Whitechapel Gallery
Outset Project Gallery(Gallery 5)
Despite the title of Melanie Manchot's exhibition. I could not get past a start feeling of despair in the images displayed. The punctum of the images was revealed for me in the subjects eyes, the distant glances and wary stares of the participants tell the story of the struggle of East End Life transcending all ages, ethnicities and religions. To find a point of which we can truly celebrate is to acknowledge that we all struggle together
In terms of studium I can only estimate that Melanie was trying to highlight the evolution of East London's status from working class to middle/ upper class. the use of Cyprus St one of the most affluent roads in the area would suggest that East London is on the up and that is to celebrated. In addition to this the use of extra character such as the pearly king and queen would suggest Melanie wanted to use the street party as a sign of community cohesion long lost and the power of that. I can only speculate,under that notion one could infer that the artist wanted to showcase community strength reinforced by East London's multiculturalism. However to a certain extent I feel the subjects in the images have be objectified like prostitutes in Amsterdam red light district. Another opportunity for art intellectuals to wax lyrical while drinking champagne before going back to their middle to upperclass lives. Again maybe I'm just a cynic , which is my prerogative, but maybe melanie should stick to the feminist perspective and leave community cohesion alone
The accompanying video installation had what I will describe as a LSD quality about it the slow tempo of the footage that takes you slowly ambling down Cyprus St, gives a surreal feel that creates another world. I do question if that world will ever exist again, and the cynic in me asks if it down the road from Sesame St, but i digress.
The lighting on the portrait images are as I already stated are stark, dark and even broody, the sun does shines in East London, I know I have seen it and there for me, lies the rub. On my travels of late to several london galleries I have began to notice the type of images favored by organisation such as the Art Council and National Portrait Gallery to name a few. Now is it that bright happy pictures are to closely associated with fashion and advertising and to be a real artist you have to be dark and depressed or was it me who missed the point. Either way I did not find the the celebration very celebratory.
What do you think the studium reading is? What is the intention of the artist?
ReplyDelete