Desperate art wives

Down at the Vibe Gallery in Southwark they are showing Desperate Art Wives who are “a group of women and artists who have been putting our “artistic needs” on hold to attend to our family and work duties, but who have also never forgotten who we really are at heart.”

Jo Hatty "The Look"

Apart from the origin of the twenty or so artists though there is little to link the lovely, modest pieces which, as is the way these days, used everything from traditional oils to fabrics, light, dolls houses, crockery and film to make their points.

I suppose these should really be viewed as tasters with just a couple of pieces from each artist which, in some cases, was a real shame as there was often an argument you could see waiting to be developed but with no space to do so.

That said it was well worth the trip into the rather odd, prison style industrial estate which seemed quite at odds with some of the delicate thoughtful pieces on display.

I was very taken with the mini-Henry Moore style sculptures by Jo Hatty (pictured) and although I’m generally hard to please the oils by Dawn Andre Beedell were great. Really filthy, humane portraits painted with skill and compassion. Amy Dignam’s cut out absences were not precisely haunting, but they were effecting. Likewise Anna Lewis’ interesting light work featuring printed washing machines was, well, slightly impenetrable. But not in a bad way you understand.

Finally Paola De Paola’s two photographic portraits were warm, clean and sensuous and I’d have loved to have seen more than the two pieces on display here. A shame there wasn’t more than just a taster but lovely none the less.

One note of criticism was the gallery itself. You have art works attempting to convey all kinds of rich meaning, deep emotion or hint at some kind of philosophical depth and all the while there was this incredibly awful muzak playing. I honestly thought this must have been chosen by one of the artists as the blandest possible contrast to the work.

No. When I asked who chose the music I was told “Oh, that Chill FM. We end to have that on.” I thought well that explains the new musical form I’ve just discover elevator rap music. I remarked that this was quite unusual and other places tend to have silence. He literally giggled and said “Oh, we do things differently round her.”

Obviously I wasn’t rude but come on. Chill FM while you’re trying to take in a work about child abuse? This is not the way people.

Nice works, the permanent exhibition also looks worth a look tucked away in the corner with some sumptuous ink work, but bring headphones.