[/caption]
All photos by Minako Jackson
Deadpan is the second excellent show at The Royal Standard for the 2010 Biennial. The first was Hierarchies of Allegiance featuring artists: Christian Newby, Jonathan Baldock ,Pil and Galia Kollectiv and curated by RS Directors Lucy MacDonald and Laura Robertson.
Deadpan is curated by another RS Director, Kevin Hunt and features David Sherry, Jamie Shovlin, Jess Flood-Paddock, Jock Mooney, Josephine Flynn, Laura Ford, Laurina Paperina, Miles Thurlow, Noel Clueit, Toby Huddlestone.
The accompanying statement sums it up quite well…
With a good glug of irony and a sarcastic nod, DEADPAN gives a kick up the arse to the utter mess of an art world at a point of oversaturation by questioning strategies used by artists to make new work.
Considering mimicry and the referential alongside the blatancy of homage, DEADPAN presents with barefaced cheek a ‘pastichised’ viewpoint of art with lampooning consequences; providing a glimpse into the dirty world of satire within contemporary art today.
On the opening evening, David Sherry did a one hour performance as a suitcase on legs, having to take extra care not to step on any of Jock Mooney’s amazing individually made models.
Every bit of space is put to good use with a ‘Sculpture Garden’ outside displaying Miles Thurlow’s ‘Figure with Wardrobes’ and the toilets house a few artworks including Laurina Paperina’s hilarious animations ‘How to Kill the Artists – Episodes 1-2’ (Episodes 3-4 are in the main gallery space)
Josephine Flynn has put together ‘Various Scenes from Twin Town’ which includes a lot of joke boobs, balloons and Patrick Moore whilst Laura Ford’s ‘Joseph Beuys Boy’ stand menacingly alongside and the whole scene is watched over by a giant wooden lobster by Jess Flood-Paddock.
I thought Noel Clueit’s monochrome photocopied wallpaper was a cool idea and Jamie Shovlin’s ‘The Black Room’ is very interesting. Also look out for Toby Huddlestone’s ‘Actions in Galleries…’ dotted around the gallery.
For the Long Night on Thursday 18 November from 6.30pm until 8pm please join Kevin Hunt in conversation with DEADPAN artists Toby Huddlestone, Noel Clueit and Josephine Flynn and participate in a lively discussion around the intention of the exhibition and the methodologies utilised by artists whilst making new work.
DEADPAN
at The Royal Standard
29 October – 28 November 2010
David Sherry (left) – ‘Joseph Beuys Boy’ – Laura Ford (right)