THIS IS LONDON JUNE EDITION 2025 - Flipbook - Page 24
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Rizwan Javed MBE – Jack Dickson.
TRACES: AN INTIMATE ENCOUNTER
WITH PROCESS AND PORTRAITURE
IN MAYFAIR
This July, This Is London turns its
spotlight on Traces, an evocative new
exhibition at 54 The Gallery, nestled in the
heart of Shepherd Market, just moments
from the Royal Academy. From 7 to 13
July, this jewel-box gallery plays host to
two of Dorset’s most compelling
contemporary artists: Jack Dickson and
Helen Dean, whose distinct yet
complementary practices explore the
intricacies of narrative, material, and
process.
Marking their second collaboration at
this intimate Mayfair venue, Traces brings
together recent works that reveal the
artists' continued dedication to close
observation, storytelling, and the tactile
potential of their mediums. The exhibition
promises a dynamic dialogue between
Dickson’s vivid portraiture and Dean’s
meticulous draughtsmanship.
Jack Dickson has rapidly become a
name to know. His multi-layered portraits,
rich in colour and character, have captured
the public imagination
through high-profile
appearances on Sky Arts’
Portrait Artist of the Year,
the BBC’s Make it At
Market, and most
recently, Extraordinary
Portraits on BBC One in
2025. His innovative
approach to portraiture,
where a bold mix of
media meets
psychological insight,
has earned him a
growing reputation as
one of the UK’s most
exciting contemporary
portrait painters.
In contrast, Helen
Dean’s finely wrought
drawings invite viewers
into quieter, more
contemplative territory.
Her works, often built
from thousands of
marks, reward close inspection and speak
to a deep engagement with the act of
looking. With exhibitions in major
galleries and pieces held in both public
and private collections, Dean’s work
continues to resonate with collectors and
curators alike.
Together both artists offer a rich visual
experience; two voices in harmony, united
by a shared commitment to craft and
curiosity. Whether you're a seasoned art
lover or a curious passer-by, Traces is an
unmissable opportunity to witness two
distinct visions converge in one of
London’s most charming artistic enclaves.
Traces runs from 7 to 13 July at
54 The Gallery, Shepherd Market, Mayfair.
MARIO SAVINI – THEORY OF
COLOURS: HOW TO INTERPRET AN
EARTHQUAKE VISUALLY
From 10-14 July, University College
London will host the 13th European
Conference on Arts & Humanities,
organized by the IAFOR Research Centre
of Osaka University in collaboration with
Birkbeck, University of London, and in
affiliation with University College London.
Among the international speakers is
Italian researcher Mario Savini, who will
present a talk entitled Theory of Colours:
How to Interpret an Earthquake Visually –
an innovative theory that proposes a visual
representation of earthquakes through the
use of colour.
Savini’s project demonstrates how
seismic events, typically described in
terms of magnitude and depth, can be
translated into specific colour gradations.
Using a mathematical formula, the study
interprets the colour scale of the universal
pH indicator, assigning each earthquake a
precise shade, complete with its
corresponding HEX code. On the occasion
of the conference, a web app will also be
presented, allowing users to obtain realtime colour correlations for seismic
events. The research is part of an
interdisciplinary approach exploring the
connections between art and science,
emphasizing the expressive potential of
visual arts in understanding and
representing complex natural phenomena.
Oak Tree 2, Shipstal Beach, Arne 2025. Helen Dean
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