British Art Show 8

Leeds City Art Gallery is currently holding the 8th British Art Show - a national touring exhibition that showcases the artwork of forty two contemporary artists who have made a significant impact on the art world within the last five years. Curated by Anna Colin and Lydia Yee, the exhibition covers a wide range of art that includes film, sculpture, instillation, painting, photography and design.

Living in Leeds means I will be visiting the exhibition on a regular basis and because of the diversity of work on show there is plenty to see. The art is very contemporary and many pieces were made specifically for the exhibition. A fundamental theme running alongside all the work is the "changing role and status of the object at a time of increasing convergence between the real and the virtual" which is evident in pieces such as 'Feed Me (2015)' by Rachel Maclean.

This is quite a lengthy post with lots of photos so if you would like to see my top picks from the exhibition all you have to do is click the read more button!

Alexandre da Cunha

Fatigue (diagram I) 2014 | Metal, cement fondue.

Linder

Diagrams of Love: Marriage of Eyes 2015 | Gun-tufted rug.

Detail.

Caroline Achaintre

Mother George 2015 | Hand-tufted wool.

Detail.

Jesse Wine

Still. Life. 2015 | Glazed ceramic.

Detail.

Hayley Tompkins

I forgot to write down the name and media of this piece, oops!

I forgot to write down the name and media of this piece, oops!

Rachel Maclean

Feed Me (2015) | Video Still.

Feed Me (2015) | Video Still.

Feed Me (2015) | Video Still.

I thoroughly enjoyed the British Art Show 8 and I am so glad it is in Leeds until the 10th January as it means I can see it a few more times. My particular favourites from the show are Jesse Wine's Still. Life. and Rachel Maclean's Feed Me.

I really admire how Jesse Wine has taken the work and subject matter of Moriandi and responded to it by making a ceramic wall piece using different materials and processes. I find something quite humorous about the lovely, crafted ceramic pots and vessels sitting next to an extremely contemporary, mass produced mug from sports direct. Still life has always been about painting fairly banal objects and the effect of using a Sports Direct mug brings the work of Moriandi up to date.

Rachel Maclean's Feed Me is extremely enticing with it being installed in a soft, pink room with bean bags to lie on but not all is so colourful and glittery when you begin to watch it. The 'cute', shiny visuals are undercut by a comment on todays commercialised society using painted costumes and green screen backdrops. I like how Maclean plays with age and gender with voice overs of the different characters. I have to admit at some points I didn't really understand the piece but I couldn't help but continue watching.

If you haven't already been to see the British Art Show 8 then you've still go plenty of time - the exhibition runs until January 10th and is definitely worth a visit!