Weighted Words at the Zabludowicz Collection

‘Words are stupid, words are fun, Words can put you on the run’, stated Tom Tom Club, in their hit Wordy Rappinghood. They went on to question, ‘what are words worth?’

Glenn Ligon, Warm Broad Glow II
Glenn Ligon, Warm Broad Glow II

Well, quite a lot, if the Weighted Words exhibition, opening at the Zabludowicz Collection in March is to be believed.

The show sets out to explore how language can ‘elicit emotional, visceral or somatic responses, rather than foregrounding concerns for semiotics or linguistics as such’, according to the gallery.

Glenn Ligon, Figure 59, 2010

All the works in the exhibition use language with the aim of offering visitors new ways to explore ‘weighty topics’, such as racism in the United States, the linguistic legacy of colonialism in Africa, recent warfare, and the transformative power of creative expressions of protest.

Artists featured include Glenn Ligon, who is showing paintings and neon works; Ed Atkins, showing his trilogy of Death Mask works and Dani Gal, who presents Historical Records Archive – an ongoing collection, which currently consists of around 250 vinyl recordings of historical significance, such as political speeches and radio broadcasts and interviews with world leaders.

 

Glenn Ligon, Figure 59, 2010

Weighted Words runs from 1 March – 10 June at the Zabludowicz Collection, 176 Prince of Wales Road, London NW5

 

Warm Broad Glow II: Courtesy the artist, Luhring Augustine, New York, Regen Projects, Los Angeles, and Thomas Dane Gallery, London
Figure 59 and Figure 67: Courtesy the artist, Thomas Dane Gallery London and Zabludowicz Collection

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