Mixing It Up: Painting Today

Various Artists 9 SEPTEMBER – 12 DECEMBER 2021

Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX

£5-£12

Autumn is upon us, which means exhibition season is finally here! As the evenings get darker, and we pack our Aperol away until Spring, we are greeted with some of the best artists coming out of the woodwork to show us what they're made of. I couldn't wait to get back. Enter Mixing it up: Painting Today: simply described as a true celebration of diversity. I absolutely love going to exhibitions; however, I do sometimes find myself staring at a blank red canvas, wondering if there’s something I’m missing that everyone else sees. This exhibition is living proof that no matter what you’re into, art has something for everyone. In modern times, painting has almost taken a backseat to other mediums such as photography and digital illustrators. However, this refreshing experience is living proof that paper and pen, canvas and paint, artist and subject exist in the way we remember them as children: good old painting is still alive and kicking.

All of the works in the exhibition remain relatively ambiguous, which allows each viewer to come to their own conclusion on their purpose and meaning. The exhibition is vast, spanning 6 rooms and 2 floors, and whilst it takes a while to get through it all, given everything is so varied it doesn’t feel tiresome at all – rather, there is a constant feeling of anticipation of what might be around the corner. One of the first paintings to catch my eye was Lisa Brice’s ‘Smoke and Mirrors’. Reimagining paintings of women from the 19th and 20th centuries, Brice gives them a new depiction: one of freedom, self-possession and authority. The simple act of repainting an image of a woman initially conceived by a man allows the subject to shift entirely. Here, the women are free from the male gaze, and whilst their bodies are on display they are performing for themselves only.

The second painting to allure me was Mohammed Sami’s ‘Electric Chair I’. At first the painting looks like a regal and decadent armchair: textured blue velvet framed by a golden, rich, wooden frame. However, when you recognise the name of the image you start to notice some more sinister signals. Suddenly, the wood engravings towards the front of the chair look like the bare teeth you'd find on a skull, and the end of the armrests start to morph into laughing monkeys: often associated with trickery and deceit. Sami grew up in Baghdad, and his paintings draw on memories of the chaos that engulfed Iraq following the US-led invasion in 2003. Whilst he does not depict conflict directly, he does convey the psychological trauma that lay in its wake: the Electric Chair I depicts Saddam Hussein’s throne, whilst the title describes a fate met by many of his opponents. The more you look at this painting the more you see – given the context, it feels weird to describe it as the gift that keeps on giving, but it is.

There are some great works that comment on race and society – for example Kudzanai-Violet Hwami’s image of a young businessman drinking from a traditional African vessel. This brings up potential disparity in a Westernised ideal vs cultural norm. This is further established through a backdrop of an old map of Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe - Hwami’s birthplace, which she left to flee economic instability. There are also some excellent works of realism: Jonathan’s Wateridge’s large-scale paintings of casual encounter with residents of an apartment complex appear to be photographs until you take a closer look. Gareth Cadwaller’s works of realism are also fantastic, as they blend lifelike subjects with surreal and abstract backdrops, creating a dream-like state.

One of my favourite painters Caroline Coon makes an appearance in a few works – showing off her encapsulating skill in abstract portraiture. Each work takes up to a year to create, due to a vigorous process of intricate sketching and monochrome painting before the final product. The personality and character she brings to her final characters make them feel so lifelike, even though they appear so other-worldly. There are some other great paintings, such as Daniel Sinsel’s abstract and intricate yellow laces which appear as perfectly entwined pieces of tagliatelle – so expertly done that you’ll find yourself wasting time trying to find where they end and they begin. Louise Giovanelli also has some incredible works depicting different textures and fabrics. Brilliant bright green curtains and garish gold shirts pack a punch towards the end of the exhibition, making sure to wake you up if you may have drifted off.

Overall, Mixing It Up: Painting Today was a truly refreshing experience, which took art back to it's roots and proved that this medium is still alive and kicking. Art is subjective, but it is hard not to see merit in all of these pieces: you will definitely leave with some firm favourites. The Hayward Gallery offers £5 tickets for Lambeth Residents or under 30’s – encouraging both the local community and the younger generations out - so for a fiver you get to view a wide range of some of the best paintings I’ve ever seen. The verdict? A must-see.

OVERALL RATING: *****

https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/art-exhibitions/mixing-it-painting-today