Listings: September 2010

Urban Africa
David Adjaye’s documentation of the continent of his birth is part of his research into new patterns of urbanism. He examines the buildings and places that have a special resonance for him.
> 5 September
Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD
www.designmuseum.org

Ernesto Neto: The edges of the world
Walk through Brazilian Ernesto Neto’s gloopy, intestinal nightclubby spaces or duck into his rooftop pool in the first show since the Hayward Gallery’s nuts and bolts refurb. Alongside is the New Décor: 30 artists’ takes on familiar forms.
> To 5 September
Hayward Gallery, South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road
London SE1 8XX
www.haywardgallery.org.uk

National Open Days
From abbeys to allotments, temples to tennis clubs, all free
to visit across the UK in September.
> Around 9-12 September or every weekend in September depending on location.
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
www.doorsopendays.org.uk
www.ni-environment.gov.uk
www.civictrustwales.org

The Surreal House
Labyrinthine exploration of surreal art in ‘surreal house’ by Carmody Groarke. With work from architects John Hejduk, Coop Himmelb(l)au and others. In The Curve gallery John Bock lands a mobile home and parasitic structures.
> To 12 September
Barbican Art Gallery, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
www.barbican.org.uk

Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlinson
No Sign of Helicopters explores containment or release. Can a naked man in a admiral’s hat throw light on changing neighbourhoods (as it claims)? Take a look and see.
> 16 September to 16 October
Ceri Hand Gallery, 12 Cotton Street, Liverpool L3 7DY
www.cerihand.co.uk

Touched: Liverpool biennial
Includes an international angle with exhibitions on city states that draw in work in Taipei, Vilnius and Jerusalem. Also a chance to see Bruce Mau talking about the regeneration potential around Everton Park.
> 18 September to 28 November
Across Liverpool
www.biennial.com

Cornelia Parker: Doubtful Sound
Exploring and testing the world around her, artist Cornelia Parker makes beautiful objects. First UK showing for her Perpetual Canon of 60 silver plated marching band instruments; squashed and hung.
> To 19 September
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
www.balticmill.com

John Pawson: Plain space
Pawson has taken the opportunity of a dedicated exhibition to reduce and edit the Design Museum’s own space with barrel vaulted roof, dappled light filtered through a gauze and wooden floor and furniture. Also on show will be his work since the early 1980s.
> 22 September by 30 January
Design Museum, Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD
www.designmuseum.org

René Daniëls: Painting in Unknown Languages
Eindhoven-based Daniëls brings an expressive, spatial feeling to his paintings. Look out for the ‘bow tie’, with windows and without, and some abnormal perspectives.
> 24 September to 28 November
Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Road, London NW3 6DG
www.camdenartscentre.org

Tomas Saraceno
Spheres and strings mark out the work of this Argentinian artist and architect. Visitors will be able to walk around this major work, 14 Billions, that is an oversized model of the web of a black widow spider.
> To 10 October
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3BA
www.balticmill.com

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion
Play table tennis with Jean Nouvel. His unambiguously red pavilion with dramatic angles and bold forms in glass, polycarbonate and fabric will incorporate table tennis tables as well as a gathering space and, most importantly, café
> To 17 October
Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
www.serpentine gallery.org

Venice BIennale
Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima takes people met in architecture as her theme. Representing Britain is MUF.
> To 30 November
Around Venice
www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/exhibition/

RIBAJ recommends

Open House London
The trophy opening this year is the BT Tower, but book early to experience the dislocation as the 34th-floor restaurant revolves. The other big themes are neighbourhood (spaces between buildings apparently) and future (Barking Riverside and the Olympic Park) and of course lots of fab buildings.
18-19 September
Across London
www.openhouselondon.org.uk

Don’t miss

Bristol Green doors
Fifty homes across Bristol open their doors. But these are not just ordinary doors, they all open onto houses that have been sustainably retrofitted. From architect-designed to DIY with all the energy- and water-saving gizmos you can think of (though should a wood-fired hot tub really qualify?). Part of Bristol Doors Open Day.
11-12 September
Across Bristol
www.bristolgreendoors.org