Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
The Showroom, London
6 October – 14 November
Reviewed by: Tobi Maier
For his first solo exhibition in London, Richard Hughes has followed the natural division of The Showroom. Upon entering, the viewer faces dereliction. White colour is peeling off the walls revealing a sick green, a reference to damp spaces Hughes might have passed through in his skateboarding adolescence and perhaps the basis for the title of the show, ‘The Shelf-life of Milk’. In the otherwise empty space, three resin-cast doors, including one which reads “NO PIRATES”, lean against the wall, one next to the other. They reveal the transitional look of the room and act as witnesses of recent activity adding further to the squat atmosphere.
For the rear gallery Hughes has composed a more intimate environment. Slouching Back (2004) takes the visitor into the setting of an uninviting yet intriguing room, not long ago abandoned by its occupants. By collecting old duvets and joining them to form a pile, Hughes exploits bedclothes to convey a message. At the foot of the mountain attentive viewers discover the letters “LET YOURSELF GO' A BIT”, a slogan derived from the hippie culture of the 1960s and 70s. Blurring the boundaries between sculpture and architecture, the duvets connect with a collage of subculture advertising poster scraps similar to those usually parasiting bars or railway bridges. Carefully assembled by the artist this anthology of announcements suggests a panoramic view.
Light is falling through a series of hexagonal transparent and orange Perspex, creating shadows on the opposing wall. As a result, and in contrast to the neon-lit front gallery, this installation evokes psychedelic sensations of an urban sunset whilst at the same time generating illusions of countryside scenery.
Approaching the subject from various angles, Hughes seems to be concerned with the ephemerality of ideas, attitudes, trends and moments in life and manages to express his positions without employing clichés or falling into kitsch.
Writer detail:
Tobi Maier is co-director of dosensos, London.
Venue detail:
Showroom (The)
44 Bonner Road, LONDON E2 9JS
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