Art Review: The King and The Minotaur

By Ruth Last edited 164 months ago

Last Updated 14 April 2011

Art Review: The King and The Minotaur


Those who are sick of the prescriptive and standardised experiences of description boards and audio guides in the city's big art galleries are advised to explore the pop-up (yes, we know that's almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks these days, but bear with us) currently inhabiting the space at 7 St Pancras Way until the end of the month in the guise of The King and the Minotaur.

Ephemeral clouds of fabric have expanded to neatly fit the brick shell of a historic brewer's barn to form a labyrinth, within which are nestled film and sound installations, live performance, artworks and an approach to edible art to rival the upcoming events at the Barbican. But you'll need to abandon a conventional perception of what a wall is - as well as any traditionally British sense of reserve - if you're going to get through this multisensory experience which is crammed full of character (and characters).

Within the maze you'll discover pieces such as Lenton and Smith's arthropodic furniture, which cowers protectively and almost menacingly over a family unit, whilst Adam Graddon's intricate ceramic fish sculptures give a novel twist to a sense of scale. Flora Wellesley Wesley & Eleanor Sikorski may even discover you.

The gravity-defying Sipsmith bar at the heart of the maze is your crystalline reward at the end of your journey, serving appropriately unexpected concoctions such as Gin and Rocket Tonic, which given a good smash about is a real winner. It also provides the ideal vantage point from which to appreciate the disorientating juxtapositions provided within the labyrinth - although this might have just been the gin - as well as to pick up on some of the more subtle details of the many installations which inhabit the space.

Our advice is to forgo seasonal stylings and avoid sandals or white clothing, take cutlery if offered, and above all, go whilst you still can.

Tickets are still available for this weekend, but selling fast. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm, runs until 30th April.