underpinned by an engaging ambiguity that challenges the viewer to draw their own interpretations. Artists on display include Charles Brady, Niamh Clarke, Vincent Hawkins, Hiroyuki Hamada, Tjibbe Hooghiemstra, Jamie Mills, Janet Mullarney, Helen O’Leary, David Quinn himself, Seamus Quinn, Sean Sullivan and John Van Oers. All artists share a subtle, often playful understanding of art, characterized by personal expression and a penchant for experimentation.
“Lucent” has been shown at various venues since July 2023. The exhibition can be seen until April 27 at the Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda, Ireland. More information here: https://lucent.international/ and https://highlanes.ie/exhibition/lucent/
Richard Serra “Casablanca”
Paris, Galerie Lelong & Co
14 March → 30 April 2024
Galerie Lelong in Paris is presenting an impressive exhibition with six graphic works by sculptor Richard Serra. The gallery, which has regularly shown Serra’s engravings since the 1980s, is this time unveiling a suite called “Casablanca” from 2022. These works were created in collaboration with master printer Xavier Fumat at the renowned Gemini GEL workshop in Los Angeles. They are particularly impressive due to their monumental size, sculptural quality and exceptional texture. They reflect Serra’s ongoing exploration of concepts such as gravity and balance on paper and are presented without glass or Plexiglas at the artist’s request.
More Information: https://www.galerie-lelong.com/fr/exposition/244/richard-serracasablanca/richard-serracasablanca/
Tip: If you are not in Paris, you can also see paintings by Richard Serra at the David Zwirner Gallery in London from April 9th. More information here.
Alberto Giacometti “What Meets the Eye”
Copenhagen, Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK)
10 February → 20 May 2024
The exhibition “What Meets the Eye” at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen is dedicated to the work of Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti. Known for his long-limbed human figures, the show goes beyond Giacometti’s sculptures and also presents his paintings, prints and drawings. Visitors will gain a comprehensive insight into Giacometti’s lifelong fascination with human visual perception and his uncompromising approach to depicting the world as he saw it. The works, shaped by personal philosophy and the experiences of two world wars, reveal his intense exploration of the human form and his environment.
More Information: https://www.smk.dk/en/exhibition/alberto-giacometti-what-meets-the-eye/
Andreas Diaz Andersson “Vattendroppar”
Milan, Cadogan Gallery
09 April → 11 May 2024
In Milan, the Cadogan Gallery presents “Vattendroppar”, an exhibition by the Mexican-Swedish artist Andreas Diaz Andersson. This second solo exhibition by Diaz Andersson at the gallery features new minimalist abstract thread works by the artist. “Vattendroppar”, which means water droplets in Swedish, focuses on the motif of the circle and concentric circles. Diaz Andersson’s works demonstrate a harmonious combination of shapes and lines and only reveal their true complexity on closer inspection.
More Information: https://cadogangallery.com/exhibitions/85-andreas-diaz-andersson-vattendroppar/
