Tribute, John Barbour

Polly: I recieved my first Broadsheet in the post and it has been very useful bus reading material.. this morning I was reading Russell Smiths write-up on the exhibition 'Tribute' at the CACSA, that we went to visit during the SALA week. What was intriguing about the article was Smith's experience of Barbour's artworks this time round. The writing ephasises the humour in the work, as a response to the formlessness that Barbour engages. There is continueous reference to the interaction that the work has with human behaviour and the idea of the 'norm'. A power that doesn't need to big, bold, bright works to show it off.. the bare minimal is quite enough. Personally I really aspire to this simplistic approach, that doesn't force the art of the viewer but the viewer forces itself of it. Because the experience of the art is so personal it is like walking into the artists studio (much like the floor work we saw of Barbour's). It's a true winner for me!

Broadsheet v 35, no 3 p171