Anthea Hamilton, Ian Cheng, Andreas Gursky, and More Must-See London Shows

Andreas Gursky at Hayward Gallery
Now–April 22
Hayward Gallery began the celebration of their 50^th anniversary by presenting the first show in their freshly refurbished space: “Andreas Gursky.” The exhibition showcases Andreas Gursky’s goal to pursue “the encyclopedia of life” through large-scale depictions of the global economy and contemporary life. On view are a number of the German photographer’s most significant pieces, like May Day IV (2004/2014) and Rhine II (1999/2015), as well as eight new works, some of which display Gursky’s latest experimentation with camera phone photography.

Anthea Hamilton at the Tate Britain
March 22–7 October
Anthea Hamilton’s commission for the Tate Britain will be revealed to the public this Thursday in the Duveen Galleries. The latest installment in Tate Britain’s series of contemporary collaborations with British artists, Hamilton’s exhibit includes an immersive installation that combines performance and sculpture. The London native is known for her humorous and playful works that are influenced by French dramatist Antonin Artaud and references to art and popular cultures, amongst other things.

Ian Cheng at Serpentine Galleries
Now–April 22
The first installation of a two-part exhibition, Ian Cheng’s BOB (Bag of Beliefs), is now taking over Serpentine Galleries. Influenced by his background in cognitive science and an interest in the history of human consciousness, Cheng created BOB, a sentient work of art. Using complex logic systems and artificial intelligence, BOB is constantly growing, evolving, and perceiving its surroundings in a way that ensures the viewer does not experience BOB; BOB experiences the viewer. The second part of the installation will inhabit Serpentine beginning April 22.

Josh Smith at Massimo De Carlo
Now–March 24
Massimo De Carlo’s presentation of Josh Smith’s is open to the public through the end of this week. “I Will Carry The Weight” explores the inevitability of death through a series of monotypes and oil-on-canvas depictions of the grim reaper, a symbol of death. The title of the collect also poses artist Smith’s reply to the Gang Starr song, Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?

Pier Paolo Calzolari at White Cube
March 21–May 12
White Cube debuts an exhibition featuring over three decades of work by Arte Povera artist, Pier Paolo Calzolari. Calzolari unites a curious fascination of alchemical processes and transformation with influences from early art history and his life in Venice to create distinctive sculptures that combine a variety of organic materials with manmade items. The works on display include some of the Italian artist’s most noted pieces like Combustio (1970), which uses Calzolari’s signature material of frost and is composed of a mattress hung on the wall bearing the word “combustion” in glowing, red letters.

Ryan Gander at Lisson Gallery
Now–April 21
Ryan Gander’s sixth show with Lisson Gallery is now waiting to teach its audience how to “let the world take a turn.” Inspired by advice given to him by his father, “The Self Righting of All Things” explores the natural course time has on healing and transforming a person, if only one can stop long enough to let it happen. The exhibition (which itself is a physical embodiment of the passage of time) features a large, black cube of flip-dot panels that presents an abstract measurement of time accompanied by the artist’s voice telling autobiographical anecdotes, which allude to the destruction that surrounds us.