Auto - Destruct

Cross Lane Projects announces its Summer Exhibition, Auto – Destruct, a group show, with works by:

Steve Carr, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Cedric Christie, Jean Luc Dubin, Lee Holden, Graeme Miller, Simon Liddiment, Stacie McCormick, Elena Montesinos, 
Owen Oppenheimer, Ben Philpott, Jay Price, Pascal Rousson, Rebecca Scott, 
Gavin Turk and Tisna Westerhof.

Auto-Destruct, a group exhibition of works relating to and reflecting upon the nature of our aspirational technological inventions and the destructive nature they become. Many of the works regard the automobile as the device that was seen as liberation, independence, a revolution for mankind, that has in fact led to wars, contributed to climate change and is responsible for over 3000 deaths a day. The ubiquitous vehicle is not scrutinised for its monstrous reality and current car branding still sells a lifestyle as a symbol of wealth & glamour and independence.

The exhibition’s title Auto-Destruct is inspired by the work of Gustav Metzger (1926, Nuremberg – 2017, London). Metzger’s career was about alerting us to the risks in our deluded pursuit of technological progress, and of humans being eclipsed by their machine selves. Auto-destructive art was inherently political; also carrying anti-capitalist and anti-consumerist messages. The exhibition examines themes of our fascination and capacity to be seduced by world changing inventions and technologies that may or may not lead to improvements.

Rebecca Scott and Mark Woods have been delighted with the response from visitors who have welcomed the “fresh new space” in Kendal and the work that Cross Lane Projects has added to Cumbria’s vibrant cultural scene.

The Auto-Destruct inaugural exhibition was at Unit 1 Gallery | Workshop, London, from  April to May 2018.