Shrigley parodies an excessive culture market through, seemingly, crude and ill-quality sculptures. He satirises a mass consumption of art that lacks real meaning while demonstrating the ease in which such trends can be exploited.
With a dream-like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ quality, Shrigley's sculpture plays with form, transforming and distorting everyday objects or playing with scale. Particularly striking is the exhibit ‘Cheers’, a pair of grey fishing waders and Wellington boots filled with expanding foam.
Other works include black and white films, stuffed animals and doors. Tents and sleeping bags have a life of their own and grow uncontrollably, perhaps even beyond the control of Shrigley himself.
On a more macabre theme, Gravestone, a giant stone engraving, looks at fears and attitudes towards mortality. Comedy is entwined with a need to expose a dystopian vision of the world. This is the first time Gravestone has been presented at BALTIC.
Shrigley has exhibited extensively and has an international profile. His work has become widely known through a weekly contribution to The Guardian and through television, album design and music videos. Musicians have also interpreted his writing as lyrics.
Admission to this exhibition is free
More information on David Shrigley can be found on www.davidshrigley.com
