Feast your eyes on these visual splendours

I Hiroshi Sugimoto Known for his |Ol‘Tg-GXDOSUFG photographic series of empty movie theatres.

museum dioramas and waxworks.

the internationally renowned Japanese photographer turns his camera on icons of 20th century architecture. pine trees and oceans around the globe. A major solo showcase of work. l-‘rurtmarket Gallery. 225 2383 and Stills. 622 6200. 3 Aug—27 Sep. daily lOarn~ 7pm luntil 7 Sep only). £3 r’fli.

I Howard Hodgkin: Large Paintings 1 984-2002 Coinciding with the artist's 70th birthday. around 20 paintings made over the last two decades. including newly completed works on show for the first time. One of the most significant painters working in Britain today. Hodgkin paints thoughts and memories of events or places he's seen. delving deep into his subconscious. Dean Gallery 624 6200. 7 Aug—6 Oct. lVlO/i--SEII 70am—5pm; Sun 7 7am~5pnr

£73. 50 (£2. 50/.

I Cy Mombly Studying under Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell. Twombly received the Golden Lion award at last year's Venice Biennale in recognition of a litetime's achievement. His graffiti— like works, inspired by Klee and the abstract expressionists combines art and language with elements of the unconscious. lnver/e/‘th House. 552 77 7 7, 9 Aug—~27 Oct. daily loam-5.30pm, free.

I Moyna Flannigan: I’m a Stranger Here Myself New oils and watercolours of fictional characters by Edinburgh-based artist tvtoyna Flannigan. Without the use of sitters or photographs. Flannigan creates intriguing portraits made from memory. doggerfisher. 558 77 IO. 8 Augu29 Sep. Wed~Sat

I la/77——6/.‘)m,' Sun 2—5pm, free.

I Bob and Roberta Smith: Artists are a Bunch of Cowards Having shown extensively over the past few years. London—based Bob and Roberta Smith (an imaginary COuple made up by Goldsmiths graduate Patrick Brill) present new work including wall paintings and text-based pieces. Collective Gallery, 220 7260. 20 Jul~7 Sep. Tue—Sun llarn~5prn, free.

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The renowned Sugimoto

FESTIVAL BOOKS

Time to see what you’ve all been reading about

Alan Bennett Public appearances from the laconic Yorkshirernan are as rare as his prose and deliy'ery are delicate. l'hat's to say. yer‘y. there's S3()l‘l(?tllllltl terribly l()‘\."i?ly about the man returning to where it all started for him in 1000. Alongside Dudley Moore. Peter (look and .Jonathan Miller. Alan Bennett came from Beyond the l r‘inge. l'hen. he was scribbling skits about nuclear devastation. the cold \.'.'ar and capital punishment. Nozz'aday s he's more likely to regale you >.'.'rth odes about crur‘ilis oi cream crackers lodged in the upholstery or sordid tales of a y'icar's dypso t.‘.’ll(} hay:ng it off wrth a shopkeeper. All y'er‘sed rn tones you could listen to all night long. (Ionsrgriia Theatre. ($2.1 5050. ltl/lug, 7.7.;5’0ani a l .7 Aug 7pm, .‘U' ‘55.

Janice Galloway ()ritics and readers loy'e .Janice (ialloy'ay. lhe mass adulation ll'()l‘l r‘e\.rey'.'er's of her latest. (,‘lara. has been a sight to behold. And this has been matched by the buying public who helpeu propel her fictionalrsed biography of

the 19th century musician and wife of the mad Robert Schumann to the top of the Scottish charts. Sprege/tent. 624 5050. 77 Aug. 10.30am. £7 (£5).

a Stephen Poliakofl Those who believe that quality TV drama is dead have clearly not acquainted themselves with the work of Stephen Poliakoff. While at times his work has left viewers bemused (I'm still struggling to work out what The Tribe was all about other than a gratuitous Opportunity to gaze at Anna Friel's flesh). more often than not he can make the kind of emotional connections that his contemporaries merely dream about. Perfect Strangers and Shooting the Past are just two of his landmark triumphs. Consignia Theatre. (524 5050. 20 Aug, (5.1%);3/7). {‘8 476).

all; Harold Pinter When it was announced that Harold Pinter had cancer of the oesOphagus. he reacted by taking on his tumour in a poem. Arguably, the most influential and infuriating playwright of post- war Britain, his most recent work to tour this way. No Man's Land. reminded us of his ability to evoke dark wit and hostile undercurrents. The event will undoubtedly make you pause for thought. Consignia Theatre. 624 5050. 25 Aug. 4.30pm. £7 if5i.

at David Starkey Simon Schama tried his best. but David Starkey is the number one when it comes to making history funky. The venerable doctor has risen from being the sole offspring of working class Quakers to the highest paid presenter on telly rrumour has it that he's been handed 975.000 an hour to write 25 hours of history (‘locumentarresl While he outstrips Cilia. Carol and Kerry in the financial stakes. only Big Brother attracts more viewers on Channel 3.. Consrgnra Theatre. 624 5050. 25 Aug. 8pm, £8 (for.

' fun: THE LIST 33