RA Magazine Winter 2008

Issue Number: 101

Post-apocalypse now

The second part of this key international multimedia showcase explores an existential theme. By Georgina Brewster

Hyungkoo Lee, Canis Latrans Animatus, 2007. Resin, aluminium sticks, stainless steel wires, springs and oil paint, 75cm x 118cm x 46cm. On loan from the Frank Cohen collection. Photo: Cathy Carver The first showing in Britain of Shallow, 2008, Malcolm McLaren's series of 21 'musical paintings', is a highlight of the second part of the GSK Contemporary season sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline.

The work reflects a continuing interest in William Burroughs. 'Burroughs has always been connected to pop culture, influencing musicians whether they realise it or not,' says McLaren. In running slowed-down scenes of foreplay from old sex movies with music cut-ups, McLaren uses a technique inspired by Burroughs, he says. In fact, Musical Painting No.2 features an excerpt of Burroughs reading Naked Lunch.

'I edited the music and the films separately, so the two are not lyrically or rhythmically connected. I was trying to recapture that first moment when I heard a pop song in the 1950s and how sexy, aged thirteen, that made me feel.'

McLaren’s 86-minute work runs in the gallery’s cinema from 9 December when the second part of the season, titled ‘Collision Course’, starts to come on stream. A themed selection of multi-disciplinary work addresses concepts of a post-apocalyptic world and humanity’s fears. Alongside ‘Burroughs Live’ (from 8 Dec), the display ‘Sudden White’ includes a panoramic film backdrop created by Russell Oxley (a set designer on the 2007 film Atonement) depicting a bleak, wintery snowscape.

In Rooms 6, 9 and 12, ‘Dark Materials’ (from 9 Dec) is inspired by Philip Pullman's trilogy set in parallel universes that are shaken by epic events. The works reflect a pared-down, brutal world. Look out also for Banks Violette's burnt-out church, Hyungkoo Lee’s skeletons of cartoon animals and Jitish Kallat’s bone car.

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