Marcel Duchamp
Fountain 1917 Tate © Succession Marcel Duchamp/ Paris and DACS, London 2007
This exhibition highlights the work of three justifiably important 20th century artists: Picabia, Man Ray and Duchamp. Let us stop you right there. The show hasn't gone dada over a urinal. Although a 1960s replica of the infamous urinal does feature. This exhibition shows the progression of these three artists through the earnest art movements of the first half of the 20th century. It also shows the interaction between these three artists.
The first thing that strikes you is their sense of humour: much like an old punk ligging at a private view, it is acerbic and somewhat 'taking the piss'. But hidden underneath all that gesticulating at the art establishment, you get a real feeling for just how experimental and, to use a now sadly overused phrase, boundary pushing they actually
were. You also get to see how varied their artwork over the years was, from Duchamp's early Futurism/Cubism phase to Picabia's war time kitch paintings of women reclining with dogs and the like.
You might loathe the long shadow cast by Dada, and its conceptualism but you can't ignore its impact. In fact you'd have to be round the U-bend to miss this show, that is if you've not already seen it, obviously. It is only on until the 26th, so you'll have to hurry.
By Oliver Gili
Last chance to see: Duchamp, Man Ray, Picabia: the moment art changed forever @ Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. For more information click here
