Tue 26 May 2015

REFLEX

‘REFLEX’
 
A Two Day Exhibition Takeover*
Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May, 10:00 - 17:00
*@ ‘Reflex’ Unit, The Mall Shopping Centre, Luton (to the left of M&S)
 
Presenting work by Doyle & Mallinson
As the second installment of their exciting 2015 visual arts programme Luton based curatorial umbrella ‘The Midas Touch’ (TMT) present ‘REFLEX’.

Extending a commitment to the use of existing spaces, ‘Reflex’ will be situated within an empty retail unit in the heart of Luton town’s shopping centre. The exhibition is the second stage of an 8 months Arts Council funded project, which supports both local artists and artists from further afield, exploring the town’s existing creative community and encouraging a wider recognition of Luton’s contribution to contemporary art. Building on the momentum and success of the recent ‘Generation Game’ exhibition, this exciting 2 day takeover will present the work of Shaun Doyle & Mally Mallinson.

Drawing on a diverse and multi-faceted pool of references from religion, form & function to cultural re-appropriation, Doyle and Mally’s often politically charged work oscillates between antagonistic and satirical. Extended exploration into commerce, consumer culture, communities, pride and arguably lefty aggression make not only Luton, but moreover the shopping centre as an interesting and relevant point of consideration.

Through ‘Reflex’, TMT is proud to host a rich selection of Doyle and Mallinson’s work, with large sculptures from modified skeletons to Wendy houses, offset against a backdrop of collages. Skeletal sculptures, drag Tesco shopping bags with their extended arms, exploring an ‘imaginery branch of human evolution ~ [which] exists in a post apocalyptic world where family groups survive on so called value food and ready meals’. The collages and prints ‘are vehicles for juvenile insults that are the clearest statements of our kynical / cynical humour.  The results of a deliberate regression, they are tabloid / plebian expressions of our suspicion of fashion, material gain and social power play.’

Long standing collaborators Doyle & Mallinson have exhibited in major institutions both in the UK and internationally including ‘London Open' (2012) Whitechapel Gallery and ‘Rude Britannia’, (2010) Tate Britain. Solo shows include ‘The Dog’s Dinner’ (2013), Galerie Nostheide-Eycke, Germany, ‘Ecce Homo Erectus’ (2008) Venlo Stadhuis, NL  and ‘Peristroma Dolorosa’ (2005) MOT International London. Shortlisted in ‘Artangel 100’ in 2013 they were featured on ‘The Culture Show’ (2010) for their ‘Fascist Fruit Boys’ in Tate Britain’s ‘Rude Britannia’.