| Commonwealth:
Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla, Thomas Hirschhorn, Carsten Höller,
Gabriel Orozco
Until 28 Dec 03
Art and play
is a funny combination and a tough shot for any art institution, especially
a rather sophisticated one the Tate Modern. And play is a particularly
poignant display not only when it is created as art, but even more curious
and intriguing when it acts as a catalyst to explore the meaning and implications
of the word Commonwealth. Don’t get me wrong. This exhibition isn’t
just a game and some work doesn’t even let us touch, but having
had such freedom already, we are more inclined to explore provocative
pieces such as Hirschhorn’s Hotel Democracy and within this unusual
space, which has already encouraged us to interact, we feel more relaxed
to perhaps, comment. But the true success of this show is the amount of
interaction necessary to make it really work. As you walk in you are enticed
by the sound of Casten Höller’s Frisbee House, while his mirrored
wall, draws you near, suddenly opening as you get close leading you to
another wall in a Star Wars kind of way. The Tate Modern has got together
some of the most interesting and culturally aware international artists,
who make us consider not only our individual situation, but the world
outside and the politics that affect our daily lives. Having such intriguing
installations as Thomas Hirschhorn’s U-Lounge you are forced to
contemplate, while through play such as Orozco’s Ping Pond Table
and Allora and Calzadilla’s piece Land Mark, serious issues of rules
and possession are investigated ultimately highlighting just how vast
this word ‘Commonwealth’ really is.
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