London’s Whitechapel Gallery has curated a unique pairing of exhibitions for its fall programming, showcasing the work of artists Sonia Boyce and Lygia Clark. Despite initial appearances, the shows argue that these two artists share synergies in their emphasis on touch and play. Both artists transitioned from object-based art to participatory practice during their careers, as highlighted in the exhibition titles “An Awkward Relation” for Boyce and “The I and the You” for Clark, who is having her first museum survey in the UK.
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Whitechapel director Gilane Tawadros, who cocurated the exhibitions with Boyce and scholar Michael Asbury, emphasizes the connection between art objects and audiences. The exhibitions encourage visitors to touch and explore sculptures, breaking the traditional rules of museums and galleries. Visitors can interact with replicas of Clark’s Bichos and tactile objects designed to stimulate body awareness. Boyce’s installation also invites visitors to touch and break social taboos.
Boyce was introduced to Clark’s work in the mid-’90s, leading to a lasting influence on her practice. The current exhibitions at Whitechapel highlight the evolution of Boyce’s practice and the international influences that have shaped her work.
Clark’s show at Whitechapel explores her career trajectory, from architectural sketches to interactive sculptures. Performers in the gallery reactivate her participatory propositions, inviting visitors to engage with the art in a playful and interactive way.
Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the exhibitions, re-creating the works by participating in interactive activities and engaging with the art on a tactile level.
Die Mutigsten können sogar das titelgebende Werk O eu e o tu (Das Ich und das Du) aus dem Jahr 1967 ausprobieren, bei dem zwei Personen Masken und vollständige industrielle Gummianzüge tragen, die durch einen Nabelschlauch verbunden sind. Ziel ist eine intime sensorische Erforschung der Körper des anderen, bei der Grenzen zwischen Material und Haut verschwimmen, während die Teilnehmer sich durch die inneren Taschen des anderen tasten, die mit Texturen wie Stroh, Schaum, Borsten und hervorstehenden Formen ausgestattet sind.