The exhibition "Seriously" at Sprüth Magers in London is a group show that has taken the concept of photography to its absurd limits, reveling in the silly and the surreal. The four-floor space is crammed with still and moving images showcasing everything from clowns and Star Wars figurines to dogs watching pornography and artists running over milk cartons.
One of the standout pieces is Martine Syms' "She Mad: The Non-Hero," a conceptual TikTok-inspired work that satirizes social media mores. By adopting the structure and tropes of Lil Nas X's "Life Story" series, Syms convincingly portrays herself as an arts scene rising star struggling with health issues and depression.
Meanwhile, Louise Lawler's 1972-81 audio work "Birdcalls" is a masterclass in absurdity, as she screams out the names of famous white male artists in different bird call styles. This work, which presents nature as artifice, cannot help but elicit a smile from viewers.
The exhibition also features an array of artists associated with feminism and conceptualism in the 70s and 90s, all poking fun at feminine stereotypes in mass media and advertising. Aneta Grzeszykowska's recognisable parodies of Cindy Sherman's works are particularly effective, twisting satire into satire.
However, not all jokes land. The exhibition sometimes falls flat with parodying other art movements, which relies on art history references that may not be universally understood. Some pieces, such as Carrie Mae Weems's picture of a set of minstrel salt and pepper shakers, leave viewers perplexed.
Despite its flaws, "Seriously" is an exhibition that uses humour as a tool to challenge politics and values. By embracing the absurdity and playfulness of conceptual art, it pushes photography into new, experimental territories. While it may not be able to elicit laughter from everyone, it is undoubtedly a thought-provoking and hilarious ride.
One of the standout pieces is Martine Syms' "She Mad: The Non-Hero," a conceptual TikTok-inspired work that satirizes social media mores. By adopting the structure and tropes of Lil Nas X's "Life Story" series, Syms convincingly portrays herself as an arts scene rising star struggling with health issues and depression.
Meanwhile, Louise Lawler's 1972-81 audio work "Birdcalls" is a masterclass in absurdity, as she screams out the names of famous white male artists in different bird call styles. This work, which presents nature as artifice, cannot help but elicit a smile from viewers.
The exhibition also features an array of artists associated with feminism and conceptualism in the 70s and 90s, all poking fun at feminine stereotypes in mass media and advertising. Aneta Grzeszykowska's recognisable parodies of Cindy Sherman's works are particularly effective, twisting satire into satire.
However, not all jokes land. The exhibition sometimes falls flat with parodying other art movements, which relies on art history references that may not be universally understood. Some pieces, such as Carrie Mae Weems's picture of a set of minstrel salt and pepper shakers, leave viewers perplexed.
Despite its flaws, "Seriously" is an exhibition that uses humour as a tool to challenge politics and values. By embracing the absurdity and playfulness of conceptual art, it pushes photography into new, experimental territories. While it may not be able to elicit laughter from everyone, it is undoubtedly a thought-provoking and hilarious ride.
the way Martine Syms' work satirizes her own struggles with health issues is so relatable, and Louise Lawler's "Birdcalls" audio work had me dying laughing 
aneta grzeszykowska's parodies of cindy sherman's works are GENIUS 
the only thing that kept me from giving it a 5/5 was some pieces that felt like they didn't quite land, but overall it was just so much fun to see art being used as a tool for social commentary 
... I mean, some of the stuff is just too funny 
... I'm not sure if they're supposed to be funny or making some kind of statement about racism? 
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! Martine Syms' work on TikTok inspired is so sharp and funny, like she's giving a tongue-in-cheek take on social media culture 
But at the same time, some of the jokes felt a bit forced or didn't quite land for me, like Carrie Mae Weems's minstrel salt & pepper shakers piece - it was kinda confusing. Still, overall I think "Seriously" is a super bold experiment in using humor to challenge politics and values 
. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I loved the energy and playfulness of the whole thing 
. I love how they're pushing the limits of photography with all these silly and surreal images. The fact that they're using humor to challenge politics and values is super smart - it's not always easy to make people laugh while also making them think 
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. Like, I get it, parodying art movements can be hit or miss, right? But what really got me was how the exhibition is pushing photography into new territories... like, seriously (no pun intended 
), they're taking this super niche genre & turning it into a hilarious commentary on our society! 