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Latest items? Unedited? Fringe Report Uncut
Craig Fisher - Misdemeanours
Verdict: Acceptable violence
London - Rokeby - 5 Oct – 8 Nov 05
Art Exhibition - Tues,Wed,Fri 11-18 hr; Thur 11-20 hr; Sat 11-16 hr; Free
Watch your feet. You may be about to step on an intricate pink puddle, glistening witch sequins and plastic jewels. Nearby, the shape and colour of the puddle (Puke, 2005) are echoed in a spiky speech-bubble painted on the wall (They Said, 2005). But instead of speech, the shape is filled with a pink, white and purple flower pattern - as if an enraged cartoon has just shouted an insult in wallpaper.
These pieces make quite an impact, but by far the most startling thing in this exhibition is a large, navy blue car that has smashed into one wall of the gallery (Wide Boy, 2005). Its bonnet is buckled and one wheel has rolled some way across the floor. It isn’t made in metal, but in soft upholstery – like a sofa cover for an automobile. Its door handles look like pocket flaps. Details such as the number plate are lovingly stitched on. Such care and attention soften the shock of the life-size crash.
Leak (2005) is an oozing of padded Lycra like molten gold. Small drawings of speech bubbles in pencil, crayon and felt-tip (Speech BubbleIX, Speech Bubble VIII, Speech Bubble VII, Speech Bubble X, Thought Bubble I, all 2005) may perhaps be plans for works like They Said (2005). Some are enigmatic - a bulbous shape contains ‘speech’ in camouflage; another picture shows a purple-checked thought-bubble disappearing from the side of the paper. The drawings form a transition between the moods of the two floors. Downstairs, things turn more sinister.
A green door juts from a wall with two large knives embedded (Watch Yeh Back!, 2005). The door forms a great ominous shadow from which enemies could emerge - or into which we could be led. But, as with the car crash, menace is undercut by the soft, feminine material. Knives and door are made from padded fabrics, and the knife handles are decorated in patterns of sequins. The bright grass-green of the door highlights how cartoon-like is the aesthetic of this show. In the same room there are mysterious grey and blue boxes like computer screens or monitoring systems. With their mother of pearl buttons and pink ribbon detail, these could equally be industrial-sized sewing boxes.
The final room removes the safety net. It is a small, partitioned space with raised, grey floor and a distinctly cooler feel. On the floor, four huge knives lay spread out ready for use (Tools for the Job, 2005). They are soft and padded, with sequins and beads, but their massive size – they must be 3ft long - in this small room gives them an air of intimidation. Nearby, two hand-prints are represented in glistening, blood red pads (Blood on your Hands, 2005) - as if a giant has pushed through from the other side of the wall. These hands are the only overt reference to agency throughout the exhibition. Encountered here in the last room, they throw a shadow over the aestheticised – and acceptable - violence in the rest of the gallery.
List of Works: (exhibition includes): Puke, 2005 - cotton, sequins and beads. Wide Boy, 2005, car upholstery. They Said, 2005 - acrylic. Leak, 2005 - Lycra, MDF, foam. Speech Bubble IX, 2005 - coloured pencil and pen on paper. Speech Bubble VIII, 2005 - coloured pencil and pen on paper. Speech Bubble VII, 2005 - coloured pencil and pen on paper. Speech Bubble X, 2005 - coloured pencil and pen on paper. Thought Bubble I, 2005 - coloured pencil and pen on paper. H.A.L., 2005 - Neoprene, beads, ribbon, buttons. Whose There, 2005 - Neoprene, beads, ribbon, buttons. Watch Yeh Back!, 2005 - Neoprene, MDF, thread. Tools for the Job, 2005 – felt, Neoprene, sequins, MDF. Blood on your Hands, 2005 - Lycra, MDF, foam.
Credits: Artist - Craig Fisher. Gallery: Artistic Directors - Beth Greenacre. Edward Greenacre.
END
(c) Mary Paterson 2005
reviewed Friday 28 October 05 / Rokeby
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012
www.fringereport.com
