Visited this interesting gallery tucked out in the wilds of London Fields primarily for work, as we have an exhibition coming up which will be shown in Chisenhale first. It is on a residential street, and forms the ground floor of an old industrial warehouse (which also has studios in the building, much like Spike). Caragh’s exhibition didn’t immediately grab me but there were some interesting elements – particularly those relating to symbols or imagery.
The gallery door opened behind this painting/collage, so your first view was of the wooden slats at the back of the canvas. The image itself is one that Caragh has had a long time: I like the fact that the baseball caps, the brick pattern and the fence outline initially seem like urban references. But look more closely and its a clean cut image of people playing sport, probably tennis. It also has a staged, advertising-type feel.
I also really liked her spray painted canvases showing churches within the Square Mile. Again, it has this dual quality – initially rebellious like graffiti – but on further examination these are names of beautiful religious buildings which have held firm in an urban environment which is constantly changing.
hannahbailey.org 