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Review Nov 04 2008 « | »
Sarah Maple - "This Artist Blows" Whether a spectacular PR stunt or not, the controversy around Sarah Maple's solo show at The SaLon Gallery has......

Tom Wright

Whether a spectacular PR stunt or not, the controversy around Sarah Maple's solo show at The SaLon Gallery has created a heightened interest in the work of the young British-Muslim artist. Already emerging as one of Britain's leading contemporary talents, having won Saatchi's 2007 search for the next 'Art Idol' and Channel 4's '4 New Sensations prize', Maple is set create more of a stir in the coming months.

With an artist so well primed to comment on the highly topical and interesting issue of the Muslim faith in the west, it is disappointing to see such an unoriginal and mildly confrontational look at the problem. Maple seems able only to highlight her situation of whether you can be a 'good Muslim in the West, if you are from two backgrounds', rather than forming any sense of an answer or commentary on her experiences.

Maple's playful art is an attempt to give 'food for thought' for the audience and uses comedy to achieve it. Exactly why comedy and the 'tongue-in-cheek' approach was chosen is unclear, especially as she's not really that funny. Witty slogans and celebrity critiques are always going to fall short when they wouldn't look out of place on a cheap t-shirt from Topman.

All this aside,the vandalism inflicted on the SaLon Gallery, allegedly by Muslim extremists, will force "This Artists Blows" into the lucrative sphere of must-have-an-opinion-on dinner party fodder and help fuel Sarah Maple's inevitable rise. I only hope that an artist with such obvious talent and crucial subject matter matures into something a little more important.

'This Artist Blows' runs until 16th November at The SaLon Gallery, for more imformation, click here.

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