Psychedelic Daze

Overview

Remember kaleidoscopes? The simple joy of peering through that tiny cardboard hole when I was a kid could rival some of the most impressive art shows I've seen as an adult. With this in mind,Psychedelic Daze, the newest exhibition at MARS Gallery, looks to be the best of both these worlds — a child-like awe of colour and shape finished with the skill and innovation of professional artists.

Revelling in colour and dynamic form, this group exhibition is a very welcome jolt of fun into the sometimes dreary world of contemporary art. So many exhibitions these days seem entrenched in a steadfast minimalism. Everything is black and white and grey and 'oh wow, the geometry of that monochrome canvas really makes me think about the refined structure of our post-modern life'. People have had enough.

Featuring Tricky Walsh, Piers Buxton, Troy Emery, Bill Sampson, Emma Davies, and Vexta this show is a diverse mixture of forms too. Through the means of painting, sculpture, faux-taxidermy, and street art, these artists all seek to provide unique insights on the theme of psychedelic colour. Sure, it's not always sunshine and rainbows, but the bold confidence of such vivid work is always going to strike a chord with audiences and it sure is nice to get lost inside it for an afternoon.

Image: Troy Emery