artfirstprimo at the South London Gallery

It's your last chance to see Dara Birnbaum's exhibition this year! We are open until 6pm today (& reopen on 3 Jan) http://bit.ly/vfY7D2

 

Yes, you do indeed find me at the South London Gallery, just a few days ago on 23rd December, looking at the video installation work of American artist Dara Birnbaum.  A cascade of music greets one in the dark expanse of the main exhibition space here at the UK premiere of Dara Birnbaum's Arabesque at the SLG. There's several clips of only women playing Schumann's Arabesque, with just one of Clara Schumann's little known piece Romanze 1, opus 11.  The purpose of Birnbaum's work becomes clear quite quickly, but I must say I really loved the rare opportunity to sit and listen to the Schumann's work in an unusual an somewhat reverential atmosphere created here at the SLG by the artist, Gallery and curator.