One of the sculptures here looks like a barbecued Predator. If that’s not enough to make you go see Pakistani-born, USA-based artist Huma Bhabha’s show then this whole art criticism thing is pointless. Her three cork sculptures here flirt with the modernism of Alberto Giacometti and Constantin Brancusi, the spirituality of totem poles and the aesthetic futurism of sci-fi. They stink too, the whole gallery smells of burnt cork. They’re heady works, imposing, sensory and clever but silly and humorous at the same time.
In the other gallery space a withered figure in a T-shirt is nailed to a board. Collaged images seem to show monsters rising from the depths, fuelled by marijuana.
What’s neat about the show is that it looks like yet another collection of bland-o modernist sculpture and collage, but Bhabha doesn’t care: she fills these works with her influences, the things around her, the things that make her laugh. They look old-fashioned, but they’re totally current. It’ll also make you want to know what barbecued Predator tastes like.
@eddyfrankel
