5 to See: This Weekend

Habitats shape the way people live. Exhibitions running this weekend examine the interactions between individuals and their surroundings, traversing urban, domestic and natural landscapes in order to subvert and illuminate notions of place.

Ideal Spaces of Julian Faulhaber, The Lumiere Brothers Centre for Photography, Moscow

Faulhaber captures newly-constructed public places in Germany, Japan and the USA. The spaces – not yet used – are devoid of human presence or intervention, retaining an ideal, untouched quality. The series on display, LDPE (low density polyethylene), comments on society’s obsession with packaging, highlighting the artificiality of the built environment. The images take on an otherworldly, computer-generated appearance, despite the artist’s refusal to make use of digital processing software or artificial light sources. Until 15 April.  www.lumiere.ru.

Metropolis, Leica Store UK, London

Alan Schaller’s monochromatic compositions examine the striking monuments of the city. The images reflect on the relationship between the personal and the global, presenting small figures in dialogue with significant architectural forms. With a bold emphasis on abstraction and geometry, the photographer’s oeuvre investigates the connections – or lack thereof – between communities and buildings. Until 10 February. www.leicastore-mayfair.co.uk.

Bad Land, Josh Lilley Gallery, London

Completely transforming the gallery’s interior, Bad Land comprises films, multimedia sculptures and wall works by Venezuelan-American artist Alex Da Corte. The installations track a complex narrative, providing dialogues that are at once deeply personal and universal. Through using neon, smoke, haberdashery and sliding walls, the practitioner converts Josh Lilley’s four white rooms into an immersive, cinematic arena. Until 3 February. www.joshlilleygallery.com.

Parameters, Casa Luis Barragán, Mexico.

Five video works by Bruce Nauman punctuate the interior of Barragán’s iconic modernist house. The exhibition offers connections between Nauman’s interest in construction and the bold structure of the building. Featured moving-image pieces include Setting a Good Corner and Wall Floor Positions, each placing the body in relation to built environments. From 3 February. www.e-flux.com

Wilderness, The New Art Gallery Walsall, UK.

This show forms part of a wider series exploring the theme, and brings together paintings, drawings, photographs and film. The collection engages with the sublime natural landscape, investigating humanity’s desire for solitude and wild places. Traversing salt plains, mountains, coastlines and volcanoes, the selection gives an inspiring view of world’s most diverse and remote locations. Practitioners featured include: Scarlett Hooft Graafland, Boomoon, Ben Rivers, Noémie Goudal and Emma Stibbon. Until 6 May www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk.

Credits:
1. Julian Faulhaber, Pult (Desk), 2016 ©Julian Faulhaber/VG Bildkunst Bonn/RAO
2. © Alan Schaller
3. Alex Da Corte, BAD LAND, courtesy Josh Lilley Gallery, London.
4. Bruce Nauman, Dream Passage.
5.  Scarlett Hooft Graafland, Wrapped, C-type print, © Scarlett Hooft Graafland, courtesy of Flowers Gallery London and New York