Today we attended the first day of the thought provoking exhibit I AM ERROR at Gasworks Gallery in Oval/Vauxhall by young artist Bassam Al-Sabah. Al-Sabah’s family were exiled from Baghdad to Dublin during the Persian Gulf War and this work, largely CGI and video based, explores themes of metamorphosis, change, adaptation, perseverance and reinvention.

The main gallery (there are only two) explores constructions of masculinity in what appear to be action adventure video games from the 90’s mixed in with a few papier mache heads and flies on the floor. The centrepiece is a 28 minute looped immersive film depicting a man being contorted by various forces out of his control, and this continues in the next room. The effect is strangely calming and introspective. The press release describes it as combining ‘fantasy erotica and body horror’. 

Recently we’ve all been exposed to change and transformation that has been out of our control, from the bulldozing and recreation of Elephant and Vauxhall to a virus that has altered our reality and lifestyles beyond recognition. And after eating takeaways for the past 18 months most of us have experienced a bit of ‘body horror’ ourselves, so we can all relate.

Gasworks is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 to 6 and is totally free and air conditioned. And if you look on their website there are other free events to make you feel cultural and superior to your neighbours.