It wasn’t until the 1990s that new legislation saw the demise of over 600 pirate stations nationwide. But the cultural and historical significance of their legacy lives on, and it’s what makes this show such a brilliant homage. The black and white images from renowned photographer David Corio (NME, The Face, Echoes) are worth the trip alone.

Pic: David Corio

The exhibition runs until 19th July, but there’s also a number of related events worth sticking in the diary. On 3rd July, Giles Peterson will be hosting a lunchtime discussion about Radio Invicta, Europe’s first soul station – and on the 19th, Logan Sama and the Boiler room will be closing the exhibition with a grime night in tribute to the Dirty Canvas sessions formerly held in the ICA bar.

For more information visit www.ica.org.uk/whats-on/shout-out-uk-pirate-radio-1980s

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This intimate exhibition in the reading room at the ICA traces the events on the island in the early 80s. It was the moment when dance music really took hold, home to three of the worlds most influential clubs:  Pacha, Amnesia and Ku. Their outlandish reputation was all thanks to the hippie’s influence who had been paving the way for alternative lifestyles and developing a party style that can only be shown way beyond the watershed. It’s also a time when four young British DJs would travel out on a week’s holiday, only to return and write the UK’s rulebook on acid house.

Two relatively unknown artists feature in the exhibit – Yves Uro, a graphic designer who drew most of the posters for the nightclub Ku and Armin Heinemann, owner and designer at the boutique fashion store Paul’s Ibiza. Their work inspired a generation, globally, but was only ever intended for the local audience. The exhibition will also show previously unpublished photos from the club Ku.

Interestingly, 2manydjs have had a hand in the curation alongside IDEA books and the Wild Life Archive. You may have missed the closing parties for this year but this will no doubt get you in the mood for the coming season. (Words: Laura Thornley)

Ibiza: Moments In Love is on from 27 November 2013 – 26 January 2014. For more info visit: www.ica.org.uk

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The punk years are often the yardstick for subcultural activity and unsurprisingly they are the starting point for the ICA’s latest off-site project. Set in the Old Selfridges Hotel, the new show A Journey Through London Subculture: 1980s to Now attempts to trace a line from DIY to the present day, via many weird and wonderful creators.

Taking a photo of House of Beauty and Culture owners Judy Blame and John Moore mudlarking on the banks of the Thames as its springboard, the show will make connections between practitioners across artforms and how the ethos of DIY and experimentation still thrives within London creative communities.

Judy Blame (pic: Crane.tv)

Being housed at The Old Selfridges Hotel and taking place during London Fashion Week means the exhibition has an unavoidable fashion slant. Familiar names featured include Alexander McQueen, Michael Clark, Bodymap, Leigh Bowery and Trojan. But, the show will also include some very contemporary activities. Laying some focus on the Dalston art scene, the exhibition highlights venues such as Café Oto and Vogue Fabrics as descendants of Soho’s legendary Taboo club. And, it will even spare a thought for the Serpentine’s Edgware road project; can the way art organisations engage with communities be considered subcultural? There may be few conclusions to their argument but this exhibition will definitely spark some interesting ideas. (Words: Laura Thornley)

On from 13 September – 20 October. For more info, visit: www.ica.org.uk

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Since 2005, its success comes down to the artworks specifically commissioned for the plinth: cue some really interesting responses to this unique public forum. Artists Yinka Shonibare, Marc Quinn, Bill Woodrow and Thomas Schutte have all had a go. Anthony Gormley’s piece One and Other, has arguably been the most inventive and memorable response – an invitation to the public to apply for a one hour opportunity to stand on the plinth and use it as they will. The commissioning group features the top dogs of the contemporary art world in London and  Jeremy Deller, Ekow Eshun (former ICA director), Grayson Perry, Matthew Slotover (co-director of Frieze) all have a say in what goes up.

The exhibition will take a further broad look at how the plinth has been accepted or reviled by its audience. Drawing on archive material, media responses and public comments, the show promises to also shed light on how contemporary art is understood by broader society. Like the comments board at the end of a blockbuster show, the exhibition gives some much needed space to ponder the relevance of the plinth project. Well worth a visit. (Words: Laura Thornley) 

The Fourth Plinth: Contemporary Monument exhibition runs until January 20, 2013. For more info, visit:  http://www.ica.org.uk/35205/Exhibitions/Fourth-Plinth-Contemporary-Monument.html

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Selectors this year have picked 29 finalists, from over 1,200 submissions, to give us a ‘sneak peek’ of the future. The artists, either new or recent graduates and final year students, all hail from art institutions across the UK. Participating contributors include Nicola Frimpong who uses watercolour and coloured inks to explore the themes of violence, hatred and sexuality; and Bryan Dooley who spent weeks photographing New York University’s running team for his Trak Star series.  There’s also Jackson Sprague and Jennifer Phelan, who engage with sculpture on various scales – and working with the moving image Anita Delaney, whose film Ready for a Fight has been cited as one of the stronger video pieces on show.

This year’s exhibition opened in Liverpool, as part of the city’s Biennial art festival before heading to the ICA. So here’s a brilliant opportunity to check out what’s happening in the UK art scene, maybe spot some emerging trends and even discover a future Turner Prize winner or two. (Words: Eri Otite)

Bloomberg New Contemporaries at the ICA from 27 November 2012 – 13 January 2013. For more info, visit www.ica.org.uk

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Curse or powerful tool? The TV has plagued and empowered the world no matter which side of the fence you are on – and the artists in this exhibition have all used it to explore this very fact. The Remote Control season has great works on show from ANT FARM, Harun Farocki, Adrian Piper and Dan Graham amongst many others. Accompanying the exhibition will be a series of talks and special film screenings that explore a whole host of exciting art and TV related areas, including art made for TV. A real insight into the small screen – not to be missed. (Words: Laura Thornley) 

Remote Control is on at the ICA until June 10th.  For more info, click here…

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