Laura Kikauka, Spacex, 7 March to the 2 May 2009
By Jenna Richards
A bizarre array of objects will be on display when Canadian artist Laura Kikauka puts on her first solo exhibition in the UK at Exeter’s Spacex gallery.
The excessively colourful array of unusual items will cover the whole gallery from floor to ceiling and has been designed specifically for the Spacex.
The exhibits are made up of thousands of items Laura collects from flea markets, rubbish dumps, supermarkets and charity shops.
She carefully sorts her chaotic finds and displays them in the form of complete environments – with the effect of a total sensory overload.
Laura’s ‘excessive aesthetic’ addresses issues of consumer culture; the question of good and bad taste; and celebrates failure in a humorous and ironic manner.
The work raises questions about taste, waste, consumerism, collections and consumption. These are all pertinent issues which reflect current debates concerning the environment, mass culture and capitalism.
In the main gallery space an elaborate and ornate games room will be set up where members of the public can come in and play table tennis amongst other fun activities.
Every part of the gallery will be covered from floor to ceiling in wondrous objects.
A bath tub will be installed in the front space, the first of the specially designed interiors that the viewer will meet on entering the gallery.
Laura has been exhibiting installation work, electro-mechanical sculpture, and performing since the early 1980s.
The exhibition launc is on Saturday 7 March from 3pm to 5pm with a talk by Laura at 4pm,. All are welcome.
The exhibition runs until 2 May 2009.