20 January – 17
February 2006
Private View: Thursday 19th January 2006, 6-8pm
For his first solo show in London, Anthony Key transforms Unit 2 into his de
facto studio. Amid the clutter of shelving units, workbenches, packing
crates and personal effects, Key re-presents a number of his notable works
that have earned him a reputation as one of Britain’s most innovative
and engaging artist’s today.
Key’s playful and acerbic work draws from a wealth of stereotypes, both
contemporary and historical, that influence our perceptions of ‘Chinese’ identity.
From the ubiquitous Chinese takeaway and the England football shirt, to the
nature of immigration and the packaging of Chinese ‘high’ culture,
with razor sharp wit and perception, Key’s work unravels the many received
ideas and representations with a lucid defiance.
The tin foil carton, ordinarily used for takeaway food, has found many uses
in Key’s practice, from functioning as the casting mould for ‘bricks’ in
major installations such as Great Wall (1999) and Buddha (2003)
to its uncanny application in Hong Kong Shanghi Tower (1996).
Alongside many notable works, the exhibition includes extensive documentation
of Key’s major installation/site specific works produced over the
past eight years.
From South China to South London also offers the first opportunity to
see the compelling video work, ‘Home’ (2004), in which
the artist captures his father’s painstaking but ever resourceful approach
to cooking. Part homage, part allegory, Home is a compelling work, not only
for its remarkable tranquillity and understated humour, but also for what it
might reveal about the nature of family ties, cultural dislocation and belonging
in a fast and furious world.
An illustrated brochure accompanies the exhibition with a newly commissioned essay by susan pui san lok
Artist talk: Anthony Key will be in conversation with Eddie Chambers, Research Fellow in Curating at London Metropolitan University (LMU). Thursday 9 February, 6.30pm at LMU, 41 Commercial Road, 1st Floor Lecture Theatre, (The talk is free but booking is advised).
Anthony Key will also be exhibiting a new installation for his solo show 'Bok
gwai /White Ghost', Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth 4 February - 1 April 2006
For more information contact: Richard Hylton (Curator) at Unit 2 on 020 7320 1970/1948 info@unit2.co.uk
