March 3 – April 25 2010
Rating: 4 out of 5
http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2010/03/richard_hamilton23_february_18.html
The Serpentine Gallery presents a solo exhibition by one of Britain’s most well-renowned living artists, Richard Hamilton. Representing Britain at the 1993 Venice Biennale and with a variety of big name exhibitions under his belt, Hamilton has gained a reputation of exciting work with a social consciousness. Throughout his 50+ years of work, he has worked in a variety of media, including traditional painting and prints as well as various mixed media and installation work.
Most of Hamilton’s work has a meaning behind it, refreshingly mostly sex-free. Hamilton ticks the box of the biggies including global politics, civil unrest, terrorism, and war. Some of it is overpoweringly obvious (such as a painting of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair dressed up as an American Cowboy) and other is more subtle. The result is a mix – some of the work was perhaps radical in its day but with modern eyes seems average and tired, but other still is quite stirring and challenging. The central room of the gallery showcases the best highlights with Jesus walking along as just an average guy and TV dripping blood.
Like most other artists, some of Hamilton’s work still feels quite relevant and raw with an impact worthy of his status in the art world. But other is mundane and uninspiring leading to questions about Hamilton’s inspiration or lack thereof. Well, we can’t all get it right all the time.
Overall a good, but not great, show.
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