An exhibition review for my research portfolio. Enjoy!
Martin Creed seems to have a very systematic way of displaying his work. Despite the chaos of colours, sounds and movements, the pieces are placed in number order. Fifty percent of works you could pass by without noticing, but the rest catch you by surprise; objects move and react, making them seem like characters in themselves. A pretentious white grand piano suddenly springing alive and banging all its hinges can’t help but make you jump and laugh at yourself. The introduction describes the exhibition as ‘ [reflecting] the unease we face in making choices, the comfort we find in repetition, the desire to control, and the inevitable losses of control that shapes existence.’ I found that as you notice the order, you start to notice the disorder, even the slight tilt of one frame next to another, or the edge of a piece matching the edge of the wall. The tension comes from all angles, whether that be from annoyance that everything is supposedly just fun, (or maybe it isn’t) or from the fact you can’t touch anything that’s wonky. That does mean that you can laugh at yourself for a bit though. The balloon room, Work No 268, is a good example, filling you with thrill, and yet also coming close to claustrophobia at the same time. Waiting for the poor woman to finish her shit in the concluding video of the exhibition, and yet you still stay and watch to see if it offers more. It’s that childlike feeling that you get from these moments that is the point for me. The story doesn’t come from the pieces of art; it comes instead from the reactions of the viewer. It puts every single person into perspective. No person is more educated than the other, and all will feel the same feeling that is a little bit of joy. In words, it would be infuriating I’m sure that turning lights on and off can win a Turner Prize no less, but once you’re in that situation, what do you feel? A childlike curiosity, fear, sickening obsession, and joy. I highly recommend this exhibition, despite what some reviews are saying. Maybe they are just not letting themselves have enough fun. They’re looking for something within the exhibition that they will never find. What is the point? For everybody loosen the fuck up.
And here's
Hannah and Ani being cute and having fun.
