Facing Walls, Opening Windows

Galleria Continua - A web of connected circles climbs up the vast wall at the back of the gallery, each playfully uneven circle enclosing a pure block of colour in its thick, black paint. A few remain unfilled, to be gradually coloured in as the exhibition goes on. Two warm orange lights emit from two of the circular enclosures.

Cameroon artist Pascale Marthine Tayou’s ‘L’arbre a palabres’ has a worldless, neater scattering of colour than in his other pieces, and in this context the loosely patterned, interconnected nature of this exhibit suggests, on the surface at least, a fun, easy-going work of art.

In fact, many of the creations in this group exhibition appear to have a light-hearted tone to them, although several of the participating artists are known for bringing social commentary into their art. Perhaps it is the combination of bright colours, the sense of humour evident in many of the pieces, or the bright, airy gallery itself, but, overall, the works by this array of artists – including Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, Kendell Geers and Michelangelo Pistoletto – have an immediacy that is refreshing to the eye.

The Albanian artist Sislej Xhafa’s shiny yin yang symbol, made from black, white and silver telephones, is not, however, without irony, as its title ‘This Call May be Recorded for Quality Purposes’ makes evident.

Meanwhile, Nedko Solakov’s ‘Some Nice Things to Enjoy While You Are Not Making a Living’ invites the audience to offer ideas on how best to torture a lawyer, boss, tax collector and other such vilified members of society. The artist’s own light-hearted ideas are hung on sheets alongside three panels in primary colours, as inspiration for viewers to vent their primal emotions and frustrations.

This exhibition is full of simple pleasures, such as Daniel Buren’s ‘Untitled’ – a series of mirrors reflecting five blocks of colour painted on the wall opposite. Elsewhere, Pistoletto asks ‘Is this God? Yes it is!’, with an ‘e’ in Italian that looks as if it has devil horns. Playful in its style, while still asking bigger social questions, this show gives you a good reason to while away an afternoon. Clare Pennington

Originally posted in Time Out Beijing