During Frieze Week 2011, Hauser & Wirth Piccadilly presented Phyllida Barlow's RIG - the artist's debut show with the gallery. Occupying the entire building -from the basement to the attic- RIG featured immense, new sculptures constructed in situ, responding to the architecture of the gallery. Inspired by the everyday objects of the city, the works aimed to bring "the cacophony of the gallery's external surroundings inside" (quote press release) its elegant space. The monumental scale installations look completely out of order and were almost painful to the eye. There is no denying however that they made a strong impact to the viewer and indeed conveyed the messy whatever they were supposed to do. The gallery was buzzing with puzzled visitors trying to work their way around the overpowering, densely positioned pieces.
A cacophony indeed so, I suppose, well done!
Bad photos © Alexandra Kollaros