So Walking In My Mind at the Hayward Gallery has been billed as an expedition into the mysterious mental processes of creativity; about what goes on inside 
the artists’ head. If I’m to be honest some heads were just a little on the disturbing side.
The exhibition takes ten contemporary artists – some were new commissions and some existing commissions – and puts us, the viewer, right into their environments. You are surrounded by the pieces which apparently litter their mind as you walk around and through the pieces. I’m the first to admit that I am not very knowledgeable about art at all with all that hidden levels and deeper meaning stuff. My interests are simple – if I find the thing I’m looking to be interesting then it gets the thumbs up. That’s about it. If it has a little story to go along with it to explain it … all the better … so long as its straight-forward itself and not filled with artistic jargon.
This exhibition is something that needs to be experienced in person which is what Rita, Rache and I were doing tonight.
The artists’ creations which drew my attention included:
Keith Tyson. Keith’s work was a series of giant paintings/drawings – with most being quite different in style and content except for a 21-part piece of work which took up an entire wall and included a sculpture of a boy and a recorded voice. I didn’t quite understand it but loved looking at the detail in his pieces including finding Kermit the Frog sitting on a staircase with his back to us in one piece.
Thomas Hirschhorn. I’m surprised that Thomas’ installation hasn’t led to injuries. Using cardboard and what seemed like brown packaging tape he re-created a complex of caves and tunnels. It was kind of weird. One room was filled with centre-folds plastered on the ceiling, another with empty drink cans and another with giant books and foil-covered dummies. The ground is uncertain (just like a cave) and unpredictable. Girls in heels should tread carefully.
Jason Rhoades. When you walk into the room you’ll think it’s a big jumble of random things. But apparently there is a method to the madness and if you following the numbering you’ll discover that you’re walking through how Jason sees the workings of our brains. Most confronting are the thick poles at one of end of the room upon which are pasted hard-core p0rn. Mainly because it may take a while for you to work out exactly what you’re looking at. I liked the machine blowing giant smoke rings. It was only later that I properly read that this was meant to represent the @nus. …
Yayoi Kusama. It is likely that if you’ve seen any of the press on this exhibition it will feature the red and white polka dots of Yayoi Kusama’s installation. She started to draw polka dots when she was ten years old and is a central feature of her work. Interestingly she lives in a psychiatric hospital, apparently since 1973. She has also covered the trees along the River Thames outside the gallery. Inside the gallery the room is filled with gigantic red beach ball material type shapes with white polka dots. You can also exit to the roof which is covered in green …… and more red structures with white polka dots.
Chiharu Shiota. Chiharu’s feature is a a room full of black wool strung out all over the place. Rache commented that it reminded her of a certain type of hair and after she said that I couldn’t get it out of my head! I couldn’t get my around just how long it would have taken Chiharu to create this piece. It was very intricate!
Pipilotti Rist. Finally Pipilotti’s room was the “Sleeping Room.” Complete darkness but for the body parts (including a nipple and apparently a pen!s) being projected on the walls at random times the most challenging aspect of this piece was not running into other people in the room! There was a seat in the middle for people to sit on but there was always more people in the room than space on the seat so it was interesting to “see” people trying not to sit or run into other people.
You’ll notice that most of my description above is the physical description of what I saw. I can’t even pretend to guess at the deeper meaning of the art but you get a little information pamphlet and there are plaques on the wall for your information.
On until the 6 September.
the artists’ head. If I’m to be honest some heads were just a little on the disturbing side.
