Sarah Lucas has attitude and has been distorting everyday life since her emergence in 1990 as a key member of the Young British Artists (YBAs). She coaxes new meaning out of everyday objects such as the humble chair, a burnt-out car and tabloid newspaper pages printed at huge sizes.
The most powerful collection was the long room full of her contorted stocking sculptures draped over chairs. The exploitation of women, their treatment as pornographic objects and the tiresome male gaze were all there to be thought about. This collection was beautiful, the bodies were multi-limbed and alien on the one hand but hinted at a strange level of fantasy on the other. Entertaining but thought-provoking at the same time.
The real magic of a retrospective such as this is it makes one appreciate the dedication of an artist and their maturing artistic journey over decades. Lucas has gone from living in relative poverty as a young graduate, scratching together work made from what was at hand, to this exhibition in one of the most significant spaces in the land. Her work has maintained an honesty and rebellious streak, she has not sold out to commercial pressures. We need more people like her.
