Vantablack works

I didn't really have preconceptions about this exhibition but had seen one very enthusiastic review in the 'grauniad'. I travelled via Overground and Jubilee Line as I suspected that might be the coolest option on a hot morning.

Making paintings/sculptures out of material which cannot be seen was the theme of the second room of the exhibition. The first room was mostly filled with an inflated 'blob' of unknown dimensions.

The black material, Vantablack, does not give many clues as to its place apart from the surrounding edge. Noise reduction applied to images captured in low light high ISO conditions did throw up some interesting interpretations!

Mount Moriah at the Gate of the Ghetto
2022
mixed media

The objects in the third room did include further elements of 'All of Nothing' from the first room so apart from inference if one is familiar with the 'ramp', no further definition is available. The other objects in the room, three of which were wrapped in transparent covers, were painted in what seemed to be a disinterested manner in a variety of reds to black.

Ha Makom
2026
mixed media
dimensions variable

The 'spider like rock' formation in the top main gallery had a saturated red pigment surface which the gallery staff maintained was very fragile and seriously staining if touched by hand or clothing. Yves Kline 'blue' did come to mind but the coral like structuring was plain to see.

The door like entity had a suggestion of the featureless black 'holes' earlier in the exhibition.

I have a memory of some small, intimate even, saturated pigment pieces from many years ago, maybe Whitechapel days

Outside on the two terraces were two large reflecting entities which were difficult to place physically as shaped objects due to the 'mirror like' surface of the stainless steel.

Cloak
2026
stainless steel
300 x 300 cm

The smaller top floor gallery had warnings posted about content but the paint application on the sculptural elements did not appear convincing to me. The paintings on the wall may have had some referential meaning but seemed indifferent to the possibilities of 'painting'! I've been puzzling over the 'gore' works and wondered if my lack of exposure to the Horror Movie genre might be the source of indifference/lack of horror?

I had not photographed the wall labels so have found some titles of the works, online!

Those indifferent paintings on the walls of the smaller gallery are also a puzzle. I'll maybe have to dig a bit further...

I have subsequently picked up a few more clues about 'volcanic' references so have further handles on the issues of representation!

Tsunami III
2025
stainless steel
305 x 600 x 390 cm

I noticed that there is another museum show currently (The Serlachius Museum, Finland) which appears to have more space available, 600-square-metre, 11-metre-high, space. That might be an issue with the Hayward Gallery exhibition.

Multiple photos of the mirrored steel pieces does tend to pin down the actual shapes as the mobile reflections are no longer interferering.

There was an opportunity to capture the whole of the red sculpture, Ha Makom, and a close-up of the surface.

All of Nothing
2026
PVC
dimensions variable

Installation view of Vantablack works

The sound of pneumatic drills was permeating the building and on exiting after a last look into the second room I realised that the building of lifts to the entrance level was ongoing. I had noticed the temporary staircases on arrival!