Response to Adrian Searle’s review of Brit Art Show 7 in Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/oct/25/british-art-7-sarah-lucas?
Other painters in the British Art Show don’t fare so well. Painting here is the weakest link
So that’s it – we’re left with mouldering backstreets…and cul-de-sacs…that’s where contemporary theory has parked painting.
The latest issue of arts review is a triumph of form over content – The Power 100 issue has so many adverts that it is a challenge to find anything which could be described as an article. This says a lot about where we are now.
Ditto the Brit Art Show – it may be the best but it is the best in a pretty dull run. A eighties concept that probably has run out of steam anyway. As for cost well the local ‘sideshow’ which basically a sedative for the poor neglected local artists consumed over £100, pilule 000 from ACE so god knows what the full show cost although it probably funded through centre anyway.
I don’t really have any problem with the show it as good/bad as any these days i.e. it a pretty irrelevant illustration of the latest dull fads.
However I do worry about the post Brit Art Show funding vacuum afterwards (it is the largest fine art event in Nottingham for years). By next summer it could be a lot less exciting round here and the fall out of the comet hitting could leave a Siberian arts wasteland in the current climate.
Most of those who made hay here whilst the sun shone will be on their eco-bikes come the colder weather…that includes our illustrious curators….just wait and see.
By then it won’t only be severed heads and buckets…..
Maybe ACE will be able to let us all eat cake…?