Phyllida Barlow is known for making large scale sculptural installations using inexpensive everyday household or DIY materials.
This exhibition called Dock, is Barlows most ambitious installation to date with the Tate Britain’s location in relation to the river thames being credited as inspiration.
In it, she has filled the 100 metre long gallery given to her, with monumentally sized, obtrusive and invasive installations that challenges the experience of viewing.
The theme is that of a boat yard with objects projecting contradictory identities. Whilst on one hand they are enormous spectacles, they seem collapsed and broken on the other.
The installation was complimented by the lighting within the room, as the high walls and skylight windows allowed the entire room to be controlled and bathed in natural light
The general architecture of the installation was heavily based on that of a dock yard, with the tall timber beams and scaffolding supporting and suspending her creations in the air. Some objects were strewn on the floor and while others literally hung in the air, however it was clear to see where one piece ended and another began.
The quality of the work was fairly remarkable, with the sheer size of the pieces putting into question how much attention and time was taken to create them. A particular favourite of mine was the gigantic cardboard tower, held together with colourful tape, as it gave me the feeling of inadequacy or insignificance when compared to this colossal artwork.
The works themselves were unfamiliar, in that it was a new exhibition and the pieces had been created specifically for that exhibition and that gallery. For that reason it was a unique experience, and worth seeing, but maybe not more than once.
The complaint or weakness if any was perhaps the space she was given was actually big enough. It seemed as though she had tried to fit more pieces into the space in such a way she may not have, given more space. You were to close to the artwork for my liking as its difficult to appreciate when it’s right on top of you at every angle.
Overall though, it was a unique installation and experience worth visiting for the limited time it’s on, especially if getting in amongst the art work is your thing.
