The temporary exhibition Post Vandalism shows the relationship between public space and destruction
On show at OMNI gallery in London, the temporary exhibition Post Vandalism considers the relationship between public space and the act of destruction, both materially and conceptually. Bringing together a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, and film, the exhibition underscores the conscious engagement of these artists to harness destruction as a means of empowerment. Tethered to a host of previous art movements, such as the readymade, nouveau réalisme, and graffiti, post-vandalism uses destruction as a means of creating positive change. There is new-found meaning in sprayed utility markings, blackened motorway facades, and warped anti-climb architecture. Molten tarmac caked with colourful dots of chewing gum outside a nightclub or bleached white shopping bags flailing in the wind become symbolic fragments of the lived experience. The works on display are united in capturing the streets we traverse every day and the rapid, gross impact we inflict on our environment, paying homage to the lives that inhabit the city with acute psychological insight. Created in the studio, the artworks commonly relate to surface material changes. Protective fencing bent out of shape, layers of paint blistering off wooden hoardings, and signatures scratched into plastic evoke the destructive mark-making utilised by many artists producing work in this field. The bristly and viscous appearance of the artwork conveys its power when shown in contrast to the immaculately clean interior of the gallery space. In this setting, we can observe these over-sprayed, bruised, and serrated artworks as poetic, offering a dignified commentary on the everyday experience. At OMNI gallery there are exhibited artworks by Mike Ballard, Moses & Taps, Ed Bats, Cosimo Casoni, Nils Jendri, Bram Bram, Moritz Neuhoff and Antonin Hako, among others.
Established in London in 2022, OMNI is well renowed to represents a diverse roster of multidisciplinary modern and contemporary artists. Cultivating a vibrant community of established and emerging artists, collectors, and enthusiasts, OMNI works directly with talent to provide clients with unique access to artworks over the progression of their careers. In addition to fostering collaborative relationships with artists, the gallery’s innovative exhibition programming underlines its driving principle: to serve as an international artistic platform inclusive of all forms of media. This independent approach is further emboldened by OMNI’s partnerships across industries, engaging its worldwide audience through carefully curated collaborations and experiences.
