Set in the Bargehouse, an atmospheric, unrestored warehouse behind the Oxo Tower, ‘Electric Blue’, which opens on Thursday, will group together 31 artists whose common motif is playing with the senses. The capacious, four-storey Bargehouse will be taken over with kinetic and sound installations, performances and images that trick the eye, surprise the fingertips or meddle with space perception.
A work by Chryssy Demosthenous will invite gallery-goers to take a pew in a circle of chairs fitted with headphones. The idea is that as you listen to the casual, unorchestrated conversations emanating from the phones, you will begin to believe you are part of the gathering at which the recording was made. Hamish Pringle, with the help of Deborah Tallentire’s tailoring skills, will exhibit a smart, scratchy suit constructed from sandpaper, making a point about the abrasive nature of big business or how work wears us down. Danish artist Tine Bech presents a joyous-looking gang of canary-yellow helium balloons which is actually a sound installation, and Barbara Fuchs will be performing with handcrafted puppets and inviting audience participation.
Curator Rita Parente, whose previous projects at Bargehouse include ‘Betrayed By the Senses’, on which ‘Electric Blue’ builds, suggests the exhibition is ideal for families as kids will enjoy the interactive elements. If you want to take her up on that, the show is conveniently located for a day of South Bank activities. Visit after a morning at Borough Market, perhaps, or combine with a wander round the independent shops at Gabriel’s Wharf (outside there are wooden rocking sculptures that children can play on), or simply take in the river views and people watch from Tate Modern to the London Eye.
