Martin Creed At The Mercer: Audacious, Challenging, Thought Provoking, Or Just A Load Of Old Balls?

Five signature artworks by the Yorkshire born Turner Prize winner, Martin Creed are on display at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate from 1st April to the 2nd July 2023. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Mercer and the Tate's touring programme known as ARTIST ROOMS.

Described by the Tate as "a collection of modern and contemporary art", ARTIST ROOMS was established in 2008 as a touring collection of major bodies of work by more than 40 international artists.

The largest piece in the exhibition at the Mercer is 'Work No. 370 Balls (2004)', a large installation taking over most of the Main Gallery incorporating 900 balls of different scale, weight and texture. This was by far my favourite piece; it is playful, colourful and joyous, invoking memories of childhood on the beach, playing tennis in the park, football in the back yard, and on and on.

One of Creed's best know pieces entitled 'Of Work No. 227 The lights going on and off (2000)' takes over a side room of the Mercer and is shown here with a twist. The artist said: “(I) was glad we could show the lights going on and off in a way that could be visible from the street as the work had never been shown in that way before.” A treat for the neighbours perhaps? We'll see. Frankly it left me in the dark.

Clearly my least favourite piece was a six-video installation featuring people throwing up on a beautiful wooden floor. If the artist is trying to shock, or make a point, then it felt unsubtle; it is overkill. Surely sound alone would have been more than enough for this piece.

After a visit by the artist during the setup phase Curator, Karen Southworth said: “We were delighted to welcome Martin when he called to see how the exhibition was taking shape. Not only did he compliment the Gallery, saying how well his work looked in the space, but he unexpectedly donated Work no 88, a piece of A4 paper crumpled into a ball to the Mercer collection. We are absolutely thrilled and this piece is obviously available to view as part of the exhibition.”

cq[I think I want to make things because I want to communicate with people, because I want to be loved, because I want to express myself. (Martin Creed)]
For the Mercer Gallery this is a huge - and brave - departure from the norm; gone now are the cosy alcoves filled with the moonlit reflections of John Atkinson Grimshaw, the private views of William Powell Frith and the portraits of the ostensibly great and good of ye-olde Yorkshire; in comes a giant white space filled with the challenging wit and audacity of Martin Creed.

The exhibition will be controversial but full marks to curator Karen Southworth and the Mercer for putting the "what is art" question squarely on the table and for moving the Mercer firmly into the adventurous, challenging and exhilarating world of contemporary art. And beyond the Creed exhibition the possibilities of further cooperations with ARTIST ROOMS are an utterly delightful prospect.

Go and see for yourself. Spend some time in the company of Creed's works and be challenged to think differently.

Thanks to curator Karen Southworth and local artist Nancy Stedman for showing me the works in this exhibition.