Exhibition Review: Blk this & Blk that … a state of urgency at Djanogly Gallery

Upon entry into the gallery, the first thing that meets the eye is a series of sculptural artworks consisting of large shop window mannequins that are contorted into unusual dramatic poses. Many of them are wrapped head-to-toe in black tape and have wigs and other paraphernalia on them. The tape makes them look like they have been tied down and constrained, and are captured in a moment of attempting to break free. As the exhibition continues, more unusual sculptures with barbed wire, wigs, life jackets and photographs are on display in a varied exhibition of the work of Nottingham artist Michael Forbes - who started out as a photographer, and who now works across a range of media. This is his first solo exhibition at Lakeside Arts, and the work explores important and controversial themes around racial politics, migration, history and religion. 

The artist’s latest efforts, showcased together for the first time, were created during the COVID lockdowns while he was working towards his MA in Sculpture at the Royal College of Art. One of the galleries in the exhibition consists of a series of photographs taken during lively Caribbean street carnivals around the world. His images are 'documentary' in style; the photos document a moment in time. You can really feel the energy of the scenes here, which present us with a reflective image of our society. Some of the photographs have geometric designs on them that, along with the sculptural works in the room, point towards a wider systemic, analytical view of society that Forbes calls on us to reflect upon. His work wants us to think about identity in the 21st century and the photographs give a real sense of social interactions and people engaging with each other as communities in lively, vibrant ways. 

However, it is the works in the other gallery rooms that really bring the exhibition to life, and make the viewer think about important issues. The galleries consist predominantly of designer fashion displays combined with sculptural work on mannequins. His sculptures are a mix of curious materials and objects. They are a play on the main form of a shop mannequin, with bubbling foam and spray paint on them. The work seems to question authenticity and the idea of what it means to wear certain types of clothing, like expensive designer pieces. Gold spray paint peels off jewellery, revealing that its supposedly high value is actually only surface level. The black tape that encases many of the artworks speak of the constraints on people in society and the desire to break free of those constraints. 

The exhibition is undoubtedly topical and relevant for our time. It is a very bold move from the artist, with actual literature on display in the hands of the sculptures, presented to us in a way that clearly expresses the ideas and concepts that he would like us to consider. Forbes allows the viewer to engage with contentious subjects like migration and human rights in a way that is both playful and serious, and thus opens up the subjects to meaningful conversation.

You can find Blk this & Blk that … a state of urgency at Djanogly Gallery until Sunday 6 November

Lakeside Arts