22 November 2007 - 19 January 2008
53 Central Street, London EC1 (HQ off-site)
Sam Durant's series of sculptures from 2006 replicates mass-produced plastic lawn chairs in fine Chinese porcelain, inviting the viewer to consider the aesthetic value of one of the world's most democratic objects. It is fitting that the chairs' first showing is in London, a city known for its history of trade with the Far East and China.
By remaking cheap garden furniture, often mass-produced in China, into one-off, handmade, high-end goods, Durant’s sculptures form an ironic comment on the condition of globalisation. They pose many questions about the nature of mass consumption, the stereotyped saturation of the markets with cheap Chinese goods, and the impact of emergent industries on native and foreign cultures.