Seriously review – headstands, bananas and a dog watching porn reveal photography's silly side

Serious Review: Where Humour Meets Conceptual Photography

At Sprüth Mager's new exhibition, "Seriously", conceptual photography takes on its most absurd and playful side, subverting social norms and poking fun at the very fabric of art history. The show spans four floors, packed with still and moving images that will leave you chuckling, raising an eyebrow, or maybe even both.

One standout piece is Martine Syms' She Mad: The Non-Hero, a clever satire on social media mores. Borrowing from Lil Nas X's Life Story series, Syms performs convincingly as a struggling artist, debunking the idea of success and fame. It's a bold move that will have you nodding in recognition.

Next, Louise Lawler's seven-minute audio work Birdcalls calls out art world sexism with a shrieking noise that will make you smile. By screaming the names of 28 famous white male artists in the style of different bird calls, Lawler presents nature as artifice and the constructed form of power. It's a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the patriarchal art world.

The exhibition also features an array of artists who adopted a similar strategy of depicting the body as a silly, plastic form that can be absurd and obscene. Bruce Nauman's goofy shapes, Thomas Ruff's slapstick performances, and Aneta Grzeszykowska's parodies of Cindy Sherman's works all contribute to a sense of playfulness.

However, not every joke lands. Some inclusions feel like they're trying too hard or are just plain confusing. Carrie Mae Weems's picture of minstrel salt and pepper shakers, for example, left this reviewer scratching their head.

Despite the mixed bag, "Seriously" remains less about laughter than it is about humour as a tool for challenging politics and values. With playfulness and wit, conceptual artists have pushed photography into experimental territory, often at the expense of conventional notions of art. While it's unlikely that you'll be laughing out loud every time, the show will undoubtedly make you think twice about the very notion of what constitutes "serious" art.

In the end, the biggest laughs come courtesy John Smith's 12-minute video, The Girl Chewing Gum, which eerily presages fake news and false narratives. As with any exhibition that wears its heart on its sleeve, the laughs will be subjective – but one thing is certain: conceptual photography has never been more absurdly hilarious.

I gotta say, this new exhibition at Sprüth Mager's is really something else ! It's like they took all the seriousness out of art and left it to play with itself . I love how Martine Syms' piece pokes fun at social media and art world sexism - that's some clever stuff right there . And Louise Lawler's Birdcalls? Genius . But, gotta say, not every joke lands . Carrie Mae Weems's minstrel salt and pepper shakers one left me scratching my head . Still, I think the show does a great job of making you laugh while also thinking about what it means to be "serious" in art . It's like they're saying, hey, we can have fun with this whole art thing too . And that John Smith video? totally eerie and funny at the same time!

I just got back from the most amazing road trip to Yellowstone last month and saw the most incredible wildlife! I swear, those geysers are like nature's own comedy show - who needs a comedy club when you have Old Faithful erupting every 90 minutes? I took my camera with me and caught some amazing shots of bison roaming free. You know what's wild (haha get it?) is how much you learn about photography when you're trying to capture those tiny details in the wild... anyway, back to art - have you ever tried painting with your non-dominant hand? I did that once and ended up with some seriously weird masterpieces

I gotta say, I'm loving this exhibition! It's so refreshing to see art tackling serious issues like sexism and social media in a playful way . I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a 7-minute audio work that screams out the names of famous male artists in bird calls? It's like a sick joke that also makes you think twice about the art world. And Bruce Nauman's goofy shapes are just too funny! But at the same time, I can see why some pieces might not land - they're definitely trying to be cheeky and it's easy to get lost in all the absurdity . Overall, I think conceptual photography is taking art to a whole new level of weirdness, and that's kinda brilliant .

I mean, come on... 80% of people who went to this exhibition would've LOL'd out loud at least once ! The show's got some real winners, like Martine Syms' She Mad: The Non-Hero - that satirical take on social media is EVERYTHING . And Louise Lawler's Birdcalls? That's just genius . But, tbh... 20% of the pieces are straight-up confusing (Carrie Mae Weems's salt and pepper shakers, I'm looking at you ). Still, overall, it's a solid show that proves humor can be a powerful tool for challenging norms . Did you know that this type of conceptual photography has been on the rise since 2018? The percentage of people who think it's "absurdly hilarious" is up by 300% !

I love how this exhibition is all about poking fun at art history and social norms . I mean, who wouldn't want to laugh at the absurdity of the art world? But what really caught my attention was the way it made me think twice about what constitutes "serious" art. Like, I get that humour can be a powerful tool for challenging politics and values, but some of these pieces felt like they were trying too hard to make me LOL .

I mean, take Martine Syms' She Mad: The Non-Hero - it's hilarious, don't get me wrong, but is it really satire or just social commentary wrapped in a joke? And what about Carrie Mae Weems's minstrel salt and pepper shakers... was that supposed to be funny or thought-provoking?

Anyway, I'm still thinking about this exhibition and how it made me question the very definition of art. Is it supposed to make you laugh or just think? And who gets to decide what's "serious" anyway?

I love how this show pokes fun at art history and social norms . I mean, who doesn't know what it's like to feel like you're just trying to fit in? Martine Syms' piece "She Mad: The Non-Hero" is genius – it's like she's holding up a mirror to our crazy online personas . And Louise Lawler's birdcalls thingy is hilarious, but also really thought-provoking .

It's interesting how they're using humour as a way to challenge politics and values. Like, if we can laugh at ourselves and the absurdity of it all, maybe we'll actually start to make some changes . I'm not sure about Carrie Mae Weems' salt and pepper shakers pic though – maybe that was just one of those things that didn't quite land .

Overall, I think this show is a great reminder that art doesn't have to be all serious business. Sometimes it's okay to laugh and have fun with it . And John Smith's video at the end is like, totally on point – fake news is so last season .

I'm not sure what's more astonishing - the audacity of these artists or how well they've managed to poke fun at themselves while still delivering a pointed commentary on our societal norms . I mean, who would have thought that satire and conceptual photography could be such effective combinations? It's almost as if they're saying, "Hey, we know we're being absurd, but let's use that absurdity to make a point." The fact that some pieces fall flat is minor, in my opinion - it's all part of the messy, playful process of pushing boundaries. Overall, I think this exhibition is a masterclass in using humor as a tool for social commentary .