A Litmus Test for Art

Do you remember at school messing about with Litmus paper in chemistry lessons trying to find out if things are acid or alkaline, or were you too busy trying to make laughing gas or setting fire to somebodies hair?

I’ve just been to Scotland and saw a (very good) show called ‘Off the Wall’ at Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh. For those of a thoughtful or tabloid bent, there is always the issue of how to tell if a work of art is actually any good – well I think I have found the answer, take along a toddler.

The little man was overwhelmed by a couple of pieces (literally), one was Martin Creed’s piece ‘Work No. 370 Balls’ (2004), he tried frantically to get in there and play with the balls time and tiem again, fortunately (for us) we managed to stop him.

Martin Creed - Work no.370 Balls

The other piece that passed the toddler test was Jim Lambie’s ‘Zobop’ (1999) – the little man would have been happy running around in room all day long.

Jim Lambie - Zobop

Global warming at home and the cascade of golden light

I’ve been writing this, or rather meaning to write this post for a long time. All through this year I have noticed the light a lot. For the last 6 months the light has been wrong.This year I have been afflicted by an appalling case of Meteorological Deja Vu, the light in England has not been the light of England.

Many mornings as I have driven to work the light has been wrong the misty glow, whilst beautiful has been jarring. Sunsets have had the neon glow of a pharmacological mishap or a tequila fueled bender on the edge of the desert. I have been out running in the early morning half a mile from home and almost fallen over in shock as the light tells me I am La Paz high on the Bolivian atiplano…

Anyway I have a theory that this cascade of golden light that is something to do with global warming or the changing atmosphere, dust or temperature differentials, unusual cloud patterns… something is making light behave in a strange way. Perhaps I should dig out some of those old JG Ballard novels for a bit of research, I seem to remember that the light always used to go a little wonky as the world drew to an end.

 

 – at saunton like the med this morning dri#ving to work i felt very strongly that i was in chile or south america…