SCULPTURE AND INSTALLATION

Lambie seems to be an ideal choice for the Gallery of Modern Art’s contribution to the Glasgow International, particularly given his established international reputation yet loyalty to the culture of his home city of Glasgow. As with previous exhibitions we find on show a heady mix of thrifty junk shop art and punk music aesthetics, creating an engaging and accessible space.

This time round Lambie has been given free reign over the entire downstairs floor of the gallery, which he has covered with black and white vinyl tape in ‘The Strokes’ (2008). Spread out across the huge space and round the pillars it takes on a curious theatricality. Onto this floor a range of sculptures have been arranged including ‘Get Back’ (2008), a mock cut section of a wall made from fabulously kitsch oriental fabric-covered bricks and pink grout, the whole wall balancing precariously on two pairs of gentlemanly slick black gloss-painted shoes.

Elsewhere, we see Lambie’s characteristically sturdy use of sculptural form in ‘Sonic Reducer’ (2008), where a number of paper album covers in stacks have been sunk into asymmetrical concrete blocks and scattered randomly around the space. ‘Warm Leatherette’ (2008) has a similarly appealing physicality combined with humour and a heavy dose of punk attitude. The arms of a range of multicoloured leather jackets have been stitched together and padded out to create a freestanding multi-legged leather creature, but what should have become monstrous is instead strangely beautiful. Visiting this exhibition is an entertaining and visceral experience, and the many musical and art historical references Lambie relies on are shrewdly concealed behind its playful spirit.