Brilliant Things To Do in November

Film Stills: Photography Between Advertising, Art and the Cinema at the Albertina, Vienna: November 4 – February 26, 2017
The Albertina Museum in Vienna is bringing together 130 iconic film stills from 1910s to the 1970s, showcasing the relationship between photography and filmmaking across schools of practice including Expressionism and Art Nouveau from this period. You’ll likely come across some familiar shots from classic films; including a giddy Marilyn Monroe losing control of that billowing white dress over a subway grate from The Seven Year Itch, by the likes of Horst von Harbou and Deborah Imogen Beer.

Spectacular Art Fairs
November is brimming with exciting fairs taking place across the global art scene. From November 3-6, Istanbul will be host to the 11th edition of Contemporary Istanbul, showcasing work from Turkey and around the world, promising a stimulating look at new artists amongst many already-renowned exhibitors.

Meanwhile in Italy, Artissima returns to Turin from November 4-6, with its spirit of innovation and focus on young, avant-garde artists. The fair is set to exhibit works from close to 200 galleries, which all encourage experimentation and research in art.

November 10-13 is set to be a sensational few days in Paris, as the 20th annual Paris Photo is held at the Grand Palais. As ever, the fair guarantees an exceptional selection of photography in all its forms. But this year a special publication will also be released, charting the history and future of Paris Photo through images and texts from the fair’s archive.  

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 at the National Portrait Gallery, London: November 17, 2016 - February 28, 2017
Expect intriguing portraits with fascinating stories behind them, as the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize returns to the National Portrait Gallery this November. The competition is known for the diversity in its display of leading contemporary portrait photographers, as the selection of prize-winning photographs are by talented amateurs and established professionals alike.

Diesel: Finally It All Makes Sense at Fotografiska, Stockholm: November 18, 2016 – February 5, 2017
Diesel’s adverts have had tongues wagging for more than 20 years now, and this month they are the subject of a new exhibition at Fotografiska in Stockholm which will celebrate the elusive mastery of the campaigns and their creators, Johan Lindberg and Jocke Jonason. Charged with political statements and absurdity in equal measure and abundance, the images – many shot by the likes of Ellen von Unwerth and other world-renowned fashion photographers – were originally released to be interpreted at the will of the consumer’s imagination, and are now presented afresh for us to make sense of. (Or not, as the case may be.)

The Best of Film
The dark winter evenings have arrived, and with them the perfect excuse for regular cinema excursions. Don’t miss Nocturnal Animals, Tom Ford’s highly anticipated follow up to A Single Man, which will hold you gripped from start to finish with its seamlessly interwoven stories centred on an L.A. art dealer’s crumbling relationship with her second husband (and a subsequent haunting from a violent novel written by her estranged first). Sci-fi fans will be thrilled by Denis Villeneuve’s thought-provoking Arrival which sees Amy Adams as a linguistics professor who has been assigned the daunting task of communicating with an influx of extraterrestrial visitors.

Meanwhile, celebrated auteur Jim Jarmusch brings us not one but two excellent films this month. The first, Paterson, stars a pitch-perfect Adam Driver as a persevering bus driver who composes poems each day before work; whilst the second, Gimme Danger, takes a documentary look at the electrifying rise of rock provocateurs Iggy and the Stooges.

Iggy Pop Life Class by Jeremy Deller at the Brooklyn Museum, New York: November 4, 2016 – March 24, 2017
More from Iggy! In New York, Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller turned life drawing on its head when he brought the rock musician in to model for 22 unsuspecting artists, adding a performative pop culture element to the one-day class. The resulting pieces form part of a subversive new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and examine the drawings alongside works chosen by Deller from the museum’s archive in a study of historic representations of masculinity.       

Antropofagia y Modernidad Colección Fadel at Malba, Buenos Aires: November 25, 2016 – February 22, 2017
Charting the history of Brazilian art through much of the 20th century, Antropofagia y Modernidad comprises a selection of works from the collection of Heclida and Sérgio Fadel; encompassing painting, sculpture, drawing and installation. The works are arranged chronologically and thematically, highlighting the rise of modernism (both autochthonous and international) in Brazilian art during the 1930s, through to a more contemporary scene that appeared from the 1960s onwards; and always linking the art to the cultural construction of Brazil.

Teller on Mapplethorpe at Alison Jacques Gallery, London: November 18, 2016 – January 7, 2017
With access to Robert Mapplethorpe’s collection in its entirety, German photographer Juergen Teller has curated a much-anticipated exhibition to honour the pioneering photographer, coinciding with what would have been Mapplethorpe’s 70th birthday. The exhibition, held at Alison Jacques Gallery in London, sees Teller collaborate with The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation in New York to select 58 images representative of Mapplethorpe’s entire career of controversial and divisive - yet undeniably astonishing - photography from the early 70s to the late 80s.  

2016 World Press Photo Exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall, London: November 4 - 21, 2016
The World Press Photo Foundation is once again staging its moving exhibition of finalists nominated in the World Press Photo of the Year competition, allowing the collection of emotionally charged and inspiring photography to reach 100 cities in 45 countries. The Royal Festival Hall hosts the free show when it comes to London on November 4, a chance to witness excellence in photojournalism dealing with happenings of global importance from the past year. Expect eye-opening glimpses into events – and the photographers’ accounts of how they achieved the incredible images – from the refugee crisis to a post-earthquake avalanche in Nepal.

