East London Just Got A Little Creepier With These Mythical Monsters
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A dark figures towers over us. One of its arms is missing from the elbow down and the other holds an intimidating sickle. This isn't a scene from a horror movie, but one of the rather disturbing sculptures of Nicola Hicks.
Straw beasts and mythical monsters in east London @FlowersGallery pic.twitter.com/stwaurPRj0
— Londonist (@Londonist) September 29, 2017
Her sculptures are made from plaster and straw so they all have jagged edges which further their intensity, with the gallery's low lighting levels adding to the mystery and latent threat.
A wild boar stands proudly on a rock, while opposite him crows gather in an all black tree that's so full of life, it's easy to miss the magnificent detail in the gallery's darkness.
Myth is a big part of the artist's works so there are many hunters wearing lion hides over their heads, and a lion head on a donkey references Aesop's fables whereby the ass becomes respected once it dons the lion hide.
There are lighter elements to these surreal works too; human-cat hybrid creatures in dresses stand in a circle as if an important issue is being discussed. The back rooms shows that Hicks is equally talented when creating works on paper.
We've always been massive fans of Nicola Hicks' sculptures, both for their attention to detail and the dark potency they possess. We were expecting good things from this show, and we're happy to say it's everything we were hoping for.
Nicola Hicks: Wabbling Back to the Fire at Flowers East, 82 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP. Until 11 November, free entry.
Last Updated 30 September 2017
