Recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Any Holden and visiting his latest show at the Perimeter, 30 May - 13 July 2024.
As we entered the gallery, the Laws of Motion in a Cartoon Landscape were inscribed on the right wall. Their imposing size and serious tone evoke the Ten Commandments „feeling” more than the principles of physics or philosophy. I highly recommend watching the film, which is displayed on the first floor, to gain a better understanding of these laws.
Stepping to the left of the entrance, I encountered a unique aspect of that exhibition—the artist’s merchandise. From lighters to mugs, jelly beans, ashtrays, T-shirts, and even slippers! Those of you who have visited the gallery before know that wearing slippers or shoe covers while exploring the gallery is mandatory. Andy’s slippers are exceptionally soft, and their pattern reminded me of paint squeezed from a tube. They were a part of the whole experience.
Andy’s cartoon character has been a recurring figure in his work. It narrates his films, embarks on various adventures as a small sculpture, and appears in memes. Meeting Andy in person and then purchasing his drawn identity was quite an interesting experience. The artist’s decision to literally sell his identity strongly references conceptual art. What surprised me a lot was that the prices for these items were very accessible. I mean, it was surprising considering the gallery’s fame, but it really fit what I imagined Andy’s practice was. It felt that the act of consuming £3 jelly beans, wearing a £20 T-shirt OR keeping them unopened and perfectly folded and secured in a glass frame was part of the artwork itself, prompting reflection on consumption in the art world, values, and the enduring question of „what can be a work of art?”
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