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Tom Friedman exhibtion South London Gallery 20/07/04
Reviews

From: Max
Category: Exhibitions
Date: 21 July 2004

Review

Supremely entertaining, subtle, small and charming solo show to re-open the South London Gallery after its refurbishment. Friedman is a patient man whose work is delightfully impressive and infinitely accessible. The materials of this show must be worth no more than a couple of humdred pounds, but the surprise, the wit and the modesty of his vision is priceless. A 10ft-high styrofoam man stares down to meet the upward gaze of an inch high cousin; A paper butterly relaxes on a delightfully realistic pile of paper dog shit; a paper sculpture flattened onto the floor encourages us to laugh at the pompous rites of diplay that Friedman is challenging and gently mocking with a tube of glue and some coloured card. For those of us who would rather fiddle around on an empty afternoon doing cut and stick and re-cycling old cartons than see the Royal Academy summer show Friedman is a master to be admired and challenged. There is no self importance to be found in Friedman's work, or in the SLG's presentation of it, and as such this show is a welcome addition to the range of exhibitions currently showing in London. Max

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