Marvellous in miniature
If the title of this exhibition sounds a bit like a circus side show, then Tessa Farmer's work should certainly come top of its bill. Not only does she display a remarkably steady hand, but also a rather strong stomach.
Farmer's sculptures are both exquisite and incredibly gruesome. A variety of insects, bits of bird skeleton, feathers, cobwebs and crusty bits of dried flowers dangle from pieces of wire. She has also made the tiniest "fairy" insects from bits of plant root, and these ride on the backs of the real insects.
It's like a mini Ride Of The Valkyries, in which the tiny creatures swoop about on their winged charges, preparing for the final showdown. As repulsive as it all sounds, Farmer's painstakingly crafted work is nonetheless captivating.
When artists work in miniature, their references are often naturally drawn from myths and fairy tales. Liz Dawson's meticulously detailed paintings don't reference anything in particular but certainly suggest a Tolkien influence. Elsewhere, Michael Whittle's impressive and highly detailed drawing takes its inspiration from heraldic tales. Featuring seven knights on horseback, each measuring no more than 8cm high, the work is so evenly drawn that it resembles an etching, thanks to his use of a Rotring architect's pen.
Finally, it is the viewer who is the Lilliputian onlooker in Adam Humphries's apocalyptic display of large polystyrene boulders and huge, felled polystyrene plants - but whether little or large, this is a hugely enjoyable show.
Miniature Worlds
Jerwood Space
Union Street, SE1 0LN
