Cathy's Art Diary

Disappointing installation at St Mary Le Strand by Louise Giovanelli. I probably didn’t see this work at its best. I went during the day and I gather it is illuminated at night and probably looks very different, however in the day it just looked like covered scaffolding. I like the idea of the print on the cover looking like a sequined curtain but in the light I saw it in it looked like concrete. I understood it was meant to alter the look and shape of the church but I think it might have worked better if it had been on both sides. Closed 18 January 2026 Review Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/decades-louise-giovanelli-st-marylestrand-church-b1259005.html

Moving installation at St Mary Le Strand by Es Devlin. The piece consisted of 50 large drawings of people who had fled conflicts and how live in London. Each figure held a box and the drawings were arranged on a terraced structure. Every 10-15 minutes a sound and light scape animated the space with videos running in the boxes. Figures were illuminated in turn and you heard the voice of the sitter telling their story. I had heard Devlin talk about this work at the Charleston Festival so I was delighted to find it by chance during its short run at the church. I do hope it gets more showings. I would certainly like to see it again. Closed 9 October 2024 Stop Press : A version is at Somerset House until 12 January which I’ll blog when I get to it.