Lawrence Weiner, South London Gallery

The conceptual artist’s first solo South London Gallery exhibition features a series of provocative texts on the interior and exterior walls which emphasise “the visual and spatial qualities of any given language”. Often cited as an early pioneer of conceptualism and the use of text in art, Lawrence Weiner prefers to think of himself as a sculptor, seeing his medium as “language + the materials referred to”. Though his works seem far more about meaning rather than form, Weiner is closely involved in their realization. He personally selects or designs their fonts, and carefully plans their placement and surface texture.
We are particularly excited to take home a little sliver of the exhibition in the form of a temporary tattoo, specially created by Weiner for the show. Be sure to venture over to see the off-site work on the façade of the former Peckham Fire Station, too. As Weiner reflects, “It says something, it really does.”