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Christopher Allen has been The Australian’s national art critic since 2008. He is an art historian and educator, teaching classical Greek and Latin. He has written an edited several books including Art in Australia and believes that the history of art in this country is often underestimated.

Latest

Review

Angelica Mesiti, Relay League (production still), 2017. Courtesy the artist; Anna Schwartz Gallery, Melbourne; and Galerie Allen, Paris From the exhibition: Angelica Mesiti Relay LeagueArtspace, Sydney4 May – 9 July 2017 To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; not to be altered, overprinted; must credit

Message received

Angelica Mesiti has long been interested in modes of human communication over distances and in proximity.

Christopher Allen

Review

Kader AttiaJ’Accuse2016 Installation view, Kader Attia, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2017 teak, steel rebar, single-channel digital video, projection, colour, sound Courtesy the artist and Galerie Nagel Draxler, Berlin/Cologne Image courtesy the artist and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia © the artist Photograph: Jacquie Manning From the exhibition: Kader Attia MCA, Sydney 12 April-30 July 2017 To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; must credit

Between two worlds

Algerian-French artist Kader Attia tackles cultural loss and displacement, but through the prism of repair.

Christopher Allen

Review

David Stephenson The Zinc Works and Mount Wellington from Store Point, Tasmania 2004 from the series Marking time 2003-05 type C photograph 120 x 159 cm Art Gallery of New South Wales Gift of the artist 2011 © David Stephenson Photo: Diana Panuccio, AGNSW *** This image may only be used in conjunction with editorial coverage of the 'David Stephenson human landscapes' exhibition, 14 Apr – 23 Jul 2017, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This image may not be cropped or overwritten. Prior approval in writing required for use as a cover. Caption details must accompany reproduction of the image. *** Media contact: Hannah.McKissock-Davis@ag.nsw.gov.au *** Local Caption *** *** This image may only be used in conjunction with editorial coverage of the 'David Stephenson human landscapes' exhibition, 14 Apr – 23 Jul 2017, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This image may not be cropped or overwritten. Prior approval in writing required for use as a cover. Caption details must accompany reproduction of the image. *** Media contact: Hannah.McKissock-Davis@ag.nsw.gov.au

Human nature

Photographer David Stephenson’s work navigates the delicate balance of art and politics.

Christopher Allen

Review

Dutch 1853–1890A wheatfield, with cypresses early September 1889 Saint-Rémyoil on canvas72.1 x 90.9 cmNational Gallery, LondonBought, Courtauld Fund, 1923 (NG3861)© The National Gallery, London FOR WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN *REVIEW* USE ONLYFrom the exhibition:Van Gogh and the SeasonsNGV International / National Gallery of Victoria, 2017 These images are only to be used in a non-commercial manner for editorial coverage solely to review or promote Van Gogh and the Seasons Not to be cropped, overprinted, altered; must credit

Vincent’s harvest

There are many misunderstandings about Van Gogh, including that he painted under the inspiration of insanity.

Christopher Allen

Review

Love’s sensual delights

Love is clearly an appealing subject, as a slow day at the National Gallery of Victoria shows.

Christopher Allen

Review

Hyung S. KIM, Kim Julja, Dodu Jeju 2013 (detail), 90.5 x 59.0 inches. Courtesy of the artist. From the exhibition: The Ocean After NatureCurated by Alaina Feldman for Independent Curators International, New York (ICI) Samstag Museum, University of South Australia Friday 3 March - Friday 9 June 2017To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; not to be altered, overprinted; must credit

Staying afloat

Allan Sekula’s ‘forgotten space’ is the vast ocean, which has been denatured in a relentless pursuit of trade.

Christopher Allen

Review

Fresh look at forsaken figures

The strength of Timothy Hyman’s book is it is not a theoretical treatise but a patchwork of figurative art history.

Christopher Allen

Review

Harold Freedman Self-portrait, 1940Courtesy: State Library of Victoria; must credit From the exhibition: Harold Freedman: Artist for the People Art Gallery of BallaratSat 1 Apr, 2017 – Sun 28 May, 2017 To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; not to be cropped, overprinted, altered; must credit

Missing in action

This Harold Freedman exhibition shows his works had a lot of energy but paid insufficient attention to the world.

Christopher Allen

Review

Installation view Versus Rodin: bodies across space and time, Art Gallery of South Australia, 2017

Bodily functions

We may ask why this exhibition is called “versus” Rodin, but first: how did Adelaide get such a great collection?

Christopher Allen

Review

From the eve of destruction

All ruined cities remind us of time passing and the fragility of human life, but Pompeii and Herculaneum are special.

Christopher Allen

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/christopher-allen/page/46