Last weekend we went to see the Shimabuku exhibition at the Ikon gallery. I am so often disappointed by exhibitions at the Ikon - although I've never been able to pinpoint exactly why. Perhaps it is the way they are curated, or the kind of artists they choose to exhibit. Whatever the reason, I frequently come away from an Ikon exhibition with a feeling of emptiness. The exhibitions seem somehow slight, flimsy and pointless.So when Mark suggested we visit the Ikon last Sunday afternoon with Naomi, I was more interested in browsing in the gift shop and trying out the new Ikon cafe than in the art. But we dutifully went up to the gallery space, promising ourselves cake as a reward for traipsing around the exhibition.
At first, I felt as baffled and excluded as usual. It all looked depressingly familiar - the usual post post-modernist nothingness. But I spotted a nice pale greenish glow coming from a room, showing some kind of film. It was a calm space - underwaterish - and the film was accompanied by some pleasing music, so I sat down and watched the film with Naomi.
I couldn't really make out what was going on initially. Some fish were swimming around in the sea and something like a rock or pebble seemed to be suspended in the water. The fish circled it and occasionally gave it a little head-butt. Then Naomi said, 'it's a potato!' And it was - a great big potato! We giggled for a bit and I found myself completely entranced.
As we came out of the room, I noticed the neon sign just outside - 'Shimabuku's Fish and Chips'.
There were lots of other silly things to see and play with - Mark briefly became part of the exhibition as he tried to squeeze his body through an elastic band, while several people looked on in amazement (and amusement).
We also hit some balls with golf-clubs.
I had a great time - it was fun and absurd and it made me smile.
I have come to the conclusion that what is missing from the usual Ikon exhibition is a sense of playfulness and fun. A lot of current modern art is just ridiculous (in my opinion) but acknowledging that is what gives Shimabuku's work a meaning that is lacking from Ikon's average offerings, which take themselves way too seriously.
Incidentally, I like the new cafe too. A bit more down-to-earth than its predecessor - and very nice cakes!