Jamian Juliano-Villani: The World’s Greatest Planet on Earth at Studio Voltaire, London: October 1 – December 11, 2016
It’s hard not to be excited by Jamian Juliano-Villani’s gigantic and highly unique paintings and sculptural installations, a new collection of which are on display at London’s Studio Voltaire until December 11. While the content of this innovative exhibition may at times eclipse our understanding, it is this ability to take on manifold meanings that makes her work so intriguing and beguiling. Composed using a wealth of varying imagery and techniques, Juliano-Villani’s newly commissioned pieces are sure to maintain this aspect of multiplicity, guaranteeing that this is not an exhibition to miss.

Hideyuki Ishibashi at IBASHO Gallery, Antwerp: October 20 – November 20, 2016
Japanese artist Hideyuki Ishibashi has taken to using found photographs – from antique market finds to anonymous online images – combined with distinctive scanning, layering and collaging techniques to create new images with their own novel meanings. Antwerp’s IBASHO Gallery is presenting Ishibashi’s first solo exhibition that will highlight the elements of mystery embedded in his enigmatic work through the atypical way he approaches his practice.

Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism 1910-1950 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: October 25, 2016 - January 8, 2017
Featuring a vast range of art, from paintings and prints to books and broadsheets, Paint the Revolution at the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a comprehensive collection of Mexican modernist art from the first half of the 20th century that tracks a turbulent cultural and political period of time in Mexican history. The exhibition deals initially with start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, and follows developments in Mexican art through to the end of World War Two, making it a fascinating look into a crucial period of momentous change in the country’s cultural history. What’s more - in a modern approach to some of the great artists of this period - the exhibition will display digital forms of murals by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros, in what is sure to be a welcome contemporary twist on the traditional exhibition format.

Great Performances
This month marks the return of J.B. Priestley's seminal play An Inspector Calls to the West End 70 years after its debut. Director Stephen Daldry cleverly emphasises the contemporary relevance of this classic thriller and its sobering moral message in what promises to be an enthralling watch. The New York production of Sam Shepard’s 1978, Pulitzer Prize-winning play Buried Child transfers to Trafalgar Studios on November 14, packing a political punch in its compelling dissection of the American Dream in 1970s rural America. Jonathan Maitland’s new play Deny, Deny, Deny takes a futuristic look at the consequences of doping in competitive sport, with gripping results. Opera fans, don’t miss Catherine Malfitano’s exquisite production of Tosca at London’s ENO, a powerful and poignant rendition of Puccini’s lauded tale of politics, passion and murder. Finally there’s the much-anticipated West End debut of Dreamgirls, the theatrical rendition of 2006’s much-loved, Beyonce-starring musical inspired by Diana Ross and the Supremes, which charts the highs and lows of a trio of female soul singers as they hit the big-time in 1960s America.

TINCT workshops at Flat Iron Square, London: November 17 – December 1, 2016
Brother and sister team Ben and Rosie Broad have reappeared with a second pop-up for their British leather handbag brand TINCT. However, to think that this is just another pop-up shop, would be to wildly underestimate TINCT: the duo are holding a series of weird and wonderful workshops in the newly developed space at Flat Iron Square throughout November and December. Highlights include butterfly mounting, calligraphy, and "festive" taxidermy, plus the chance to shop TINCT’s delectable leather goods and peruse the treats on offer from their restaurant neighbours in Devonshire House.     

Draw Haus Creative Workshops with Kojey Radical and Joy BC at Fredericks Place, London: November 10 and November 17, 2016
It seems November is the month for workshopping, as London-based creative studio Draw Haus are launching their first classes with spoken word poet and musician Kojey Radical, and artist and jeweller Joy BC. Both of the workshops aim to educate and inspire with flair and creativity: MOBO-nominated Kojey Radical will establish the fundamentals of spoken word as an art form and its ties to creative writing, while Joy BC’s ring-making session promises an insightful peek into the myriad of inspirations behind jewellery making, resulting in your own unique piece carved from a wax model.

The Best in Food and Drink
This month we’ll be treated to a plethora of exciting offerings in the world of food. Recently opened Italian restaurant Ostuni have developed a menu celebrating the black truffle from Puglia, which is available throughout November and December in both the Highgate and Queens Park restaurants. Think truffle-infused burrata, or roast lamb rump with lentils, wild garlic and chicory, and characterful Puglian wines to accompany. More Italian cuisine by way of Chiltern Street is on offer at Fucina, billed as bringing the very best organic Italian ingredients to Marylebone and creating deliciously nourishing and wholesome dishes. Neil Rankin is staying true to his barbeque roots with the opening of Temper in Soho on November 5; a South American-inspired barbecue restaurant serving high quality meats cooked on an open kitchen fire, alongside deliciously simple sides and plenty of wine and cocktails.

Also in Soho, over on Poland Street, Corazón Taqueria will provide food and atmosphere coolly inspired by the Condesa neighbourhood of Mexico City, with signature tacos and ceviches, brunch on the weekends and rum-based cocktails to see us through winter. While November might not be the obvious month to climb aboard a canal boat, the London Shell Company’s new opening on The Prince Regent will be worth the plunge, serving the best seasonal seafood and game on either a static lunch or a dinner cruise down London’s historical canal.

Further afield, travelling restaurant Xiringuito has announced a disused warehouse near Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle as its next temporary location, having spent the summer in Margate serving up their menu of internationally influenced British food. The move to Liverpool will also see the release of newly commissioned menu art by illustrator John Booth.