last friday we tracked down the new long arm gallery in the centre of town to see the exhibition by cept called galaxy rays. we were there to see the artist’s work, but also to see the new exhibition space. and it’s much as you might expect – a big old building with a touch of paint here and there. not quite on the scale of 2007’s ‘12 days of xmas’ show, but cept had set up an installation in the lift shaft and another one in a small room, plus there is a main gallery room and an office with prints and cards.

cept installation

the little installation room is probably the most interesting place to be. the floor is uneven but dynamic and the paintings are somewhat overshadowed by a central construction, like a museum exhibit, only this is an old record player playing a 7″ single on a loop and adapted, with a mini camera recording the needle and displaying it through a television mounted on the front. this vision, coupled with the monotonous loop creates a craziness that’s quite enjoyable. it took me quite a long time to notice the paintings for sale on the walls surrounding this piece.

the artwork takes on a futuristic theme, using the silver surfer, who seems to get into a lot of trouble, alongside a more symbolic set of images. prices range from £100 to £2,500, with a print available going for £200. although the larger pictures are over the £1000 mark, not everything is completely out of range for most people. that said, i was finding it hard to find anything i’d like on my wall. i like the theme and i’ve long admired the artist’s graffiti, but i was having problems liking the execution of the pieces, ‘kyote crush’ being my favourite.

kyote crush by cept at the long arm gallery

it is the print, ‘the cult of the explosion’, that is the most successful to me. all of a sudden the treatment matches the comic book content, part abstract, part flat colour, and the end result is a success. i would have liked to have seen the second print, ‘galaxy rays’, but that doesn’t appear to have been ready on time, which makes me wonder how hurriedly cept undertook the main paintings? if he was hurried, it shows. if he wasn’t, then i think the subject matter required more attention than was given or was possible.

overall, it’s a decent enough show and i’m eager to find out who’s next. the long arm gallery is kinda out of the way for passing trade, but the dedicated will find it. i would like to see more in the way of affordable prints and cards, but it’s early days for the steal from work team and i wish them all the best for the future

cept drawing on wall of the long arm gallery

exhibition runs: 20 february – 13 march 2009

further info:
steal from work