Laura Lima

The Drawing Drawing

★★★☆☆

On until 29 March 2026

The tautological title of this exhibition, paired with the gallery extolling Lima’s practice as “category-defying”, cautions the visitor of some heavy abstraction ahead. Not without reason. 

The artist turned the ground floor into a life-drawing studio. How radical, truly! The twist, as if another were needed, is that both the model and punters pose on mechanised platforms. They float akin to robot vacuum cleaners. Is this perspective-taking? If so, the whining, high-pitched noise of the floats’ brushless motors does all the work. 

Upstairs, a beach umbrella dances to Brazilian beats. Looks fun, but it’s inconsequential. Next door, a commercial freezer keeps liquid tray sculptures solid; a pair of gloves invites limited, soft-play interaction.

Not much of anything in particular, then. Are these sampler vignettes of some larger, untold story? Fragments that may, when augmented, form a discernible thesis? Lima’s desire to phrase questions in philosophical jargon is obvious. It’s not even stupid. Yet it is less clear that she knows how her objects answer. Consequently, she leaves far too much for the viewer.


notes and notices are short and curt exhibition reviews. Read more:

Florian Meisenberg, What does the smoke know of the fire? at Kate MacGarry, ★★★★☆

Florian Meisenberg

What does the smoke know of the fire?

★★★★☆

Meisenberg’s paintings are either the product of a conspiracy or documents of a conspiracy theory.

Esteban Jefferson, May 25th, 2020 at Goldsmiths CCA ★★★☆☆

Esteban Jefferson

May 25th, 2020

★★★☆☆

This exhibition is a warning to would-be propagandists: trust art at your peril.

Pauline Boty at Gazelli Art House ★★★★☆

Pauline Boty

A Portrait

★★★★☆

This exhibition mixes the woman and her legend, but without the air of mystery she enjoyed during her lifetime.

Justin Fitzpatrick, Ballotta at Seventeen ★★★★★

Justin Fitzpatrick

Ballotta

★★★★★

The reward for taking part in this experiment of life is ascension to the holy orders. 

Turner Prize 2024 at Tate Britain ★★☆☆☆

Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur, Delaine Le Bas

Turner Prize 2024

★★☆☆☆

Even the artists approach this edition with ennui.

Oh, the Storm at Rodeo ★☆☆☆☆

Oh, the Storm

★☆☆☆☆

This exhibitions is trying to explain the concept of ‘crazy paving’ to a blind man. It’s impossible to tell where a work ends and the wall begins.

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