Tag Archives: artist

Chris Kenny: The Flowers That Did In Eden Bloom

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In a series of painstakingly constructed works using found materials (such as text cut from books, maps and abandoned landscape paintings), West London-based artist Chris Kenny examines and muses on the notion of Paradise: our attempt to define it, build it, reach it or perhaps remember it.

Rows of little wooden houses built from abandoned amateur landscape paintings are incised with the names of ideal worlds: Arcadia, Elysium, Utopia. They poignantly demonstrate the common desire to make a heaven on earth, a perfect garden, a harmonious society. Stories assembled from phrases cut from a multitude of books describe places heavenly but sinister, whilst complex floating assemblages of map fragments form circular ‘signs’ for an island or a terminus where the specific and universal are interwoven.

Kenny has exhibited with England & Co for over a decade with six solo shows to date, and has exhibited internationally including at the Museum of Art & Design, New York in their 2009 exhibition Slash: Paper Under the Knife. Kenny’s works have been reproduced in many magazines, exhibition catalogues and books, including You are Here and The Map As Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography.

More information on Chris Kenny is available from the England & Co website.

Date: 26 April 2014 – 11 May 2014

Location: PM Gallery & House, Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing, London

Cost: Free

Exhibition tour
Saturday 10 May, 2pm
Join us for an informal tour of the exhibition with artist Chris Kenny.
Free – just turn up

 

Martin Creed, ‘What’s the point of it?’, Hayward Gallery

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Martin Creed is a British artist and musician. In 2001 he won the Turner Prize for the seemingly simplistic Work No. 227: The lights going on and off, an empty room in which the lights did indeed go on and off, at five second intervals. This eccentric artist lives and works in London and continues to push boundaries in his work.

Playful and peculiar, this first major survey of Creed’s work is currently on show at the Hayward Gallery and aims to encourage thought and discussion, exemplified by the title of exhibition, ‘What’s the Point of it?’ It is a random sequence of pieces, often art is disguised in a strange object, disturbing video or abstract action. There is a range of works and installations that will titillate and alarm all of your senses.

When you enter the gallery an impressive spinning neon banner reads ‘MOTHERS’, meanwhile metronomes tick constantly around the room. This neon sign seemed particularly appropriate when I visited (the day before Mothering Sunday), it is inspiring and yet intrusive. A man sits at a piano descending and then ascending playing each semi-tone, each note is given an equal amount of time. It is odd and leaves the visitor wondering ‘why?’

I have seen Creed’s revolting vomit video before, and this time round found it just as unsettling, in fact I couldn’t watch for more than a few seconds. Is this what the artist intends? Again we are left questioning, almost frustrated by the lack of understanding or explanation. Upstairs the pieces have a more pleasing aesthetic quality. Colour and shape is more evident and there are several entertaining pieces which are enjoyable to ponder and watch. Visitors are encouraged to enter a room full of white balloons, squeeze in amongst them and feel the static energy.

Despite an obvious lack of traditional artistic craft, this exhibition offers wit and wisdom and could not bore even the most complacent visitor. It is a colourful and varied display from one of London’s most thrilling artists.

Martin Creed continues until 5 May at the Hayward Gallery, more information and buy tickets here.