“In the Shadow of Man” – Amie Norton, 2016 (wax)
This years MPVII brought to you by Guerrilla Zoo is jammed with controversial and innovative contemporary works hoping to expand the boundaries of modern art today.
Featuring over 50 up and coming artists, the exhibition launched last Friday and is open for one week (until the 14th) at Newspeak House, Bethnal Green.
The art is powerful but there is a certain element of surrealism underlying. Taxidermy in the form of rabbit parts by Sofi Moore, religious connotations, political concepts – “Ukraine: The Unfortunate Bride” and controversy are all blatant in Modern Panic. For a relatively small space there is a lot going on, a lot of liveliness, hysteria and creativity – it’s overwhelming in the best way.
Curator James Elphick is known for bringing the people what they want, or what they want but don’t know. Established in 2004, Guerilla Zoo is “a revolving collective army of artists that design and develop a diverse range of powerful cutting edge creative projects.”
A double ended thumb, roughly 17 dead mice and a few rabbits – also dead – (all of albino character), miniature scenes all around the room in a hidden but wanting to be found nature – Jimmy Cauty – were all highlights of the exhibition – cutting edge and creative if you ask us. The careful curating and placement of the art meant that although many a’statements were potent, they didn’t overlap but instead complimented or challenged each other in a dynamic way.
One of our choice pics was Spike Dennis’s embroidered work, the contrast between how long his work process must have took to stitch and then the speed in communication digitally through sexting creates a really unusual balance. It’s like Dennis is capturing the moment and making something of it, where so many of us fail to do in our post-digital era. Think Emin’s tapestries but brought right up to date, match.com/OkCupid/Tinder and the important role these now play in societies digital relationship. What do we know though? We just quite like sewn UGC.
The double-ended thumb was pretty cool, we desperately wanted to take it round with us for the next couple of days and show it off to who ever was willing to look.
Here are some of our fav photos from the exhibition –
“The Thumb is Born Knowing” – Geoffery Harrison, 2015 (Polymer clay, oil paint)
“Allo Allo Allo” – Jimmy Cauty
Part of the collection of suggestive miniature scenes that was very thought-provoking when stumbling across, this particular one appeared to consist of three police men and a small girl.
“Icons” – Sofi Moore, 2016 (Metal, taxidermy, semiprecious stones, polished stone, wood)
Mothership Connection: Artist, Artist’s Daughter, Artist’s Uterus – Deborah, 2016 (photographic print)
“Ukraine: The Unfortunate Bride” – O. Yemi Tubi, 2015 (Oil on canvas)
“Lady Death Rides Again” – Carrie Reichardt, 2015 (Painted ceramic tile)
“Fibonacci Venus” – Alex Colias, 2015 (Maltese limestone)
“Shaman” – Yuri Schwedoff (Art print)
At £3 entry and open daily for the next week between 11am – 7pm, we suggest you go and see Modern Panic VII before it’s gone!
