What’s on May 2023: Canadian Culture in the UK
All signs point to the prospect of this upcoming month being an exceptionally good one. The King’s Coronation this May brings UK residents an extra day off, and that’s in addition to the holidays at the beginning and end of the month. It’s timed perfectly with the slowly warming weather and longer days that hint at summer being right around the corner. And if that’s not enough to be excited about, it’s also a month where your cultural calendar might be especially full, with new exhibitions, concerts and talks to attend, all featuring Canadian talent. Read on to see where to spend your long weekends and the days in between. Between the Coronation, Canadian culture and crisp spring air, what else could you ask for this May?
Sky Glabush, Sar-Galú, oil and sand on canvas, 2023.
Sky Glabush: The Arrangement of Stars – Stephen Friedman Gallery, London
Until 20 May 2023
Sky Glabush’s solo presentation at Stephen Friedman Gallery continues his practice of subverting traditional painterly archetypes with vivid colours and unconventional textures. The exhibition will feature a selection of Glabush's recent works by one of Canada's leading mid-career artists, including large-scale surreal paintings that provide narratives as they shift in and out of focus, exploring the relationship between memory, perception, and representation.
Jan Wade, Breathe, embroidered linen, 2021—2022.
Outside, looking in – Richard Saltoun Gallery, London
Until 20 May 2023
Outside, looking in celebrates the crucial role women have played in the evolution of abstract art. The exhibition's title is inspired by British artist Shelagh Wakely's writings and reflects on the marginalization of female abstractionists throughout history. It features works from eleven international female artists, including Canadian artist Jan Wade, who draws on her mixed heritage, Southern-American roots, Black post-colonial identity and a vivid backdrop of other inspirations to construct her powerful copositions. Using found or ready-made objects and recycled materials, Wade’s work highlights the experiences of Black women in the art world and their contributions to abstract art.
Left: Hospital © Corinna Wagner, 2020. Right: Science Station, Russia © Tara Nicholson
Wicked Problems: The Humanities in an Age of Planetary Agenda-Setting – University of Exeter
3 May - July 2023
As a part of an ongoing collaboration between the University of Exeter and the University of British Columbia, join Canadian artist and PhD candidate Tara Nicholson and Exeter Professor and photographer Corinna Wagner in conversation for the launch of Wicked Problems. This exhibition features more-than-human stories about the climate crisis that are revealed through interdisciplinary humanities research to engage audiences in ways to rethink anthropocentric relations to our rapidly declining planet.
Nevada Lynn, Irfan, Digital Illustration.
The Real Faces of the Royal Borough - The University of Leicester
2 May - 15 September 2023
An affecting exploration of the complex issues surrounding housing and displacement in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, this exhibition presents a moving portrayal of the real people affected by these issues through the combination of digital portraiture by Canadian artist Nevada Lynn and research by geographer Sharda Rozena. Featuring twelve individuals who have experienced displacement, gentrification and other housing injustices, the exhibition shines a light on the human cost of the housing crisis in this London Borough often associated with wealth and privilege.
David Zilber photography credit: Armin Tehrani
David Zilber and Heather Barnett on Co-Creating with Nature - the Barbican Centre, London
15 May 2023
Part of the Barbican's Encounter series, where two people from different creative worlds are invited to share their experiences, this event features a conversation between Torontonian David Zilber and English artist Heather Barnett. David is a professional chef, food scientist, author, and photographer who has worked in some of the world's top kitchens since 2004, most notably serving as the director of the Fermentation Lab at Restaurant Noma. He also authored the New York Times Bestseller, The Noma Guide to Fermentation, a volume that deserves a place on every foodie’s bookshelf, and he strives to build a more sustainable global food system through his unique approach to food.
Avril Lavigne in concert - multiple locations in the UK
6 - 10 May 2023
For those who grew up listening to the Canadian princess of pop, Avril Lavigne will be there to evoke nostalgia whilst giving a taste of the homegrown talent that we all still secretly–or not so secretly–love. The 8-time Grammy-nominated songstress will be taking the stage in Manchester on the 6th of May, then again in London on the 9th and 10th of May. For a taste of Avril in the UK, you can listen to I’m a Mess, released in November of last year, which features English singer Yungblud.
Lyric, Mark, Mural: Matthew Holman in Conversation with Megan Rooney, The Courtauld, London
2 May 2023
A conversation between Canadian artist Megan Rooney and Dr Matthew Holman will take place at the Courtauld at the beginning of May, accompanying her solo presentation at Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris. The discussion will focus on her practice which explores the possibilities and tensions of abstract painting, the relationship between art and poetry, and the significance of mark-making. A perennial favourite whose educational background includes a BA at the University of Toronto and an MA in Fine Arts at Goldsmiths College in London, Rooney's work expands to painting, poetry, performance and more.