Heads Up: David Shrigley: Brain Activity
Art? It ain't started till the ambitious banana sings
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.What are we talking about?
The first major UK show of artist David Shrigley's work, displayed over the upper floors of the Hayward Gallery.
Elevator Pitch
Brain teasers: comic art rises to the top.
Prime Movers
David Shrigley, 43, a Glaswegian artist best known for his acerbic, amusing, absurdist drawings, text and animations.
The Stars
The works themselves – of which there are some 175, ranging from short films and animations, to caustic cartoons, paintings and photographs, and a series of stuffed animals. He'll be responding directly to the venue with a new work for the sculpture terrace, and a large wall painting.
The Early Buzz
With his accessible, funny, even crude approach, Shrigley isn't everyone's cup of tea – or idea of an "artist" – so it's already caused a little bit of fuss. In this paper, Charles Darwent wrote, "No year would be complete without a smattering of Young [sic] British Artists ... Most contentiously, David Shrigley will be given the run of the Hayward Gallery's upper floors ... Shrigley's faux-naive cartoons and stuffed Jack Russells divide critical opinion, some seeing him as a witty subverter of daily life, others merely as a bad comic with ideas above his station." It's clear which side The Telegraph's Richard Dorment is on: "Even when you are laughing at the jokes in Shrigley's dry, understated drawings, you recognise some small and usually unpalatable truth about yourself."
Insider Knowledge
Shrigley is also branching out into "sort-of opera": Pass the Spoon will be staged on 5 and 6 May at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Created with composer David Fennessy and director Nicholas Bone, it features singing vegetables, a giant butcher, an ambitious banana and panic-stricken celebrity chefs.
It's great that...
His animation The Letter – in which a hand pens an absence note to Mrs Teacher – will be projected on the outside of the Royal Festival Hall after dusk for a fortnight, starting 13 February.
It's a shame that...
The title of one of the "sculptures" is literal: Five Years of Toenail Clippings really is a glass sphere containing said years' worth of toenail clippings. Yeuch.
Hit Potential
Some may turn their noses up – but then the Hayward may also find that the show has an appeal beyond regular gallery-goers.
The Details
David Shrigley: Brain Activity is at the Hayward Gallery, London SE1 (southbankcentre.co.uk), 1 February to 13 May .
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments