My visit: November 2021.
Cost: Free !
What was it?
A solo exhibition from Jeremy Deller at the Modern Institute, Glasgow. It was a mesmerising exhibition that was so thoughtfully curated even though the print was an explosion of colour, type and a mixture of styles and big ideas. Deller’s print work is matter of fact and this salon style exhibition style was perfect at creating a composition where the posters were almost talking to each other.
Why it mattered?
Since I discovered Deller’s “Thank God for Immigrants” poster that people placed in their windows during covid I was immediately captivated by his social, political and cultural commentary that was inclusive and powerful in peoples homes. The exhibition as a retrospective acted as a timeline of notable political and cultural events through Deller’s silkscreen, screen print and letterpress prints – taking me back to certain key moments like Brexit.
My takeaway:
The exhibition affirmed my love for Deller’s work tenfold. It tackles important themes in a direct and easy to digest way. “Farage in prison” as an example just captivates what I think of Nigel Farage in 3 words. It has an element of humour to it too so it’s not bringing you down, it’s not shying away from things that matter and the colour and type choices are so polished.
Vibe:
Initially I thought that the gallery was closed because it was so quiet. I was the only person in the gallery and had the whole exhibition to myself. I had the best time walking around at my own pace, really absorbing it all. LOVED IT!
