Hardcore

Boldly intrusive imagery and even text invade your senses.

I find the gallery on Kingly Street a place I have fond memories of. Smoking shisha and going for drinks at the various high-end bars and pubs. Relatively innocent memories were about to be turned on their heads.

I usually research an exhibit before going so I did have an idea of what to expect: graphic, sexual themes and gore. But to what extent? I notice the sounds of chains chiming as I walk up the stairs. I can only think, “oh this is going to be good.” l tentatively walk in.

Canvases, sculptures, installations cover the space most with highly sexual and almost taboo themes. The artists succeed in pushing boundaries and addressing more private or embarrassing elements of sex and violence.

I am next drawn to a giant swinging whip hanging from the high ceiling and reaching the floor.. It ominously sways as the depressing song of chains continue.

A stand out piece in the back is the sculpture of a hanging animal carcass. Guts and blood flow onto the floor beneath like a gory waterfall. It looks like something Rocky would punch before a fight. I wasn’t too impressed, gore for the sake of gore perhaps. What was simple yet effective was the use of rope to hang sculptures, like a sadists leather outfit. This can be done in an innocent way. More conservative galleries can hang works, usually with white rope. In this case lots of leather and metal were infused giving it a highly sinister tone.

The single retro TV has become a rather common theme in contemporary art lately. A part of me is afraid to see what it displays. I’ll leave it for you to find out.

The exhibit as a whole is professional and definitely worth seeing even if certain individual works lack subtlety or gravitas. These are highly talented artists. The works displayed have a high level of skill and are executed to a very high standard. The layout and positioning of the art is spot on, with enough space and light to do the exhibit justice.

The Hardcore exhibit at Sadie Coles HQ leaves out the “porn” part of the term for good reason. I was never persuaded that it could lend itself to that term in the slightest. It is art through and through. It reminds one of the sexual social constructs we have in society which I am now thankful are there. It initially offends but then it becomes one of those experiences you look back on with a much more relaxed view point and laugh. Which is what I really liked about its impact on me.