THE first two major art exhibitions of the Capital of Culture year open this week.

The sculptures and paintings of an iconic yet overlooked artist of the 1960s psychedelic movement, and a contemporary look at the mixing of art and science open at two of the city’s leading galleries tomorrow.

Tate Liverpool hosts a retrospective look at the work of French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, the first in the UK since her death in 2002.

Yesterday her granddaughter Bloum Cardenas took a look around the exhibition ahead of its public opening, from when it will run until May 5.

Examples of the artist’s bright and deceptively playful sculptures from all phases of her career will be on display for the special exhibition.

The pieces include her early work in the 1950s, her acclaimed Shooting Paintings in the early 1960s, the religious altars and bride sculptures in the mid-1960s, larger sculptures, graphic works and late works including 1990’s Skull Meditation Room.

Over at Fact on Wood Street there will be the European premiere ofsk-interfaces, a ground-breaking exhibition exploring the idea of skin as a place where art, science, philosophy and social culture meet, featuring works from 15 international artists.

Among them is Australian performance artist Stelarc, who will be documenting the creation of his piece Extra Ear or Ear on Arm.

Not for the faint-hearted, his work shows the operation on his own forearm to implant a third “ear” in which he eventually hopes to incorporate Bluetooth technology.

Fact will be holding a two-day conference – with contributions from most of the artists including the internationally renowned French experimentalist Orlan – to further examine the issues surrounding the exhibition, over February 8 and 9.

Throughout 2008, Fact is devoting its programme to the one overall concept of Human Futures.

The year will be divided into three sections – My Body, My Mind and My World, each one hosting a major exhibition, conference and research focus.

Mike Stubbs, director and CEO of Fact said: “We open our 08 programme committed to pushing at the boundaries of how and what creative technologies and art can be.”

A book, sk-inter-faces – Creating Membranes in Art, Technology and Society, is being published by Liverpool University Press to coincide with the exhibition, which runs from February 1 until March 30.

FOR more on the Niki de Saint Phalle exhibition, don’t miss Phil Key in Box Office in Friday’s Post.

vickyanderson