Sarah Lucas Exhibition Juxtaposes Raw Brilliance with Unsettling Disparity
LONDON – A new exhibition pairing the work of Sarah Lucas and Maggi Hambling at Sadie coles HQ and Frankie Rossi Art Projects is drawing attention for itS stark contrast in artistic vision, with critics noting a notable gulf in precision and impact between the two artists. The show, titled ”Ooo La La,” runs until January 24th and presents a compelling, if uneven, dialog between Lucas’s conceptually driven, physically extreme sculptures and Hambling’s more turbulent, abstract paintings and sculptures.
Lucas’s work, described as a elegant continuation of her early readymades, is lauded for its combination of art and truth, exemplified by a bronze, lacquered, and painted sculpture referencing Picasso’s “Large Nude in a Red Armchair.” The piece translates the “howl” of Picasso’s image into three dimensions, offering a “21st-century sleaze” and demonstrating Lucas’s humor and ability to connect with the perverse. In contrast, Hambling’s canvases, while initially appearing wild and energetic, are criticized for ultimately “curdling and slumping” into a “pretence of energy” and a sense of futility.
The exhibition highlights lucas’s continued growth without betraying her conceptual roots, while Hambling’s work is described as lacking the precision and intelligence of her counterpart. Despite the disparity, the exhibition is presented as a testament to a sustained artistic brilliance in Lucas, possibly fostered by her emotional connection with Hambling.
