The art world is coming back to life. Almost unbelievably, when so much of the UK remains closed, London’s leading commercial galleries all reopen<www.artlyst.com/news/londons-galleries-and-auction-houses-to-reopen-from-15-june/#:~:text=London%27s%20Galleries%20And%20Auction%20Houses%20To%20Reopen%20From%2015%20June,-8%20June%202020&text=The%….> next week. White Cube<whitecube.com/> is to open its Bermondsey space and Mason’s Yard branch, while Gagosian launches three<gagosian.com/exhibitions/upcoming/> brand new exhibitions across its London venues. Other galleries due to open on 15 June include Cristea Roberts<cristearoberts.com/>, Hauser & Wirth<news.artnet.com/art-world/central-london-galleries-reopen-1881276> and Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac<ropac.net/>.
In the struggle against Covid-19<www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/20/art-world-coronavirus-pandemic-online-artists-galleries>, as in a war, we’ve all suppressed some basic and obvious facts in the interests of the greater good. One is the simple truth that however much energy and ingenuity go into online alternatives<www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/mar/25/the-best-online-art-galleries-adrian-searle> to the living presence of art, virtual exhibitions can only ever be spectral, sadly unsatisfying substitutes for the real thing. In effect, all the online curator’s tours, video visits and newsletters have replaced art with public relations.
Take this post-covid opportunity to re-connect with real time viewing of art in real galleries !
