Encounters of the third kind

Brian Griffiths
The Body and Ground (or Your Lovely Smile), 2010 canvas, paint, fibreglass poles, rope, netting, thread, tape, plastic sheeting

After three attempts, I've finally managed to cover most of British Art Show 7. Favourite this time around was Haroon Mirza's Regaining a Degree of Control.  Every description I heard or read before I actually saw this work made it sound either intensely dull or horribly pretentious (Ian Curtis, epilepsy and Krapp's Last Tape - in one work? Hmm.) But it really works. I also liked Brian Griffiths' The Body and the Ground - a giant sad, sightless teddy bear's head, reconstructed in grubby orange canvas.

Just time to look in on Vessel, a new warehouse space curated by Carl Slater and Glen Johnston. Recommended. I'm very jealous of all the cheap, empty buildings in Plymouth. It's not easy getting them up and running as art spaces, I know, but at least they're there.

British Art Show 7,  various venues across Plymouth. Until 4th December 2011
VESSEL, George Place, Stonehouse, Plymouth  PL1 3NY. Until 30th October 2011