Merlin Carpenter

Simon Lee Gallery is proud to present TATE CAFÉ, an exhibition of new works by Merlin Carpenter. TATE CAFÉ follows Intrinsic Value (2009), the artist's first exhibition with the Gallery and the fifth iteration of the series The Opening. Occurring in a diversity of venues, from galleries in New York, Zurich, London and Brussels to a Mercedes-Benz showroom and a fashion boutique in Berlin, The Opening demonstrated Carpenter's interest in undercutting both the fetishisation and valuation of art objects. All of the paintings included under the collective title The Opening were produced in the midst of each exhibition's preview; and, in line with the artist's attitude toward institutions, bore slogans such as 'BANKS ARE BAD', 'Kunst = Kapital', and 'DIE COLLECTOR SCUM'. In his most recent exhibition, “Heroes” (MD72, 2011), Carpenter continued to satirise the art economy. “Heroes” included a series of figurative paintings, which were locked behind closed doors,...