Fried eggs, phallic objects, toilets, tights and cigarettes – just some of the features of Sarah Lucas’s bold, humorous artwork. The one-time world wild child and contemporary of Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst, has become one of the country’s most significant artists, exploring themes of sex, death and abjection through her sculpture, photography and installation. Now she’s been asked to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale from 9 May to 22 November next year.
The British Council’s commission follows on from her major retrospective, SITUATION Absolute Beach Man Rubble at The Whitechapel Gallery in 2013, and surveys of her work at Secession in Vienna (2013-14) and Tramway in Glasgow (2014).
Emma Dexter, in her first year as Director, Visual Arts at the British Council revealed: “I am delighted to be working with one of the UK’s most formidable artistic talents. Sarah Lucas’s work is exciting and daring and the Venice Biennale is the best possible platform to showcase this to an international audience.”
Sarah Lucas’ British Council commission is at la Biennale di Venezia from 9 May until 22 November 2015. www.britishcouncil.org/visualarts
Credits
Sarah Lucas, Eating a Banana, 1990, b and w photograph, 74.9 x 81.9 cm, edition of 3 + 4 aps, copyright the artist, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London
Installation View, Sarah Lucas, SITUATION, Absolute Beach Man Rubble, Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2 October – 15 December 2013, copyright the artist, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London
Sarah Lucas, The Law, 1997, Cast conrete, 35.5 x 46 x 32cm, Copyright the artist, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London