EXHIBITIONS: Shout If You Hate It Bruce Nauman's Show Is about as Appealing as `Getting Hit with a Baseball Bat' - as the Artist Himself Might Say

Hilton, Tim, The Independent (London, England)

BRUCE NAUMAN is a highly overrated artist whose work at the Hayward Gallery turns out to be both boring and aggressive. He has all the Hayward's spaces to himself, and the rooms are mostly dark, for this is mostly an exhibition of videos. Furthermore, the show is noisy, since the videos often have repetitive soundtracks. There are lots of flashing lights and neon slogans. The effect is discomforting, as Nauman certainly intended. I found that the best way to experience the show was to take a dip into it for five minutes at a time, while otherwise making a base in the comparatively peaceful area of the Hayward cafe.

When Nauman converts tedium and punchiness into virtues, …

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Publication information: Article title: EXHIBITIONS: Shout If You Hate It Bruce Nauman's Show Is about as Appealing as `Getting Hit with a Baseball Bat' - as the Artist Himself Might Say. Contributors: Hilton, Tim - Author. Newspaper title: The Independent (London, England). Publication date: August 2, 1998. Page number: 22. © 2009 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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