Critic’s Pick:
Syms made an initial appearance within Sadie Coles in 2016 as part of Condo, a slim back room showing of what felt like fragments of work in progress, an effort overshadowed by her bold and layered show later that year in the ICA. This sees Syms return to occupy the full gallery, (almost) literally: a screen holds a virtual reality avatar of the artist, programmed with her physical tics and way of talking. We’re meant to interact, via that means with which we interact with most people in our lives: our phones. It might sound borderline cringe, but Syms’s often deft negotiation of personal histories, cultural touchstones and self-conscious representation should provide a critical cracked mirror to the debates on race and identity that need a broader public platform in the UK.
- Chris Fite-Wassilak
For more picks from London read our Critic's Guide to the city here.