totally tactile
i visited the new exhibition at scarborough art gallery today, led around by dylan (art critic, aged 3) who was on his second visit of the week. i’ll be going back soon again too – it’s superb. the three visiting exhibiting rooms have each become home to an interactive sculpture (aka podules) by jan niedojadlo. if you, like me, always long to reach out and touch sculptures you’ll love this. not only are you positively encouraged to touch, but also to climb inside and spend some time there.
each piece is a large pod, made out of junk materials but surprisingly substantial. they seat about half a dozen people on various alcoves and shelves inside and have piped ambient music. one is based on a shell, one a crystal and one on a sub aqua theme (it reminded me of a cross between the alien movies and the beatles’ yellow submarine). there’s a video showing alongside the three sculptures in which the artist talks about his work but i didn’t get chance to watch that today so you’ll have to make do with my interpretations. [you can click on the images above to view larger versions of the pics taken on my camerafone]
perhaps it’s the use of materials that gave me the feeling of them having arrived from a post-apocalyptic future. they’re rather womb-like and once inside you forget you’re in a gallery. because the shell and the crystal both have a central ‘fireplace’ inside, you can imagine being joined by wandering post-nuclear nomads to share a meal sheltering from a bitter desert night. or maybe that’s just me. (scarborough’s summer is rapidly resembling bitter desert nights). however, dylan assured me they were spaceships. alt.worshippers paying this blog a visit from jonny baker’s will immediately recognise these sculptures potential as miniature alt.worship spaces.
this exhibition (which runs until 2nd september) couldn’t be more of a contrast to the previous show of drawings by lord leighton. it will certainly upset some folks (and there are plenty locally) who believe that unless it’s pictorial and on a canvas it isn’t ‘art’. so credit to lara goodband, the gallery curator for this bold programming of contrasting shows – far more intelligent than some galleries who try and please everyone all at once and as a result satisfy nobody. i also think i’ve noticed that the permanent exhibition varies according to what’s visiting – there seemed to be more 20th century work on display alongside the last victorian visiting exhibition – unless i just noticed those pieces more after looking at leighton’s work? so there’s still some classic painting on display too if that’s your thing – the atkinson grimshaw‘s are on permanent display.
anyways, if you’re in, near or planning on visiting scarborough over summer be sure to make time to come in out of the sun and chill out inside some art.
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jan niedojadlo is exhibiting in banbury soon so am looking forward to being able to interact with some of his work when it’s installed. will let you know what i think once ive visited the exhibition.ok