GXgallery – Alice Wisden
South London well worth a visit
At a recent debate in the Mall Galleries, Brian Sewell asked “Why in God’s name we have the South London Gallery?”. I’ve often myself pondered this and yet I have no such concern regarding the agenda or validity of the independent GXgallery just down the road in Camberwell which continues to show refreshing diversity…
The current exhibition ‘Outsiders’ offers up the work of Alice Wisden, an artist to challenge any viewer on their first encounter. Be prepared, initial contact may confuse or unsettle but there is value and depth here. If arresting attention is any measure of profound quality or significance then this collection is monstrously successful.
Wisden’s written statement that “The violence sits comfortably in my pictorial world…” is for me, somewhat less convincing – the notion that violence sits comfortably anywhere is something I may have to be won over in debate. However, the pure visual attack of the resultant picture planes hi-jacked and reworked, is undeniable.
Many of the works speak to me more of ‘loss’ and ‘sorrow’ than of violence. But it would be foolish to dismiss the show as depressing. The ‘art studio installation’ in the gallery is crammed with lost and found memorabilia, but the absence of the artist is perhaps a missed opportunity. Without the educational insight into the drivers (or indeed, insignificance) of the selective original images, the collection corner seems rather diluted. This is a little disappointing because clearly there is so much more going on when the connection is made.
The critic Robert Hughes said, “If art can’t tell us something about the society in which we live, then there’s no point having it”. Clearly, that is justification alone for an Alice Wisden show and GXgallery should be rightly proud in continuing to promote such work in their schedule.
‘Outsiders’ – Alice Wisden at GXgallery to 23rd September 2010
Hi Max
Would love to know more about Brian Sewell’s comment! What was the context of the debate? Did he have anything else to say about the SLG?
thanks
Sangeeta
Hi Sangeeta… The debate ‘Who gets the money? Arts Funding in Crisis’ was held at the Mall Galleries on 13 Sept and the speakers were Ekow Eshun, Clare O’Brien & Brian Sewell. I believe that Brian took a pop at almost every London gallery/institution on the night in question. Always entertaining, it would be true to say that Mr Sewell’s views on the Serpentine, Whitechapel and the ICA among others (having out-lived their function) received a mixed audience response. However, he raised many valid points that we would do well to consider – including museum charges and the much needed speedier rotation of work in galleries. I’m guessing that perhaps Brian’s subjective throw-away line about the SLG may be rooted simply in ‘content’. His own views are pretty well known and commitment to various strains of the contemporary avant-garde is never going to be embraced in some quarters. I trust you caught the Alice Wisden show at GX? I found it most interesting and I hope to be equally moved by the Tatiana Trouve installation at the SLG when I visit this week. Perhaps a blog to follow.