Monday 5 July 2010

Mass

or, Further adventures with my iPhone ... please excuse the picture quality

I'd be interested to know how many people could draw an overall conclusion about the five works included in 'Under Construction', currently on show at the Dowse. While the description of the show holds water

a collection of artist projects that respond to notions of space, location and environment. Joanna Langford, Karin van Roosmalen, Douglas Bagnall, Fiona Connor and A.D. Schierning each have differing practices, but all provide comment on the constructed environment and our relationship to it.

the actual experience as a visitor is as divided as the five spaces the works are shown in. Compared to the very easy to 'get' watercolour show, 'Under Construction' is rather oblique.

Having said that, I was utterly taken by the contrast between Langford's typically spidery, tenuous structure and the weightiness of Connor's stairs sculpture. Those two alone would have been enough for me.






The best word I can think of for the pairing is 'flattering'. It may be intentional and smart, or great dumb luck, but it's worth going and seeing for yourself.

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