The Forever Loop - Eddie Peake

Last week I attended one of the most unique exhibitions that I have ever been to. Titled The Forever Loop and hosted at the Barbican Centre, Eddie Peake has created installations, performances and art specific to the curve of the room. The exhibition has a choreographed performance that runs continuously on screens through maze-like walls. The art is what I would suggest as interactive, with a raised scaffolding walk way and nude dancers performing the looped dance routine. Surrounding the viewer are surreal objects such as giant Perspex bears, whale bones and a chequer-board dance floor resembling all the time Peake has spent at night clubs. On the curved wall of the room, is a ninety metre long stencilled phrase in fluorescent pink spray paint in the style of typical street art. However, because the start of the phrase was at the end of the room where the exit is, it encourages the viewer to then loop back on their journey to be able to read it transforming the room into an endless loop as well. Loops are presented around the room, with the scaffolding above the work causing you to turn back on yourself and holes in the plaster walls. The idea for a continuous loop was initiated when Eddie would walk into an installation video and have no idea whether he was in the beginning, middle or end of it, and from this became slightly obsessed with the idea of video loops. 

Peake was investigating into construction of self, identity and sexuality through his work and we can see this through home videos he has included on an endless loop as well as objects that remind him of his childhood. With confrontational installations it makes you question the reasoning why showing nudity is such a frowned upon act in society today. Peake said for The Guardian “I do think it is interesting that in other parts of the world different body parts signify different things. For example we really fetishise breasts but you see footage where women walk around topless and the meaning of breasts is evidently very different.” I think the message that he is sending via this exhibition is important for society and for this time of age when people are beginning to understanding the importance of equality and reduce the obsession with nudity. A small but rich exhibition exploring identity and desire with thought provoking art is definitely worth the visit and the time spent 'looping' around the room. 

Photo from White Cube

Photo from The Creators Project

Photo from Art News Net

Photo from The Creators Project

Where: Barbican Centre
Nearest tube: Barbican, St Pauls and Moorgate
Cost: Free
Run time: Until 10 January 2016

 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Dressed as a polar bear, on Sunday 29th November 2015, myself and two friends, Alice and Matt, attended the Climate Change demonstration in London. The message of this march was directed to David Cameron and 150 leaders around the world when they meet in Paris from 30th November to 11th December 2015. In this conference, we could see a real change towards reducing pollution and global warming on the planet. It is so important for this discussion to be a success as it is time to make a difference for the generations to come. With the rapid increasing sea levels and temperatures, the planet is changing at a rate unheard of before. Slowly and surely we are destroying our home and it's time to stop. Below are photos that I took and a short video about the day.

'Keep Below 2°C'

'Stop destroying life on Earth for profit'

'Reconsider your meat consumption'

'CAUTION! Change the policy not the climate'

Fangirl moment - Jeremy Corbyn

Thank you for reading and please get involved in saving the planet! We only have the one and at the rate global warming is increasing, it might change drastically in the not so distance future.

Interested to find out more?

Check out Cowspiracy an inspiring documentary about the problems of overconsumption of meat on our environment.

Another interesting documentary here but emphasises the health implications of meat consumption.