THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING: EXHIBITION #4 ...................................................................................................... The Museum of Everything is back and better than ever after a little dry spell. Now housed in a gigantic space in the basement of Selfridges, it is exhibiting the work of 40 or so artists suffering from a range of problems; be they physical or psychological, who have worked in group studios around the world (many attached to hospitals), creating some of the most emotive work we have seen in a long time. It is odd walking around a modern art exhibition and feeling no desire to read the blurb beside each piece of work. The innocence and impulsiveness, with which most of the artworks seem to have been created, exude such honest and strong emotions that they almost render the explanations unnecessary: the impact lies solely in the viewer’s relation and response to the piece, not in complex theoretical references. The strange is given its own language and the repetition of certain words reveals at times a painful and tormented background behind an image. Despite a seemingly childlike naivety, there are often violent and demonic undertones. Cartoonish faces are etched in pain and deformed genitalia and aggressive sexual connotations run like a vein through much of the work. We can’t recommend this show enough, so please go see it too. More than once. Then go to the shop. The shop is filled with weird and wonderful goodies including clothes and scarves printed with images from the exhibition. We love the Museum of Everything. www.museumofeverything.com THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING: EXHIBITION #4 Sep 2011