ART / Gallery Openings

PUBLIC GALLERIES:

LONDON

COURTAULD INSTITUTE Alejandro Xul Solar. Works on paper by the celebrated Argentinian member of the avant-garde and close friend of Jorge Luis Borges. Fascinating, questioning visions of a new architecture. Somerset House, The Strand, WC2 (071- 873 2526). 5 Jan-27 Feb. Mon-Sat 10.00-6.00, Sun 2.00-6.00; pounds 3, conc pounds 1.50.

ISLINGTON ARTS FACTORY Clifford Coultart. Heavily painted abstracts which look to roots in the Romantic and Abstract Expressionist traditions. 2 Parkhurst Rd, N7 (071-607 0561). 7-28 Jan. Mon 10.00-8.30, Tue-Sat 10.00-5.30; free.

WIGMORE HALL Rebecca Thomson. Expressionist landscapes by the American-born painter. 36 Wigmore St, W1 (071-935 2141). 4 Jan-4 Feb. Mon-Sat 10.00-8.30. Sun 10.30- 8.00; free.

AROUND THE COUNTRY

EDINBURGH National Gallery Turner watercolours. Annual outing for this magnificent collection of 38 watercolours. The Mound (031-556 8921) 4-31 Jan.

EXETER Spacex Gallery Mona Hatoum. A new installation in which the artist has placed two swings opposite each other in an attempt to draw a sinister subtext from objects normally associated with child's play. And Andrea Fisher. Death looms large in a new installation entitled 'Inscription': guided by a shrouded handrail, the viewer advances towards a harrowing image of a victim of war. 45 Preston St (0392 431786). 8 Jan-3 Feb. Tue- Sat 10.00-5.00; free.

LEIGH-ON-SEA Isis Gallery New paintings by Gerry Park and Patrick O'Sullivan and sculpture by Eithne Healy. 1149 London Rd (0702 480004). 8 Jan-12 Feb. Mon-Sat 9.00- 5.00; free.

COMMERCIAL GALLERIES:

LONDON

ALTERNATIVE ART GALLERIES Art in four vacant shops. Includes installations by Claire Robbins, Roz Mortimer and Rachel Matthews. 22, 26, 36 & 44 Chiltern St, W1 (071-375 0441). 5-29 Jan. Tue-Sat 11.00-5.00, Thur to 7.00.

INDEPENDENT GALLERY Clive Barker. Works on paper from the 1960s by the seminal Pop sculptor. 165 Draycott Ave, SW3 (071- 584 4755). 6 Jan-26 Feb. Tue-Sat 10.30-6.30.