Raqib Shaw

Fabulous exhibition at White Cube, Bermondsey, of new work by Raqib Shaw.

This work was like the Renaissance on acid and I loved it! The first room had three wonderful bronzes of fighting mythical figures. There was a real feel of the Pollaiuolo  Brothers “Battle of the Nudes”. These were great writhing figures of centaurs and men with animal heads. The detail was amazing with fingers biting into flesh. I loved them!

The main room was Shaw’s take on Renaissance paintings created in enamel work on wood. They shone like jewels while depicting wonderful warped images. My favourite was his take on the great Crivelli Annunciation in the National Gallery which I love but he filled it with drunken blue bush babies and an animal headed bishop holding a modern city on a tray. It was quite faithful to the original while being completely different!

In one picture he combined some stunningly beautiful still lives of flowers with decaying skeletons. I also loved the fact he included his two dogs in all the works although they did look bemused at times.

Closes on 11 September 2016.

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