temporarycontemporary
is proud to present ‘Caution : Uneven Surfaces’ the first
in a series of 3 medium-specific ‘survey’ exhibitions: this,
the ‘painting show’, will be followed by our international
video ‘Biennale!’ in January 05 and then later in the year
by an exhibition addressing the contemporary digital condition.
‘Caution
: Uneven Surfaces’ is a large installation comprising of one or
two or more works by 24 international painters. In that they are all
London-based, the exhibition tends towards a survey show, a who’s
who of the contemporary London painting scene. More importantly however,
is that the exhibition seeks to offer a serious examination of what
constitutes current painting practice and the stylistically wide-ranging
modes in which that is addressed.
A
labyrinth-like installation has been constructed as a succession of
continuous spaces or open rooms that allows for works to be arranged
in a manner avoiding attempts at classification. The wide-ranging styles
and forms of painting reflect the great variety of the participants,
with painters still at college, or recently graduated, mixed with artists
represented by London galleries. Whilst most of the London colleges
are present here, the show also includes works by artists who have settled
here or find themselves currently working in London but who have studied
elsewhere. This creates a dynamic conversation between the artists that
raises many questions: is there a dominant approach to the medium at
this time; is it possible to wholly represent current painting practices;
what constitutes ground-breaking versus mainstream or even reactionary
approaches; and finally, in what way does the production of work bear
a relationship to the local or international context in which it is
made. If the exhibition addresses these issues satisfactorily remains
to be seen, what is clear however is that represented here is a unique
selection of some of the most innovative painters working in London
today.
Curated
by Anthony Gross & Jen Wu
