For one week only this popup art exhibit from MrCallaby brightened an otherwise gloomy September in Soho.
The predominant theme of booze is given a colourful and playful coating as artist Matthew Callaby’s anthropomorphic characters come for British drinking culture. This isn’t however a social commentary, MrCallaby’s work is first and foremost about fun.
Bright, colourful and unique characters fill the space at NOHO Showrooms. His focus on bigger works and physical objects really pays off in allowing you to immerse yourself in this cartoon bar. MrCallaby’s signature joyful approach is an absolute delight to get immersed in. There’s something wonderful about heading downstairs and seeing the initial sketches that later formed the large pieces adorning the walls, the playful way the characters interact with one another, and the themes around our cultural alcohol obsessions that inspired these moments.
It’s not all about colour though, as several new pieces created with ink and charcoal form a hazy monotone scene – designed to give the impression the viewer of the work is inebriated or hungover, and honestly if anything matched my mood after the half bottle of whiskey I had the night before then this is it. Very relatable.
MrCallaby has a talent for making his art work feel alive that goes beyond just the adorable faces. The expressions, the jaunty angles, they all make it so easy to picture his art animated, moving around, sloshing various liquids as they clink and clank into each other.
The creation of 3D objects was a welcome move from MrCallaby, who is still cautious in wanting to keep his roots in fine art, while not wanting to shy away from the opportunity to bring his creations to life in new ways. It seems plenty of people agree – all the bottles you’ll see pictured here were sold by the time I arrived on the final day of the exhibition, so you’ll have to keep an eye out on his website or Instagram for more!
