South London Gallery hosts a new exhibition dedicated to the typographic sculptures of Lawrence Weiner, the American artist who set the parameters of conceptual art long before the YBA ever existed.
In 1968, young New York artist Lawrence Weiner wrote a ‘declaration of intent’ that went on to inform the very nature of conceptual art. His three bullet points noted that, ‘1. The artist may construct the piece’, ‘2. The piece may be fabricated’ but ‘3. The piece need not be built’. Even more importantly, the final comment on these three clauses read, ‘Each being equal and consistent with the intent of the artist the decision as to condition rests with the receiver upon the occasion of receivership’, firmly placing the importance of interpretation on the viewer – a largely new move in the art world. Weiner, along with fellow artists Robert Barry, Sol LeWitt and Douglas Huebler, gave shape to the ideas emerging in the art scene of the late-1960s known as Postminimalism, a disparate group of conceptual artists often using everyday objects to explore the nature of art and existence.
After exhibiting at South London Gallery in group shows Independence (2003) and Nothing is Forever (2010), Weiner returns to the Camberwell space for solo show All in Due Course, which largely features his typographic ‘sculptures’, large phrases made from paint or vinyl and exhibited directly on the gallery’s walls. Stretching across the main and first-floor galleries, Weiner’s part-slogan, part-poems also continue outside, adorning the façade of the semi-derelict former Peckham Road Fire Station opposite. In a characteristic push to challenge the definition of art, Weiner has also designed a temporary tattoo to accompany the exhibition. A two-day programme (on 22-23 November) looking at the potential of language in art will also run to accompany the exhibition – not to be missed.
All in Due Course by Lawrence Weiner
Until 23 November 2014
South London Gallery
southlondongallery.org
