Allison Katz - Artery
There are so many different ideas flowing through Artery, the first London solo exhibit of works by Allison Katz that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a group show. The paintings cover a wide range of subject and style: at times textured, sometimes trompe-l'œil, often surreal.
Mixed-media ceramics and graphic design show-posters augment the exhibition, which does not appear to have a discernible theme. Quite frankly, it would be a perfect destination for a Contemporary Art 101 class field trip:
💭 Why use rice?
💭 What is the symbolism of the cabbage?
💭 Can you identify a theme or idea binding all the works?
You may not find easy answers to those questions, but you’ll certainly laugh while looking for them. There is a playful nature to both the works and their names, as well as how they have been staged.
Dead ends and staggered display islands cleverly but subtly lead the viewer to encounter the work in ways not possible in an empty rectangular room. My own a-ha moments led to a greater appreciation of not just the work but the mind of the artist, who contributed greatly to the layout.
I didn’t walk away with any singular piece stuck in my own mind, but for me the overall show was greater than the sum of its parts. I just might have to go back and take it all in again.
FREE — at Camden Art Centre (@CamdenArtCentre) until 25 Mar
Visit allison-katz.com (@Allison.Katz) for more info about the artist.