Donald Locke review – ‘Incredible, powerful, uncomfortable, shocking’

Spike Island, BristolThe shadow of the plantation looms over the charged paintings and sculptures in the first major UK retrospective of the Guyanese-British artistDonald Locke looked at all the formal aesthetic experimentation of the 1950s and 60s, all the minimalism and modernism and abstract expressionism, and thought: “Hold on. There’s something missing here. Something big.” The three grim, heavy, black monochromatic paintings that greet you as you walk into this show, called Resistant Forms, at Spike Island, the first major retrospective of the Guyanese-British artist’s work in the UK, have all the hallmarks of minimalism. They are dark, simple, ultra-formal images, a single colour on each canvas, covered in geometric grids, like Bauhaus in mourning. But the shapes and grids that define each work are not just experiments in form, they are not just an artist trying to push aesthetic boundaries: each is based on the architecture of the plantation.Suddenly, this formal minimalism becomes heavily weighed down by history, exploitation and oppression. Now, those formal geometric structures look like fields of sugar cane, bodies packed too close together in cramped dorms, sweaty and suffering. Fur peeks out of a metal grate cut into one of the canvases, as if countless animals are pressed in there, caged. They are incredible, powerful, uncomfortable, shocking paintings. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Jeremy Clarkson’s pub opening under threat in season finale of Clarkson’s Farm

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Donald Palumbo Reinvigorated the Met Opera Chorus. Next Stop Chicago.

Jon Sopel says Keir Starmer is ‘cringe’ for handing Donald Trump letter from King Charles

Donald Trump pardons reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley over bank fraud and tax evasion

Wes Anderson makes fun of Donald Trump’s film tariff plan: ‘Can you hold up a movie in customs?’

‘Cinema doesn’t ship that way’: Wes Anderson mocks Donald Trump’s film tariff plans in Cannes

How President Donald Trump Became a Prophet

‘This dried out prune of a rocker’: Donald Trump attacks Bruce Springsteen after musician’s fiery speeches

Kristen Stewart says Donald Trump’s effect on the film industry is ‘terrifying’

How Donald Trump’s Crypto Dealings Push the Bounds of Corruption

Donald Trump to be shown in much ‘kinder’ light with new $100,000,000 biopic

This opera tells the story of 'The Central Park Five,' Donald Trump's role included

David Tennant makes ‘antichrist’ dig at Donald Trump AI pope image

A Day in the Live-Streamed Life of Donald Trump

10 films from Scotchland that could escape Donald Trump's bigly tariffs

Oasis, Donald Trump, Wallace & Gromit, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates inspire Fringe shows

Whoopi Goldberg calls out Donald Trump’s movie tariffs

Culture

Jeremy Clarkson’s pub opening under threat in season finale of Clarkson’s Farm

Huey Lewis says he ‘can’t hear music’ after severe hearing loss

A high schooler shares the story of her 80-year-old pen pal in podcast project

John Wick fans needn’t have worried – Ballerina is brilliant fun

Plans for 'AI Fight Club' of defense, tech companies brewing in Washington

All-electric aircraft completes flight with passengers from Long Island to New York City

Attacks on Jews in U.S. heighten concerns about security in and around synagogues

The imperfect John Wick spin-off Ballerina didn’t need the Keanu cameo

Masters of the House: Trump and Vance set to attend ‘Les Miserables’ opening at the Kennedy Center

DDG seeks restraining order against Halle Bailey and asks court to prevent her taking son out of the country

Netflix fans rush to binge Italian crime thriller with John Wick star

Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins address feud rumours together: ‘I adore this woman’

President Trump is attending the musical 'Les Mis' – why is this a big deal?

Maryland is officially crushing on Orange Crush cocktail

Morten Harket, a-ha’s Lead Singer, Has Parkinson’s Disease

Hollywood legend unrecognisable after dramatic transformation for new true story film

What is Fusarium graminearum, the fungus U.S. authorities say was smuggled in from China?

Texas hospital that discharged woman with doomed pregnancy violated the law, a federal inquiry finds

A woman testifies Sean 'Diddy' Combs gave her night terrors by dangling her from a high-rise balcony

From 'Tudo bem?' to 'Gracias,' a growing share of U.S. residents speak a language other than English

'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo says TSA detained her over sunflower seeds

Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the U.S.

Carrie Fisher told Mark Hamill to ‘get over himself’ after he omitted Star Wars from Broadway bio

Friends star reveals why she left Hollywood for unusual new career

Walton Goggins finally reveals why he unfollowed White Lotus co-star Aimee Lou Wood on Instagram

Artwork referencing JK Rowling taken down after being 'tampered with'

Sacha Jenkins, Filmmaker Who Mined the Black Experience, Dies at 53

‘Dog Day Afternoon’ Is Broadway Bound With Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Alf Clausen, Who Gave ‘The Simpsons’ Its Musical Identity, Dies at 84

Sarah Ruhl’s Guides in Life and Art

A Czech deal to build nuclear reactors worth $18 billion is unblocked after a court clears the way

'A huge loss.' In remote Nagasaki islands, a rare version of Christianity heads toward extinction

Ground beef sold at Whole Foods may be tainted with E. coli, USDA says

Stephen A. Smith signs deal with SiriusXM for radio shows on sports, current events

FBI arrests a man in New York connected to explosion at a California fertility clinic, officials say

Cuban families devise ingenious solutions to endure frequent power shortages

Edmund White, a groundbreaking gay author, dies at 85

Vietnam scraps 2-child policy as aging threatens economic growth

Join scientists as they drive into hailstorms to study the costly weather extreme

Stephen King on 'The Life of Chuck,' the end of the world and, yes, joy

Broadway has found its Gen Z audience -- by telling Gen Z stories

Texas hospital that discharged woman with doomed pregnancy violated the law, a federal inquiry finds

U.S. Department of Energy lists South Korea as 'sensitive' state amid nuclear concerns

Zoe Saldaña reveals she ‘collapsed’ at Oscars moments after winning first award

Eminem vs Meta: Rapper sues Facebook parent for $109million after using his hits on its platform

‘Most tear-jerking TV show ever’ is leaving Amazon Prime in days

Haley Joel Osment Ordered to Attend A.A. After Ski Resort Arrest

You can still apply to be in Race Across the World next year – here's how

TikTok kills #SkinnyTok in crackdown on extreme diet content

Trump's plans for celebrating America irk historians, advocates seeking apology for slavery

SNL superstar bringing Eurovision to Broadway

Netflix series Adolescence hits massive new milestone surpassing Stranger Things

Rock band Heart offer reward for ‘irreplaceable instruments’ stolen from venue

Edinburgh's Hogmanay organisers set to pay back £140,000 over weather wash-out

All the new stars confirmed for Celebrity Gogglebox line-up including pop legend

Rivals season 2 twist confirmed after major spoiler for sizzling series

Video shows Meghan and Harry dancing before she gave birth to Lilibet

Edmund White, Pioneer of Gay Literature, Is Dead at 85

Wicked: For Good trailer to debut tonight

New winter music festival announced for Scottish city