January 2014 – criticismism ii

January 28, 2014January 28, 2014

Tala Madani, Reading Light (2013)

At the risk of over analysing a good joke, itâ€™s worth considering this painting by Tala Madani. It’s as funny as anything in her scurrilous UK survey in Nottingham. The dude with the erect torch, well, in his mind heâ€™s a sex god. He appears to think that red shaft…

January 23, 2014February 13, 2014

Chris Watson and Iain Pate, HRAFN; Conversations with Odin (2013)

Two myths converge in an evocative piece by a sound recordist and a producer. The first myth concerns the most powerful Norse god and the second myth could concern you. HRAFN will be staged in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, with support from the Forestry Commission. The artists reveal that Odin owned…

January 20, 2014

Sam Ayres, Work Programme 28

When even the pawnbrokers are strapped for cash, you know we are in trouble. This sign, using poor materials, was a focal point in Sam Ayresâ€™ recent show at CAC. Other exhibits included a local church made from cardboard boxes and thatched with the pages of homeless-vendor magazine Big Issue.…

January 16, 2014

Charlie Billingham, Port Tack (2013)

A market in ancient Greece is distinguishable from the art market, but by less than you might think. In both you find the free circulation of ideas along with goods and services. Like any auction house, the agora was a place of assembly. It had a political role as much…

January 13, 2014January 13, 2014

Work Programme at CAC

â€œUnfortunately, this being East Germany/Gert patriotically volunteered to be sent on a labour/Beautification course of the countryside north-west of Dresden/And never seen again.â€ * There is something punitive about Work Programme at the gallery known as CAC. At time of writing weâ€™re on edition 28, and more than 27 souls…