Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Leckey has unveiled his solo exhibition at London’s Tate Britain, the star of which is a replica of the M53 motorway, near Wirral in Merseyside.
A lifesize model of the flyover bridge has been installed inside the Millbank gallery, whose internal walls have been removed to make space for the huge concrete structure.
Installation view of Mark Leckey, ‘O Magic Power of Bleakness’ at Tate Britain. Photography: Mark Blower. Courtesy Tate
Installation view of Mark Leckey, ‘O Magic Power of Bleakness’ at Tate Britain. Photography: Mark Blower. Courtesy Tate
Installation view of Mark Leckey, ‘O Magic Power of Bleakness’ at Tate Britain. Photography: Mark Blower. Courtesy Tate
Installation view of Mark Leckey, ‘O Magic Power of Bleakness’ at Tate Britain. Photography: Mark Blower. Courtesy Tate
Its undercroft is being used as a theatre for three of Lackey’s immersive audio-visual works: his seminal homage to British club culture, Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore (1990), documenting the UK Northern Soul and rave scenes; and video artwork Dream English Kid, 1964-1999 AD. The latter was inspired by Leckey’s discovery of Youtube footage from a 1979 Joy Division gig he attended as a youth.
New piece Under Under In tells the story of five teenagers and a bridge haunted by fairies and was shot entirely on iPhone by the artist. It takes on an immersive quality projected into the cavernous cocoon of the concrete bridge.
Mark Leckey: O’ Magic Power of Bleakness runs until 5 January 2020
