'Love is...' by Barnaby Barford, London

David Gill Galleries in London
'I told you this was a good spot' by Barnaby Barford, 2011, on show as part of 'Love is...' at David Gill Galleries in London
(Image credit: Noah Da Costa)

After a foray into the land of fairytale with Damaged Goods - a love story played out by figurines on film - ceramic artist Barnaby Barford has returned to decidedly more smutty realms with his new show 'Love is...' at David Gill Galleries in London.

Pornography, orgies and public indecent exposure might not be what you'd expect from quaint porcelain characters but then he has never been one to shy away from the depraved in his work. Among his previous unsavoury cast we've had binge-drinkers, gun-wielders and Mickey Mouse with an erection.

'I'm exploring the difference between love and lust,' says the British artist of his new work, 'how love is beautiful, everlasting, charitable, heavenly, something we all strive for in life. Lust is momentary, sinful, selfish, sometimes brutal. I think more and more we mistake feelings of love with those of lust. I'm not interested in only porn per se, but I am interested in how we learn what relationships and sex are about and in what order.'

Mounted on neat white porcelain plinths, there's a courting couple whose whispered exchanges are not quite the sweet nothings you'd expect, then there's a hooded youth wading through a stash of Hustlers and Busty, asking 'how else do you expect me to learn?' These works may shock but, as always, Barford deals with his themes with a good dose of wit and a sharp aesthetic kick.

'I take you to be my wedded wife

'I take you to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part.
And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness' (detail)

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

love nest

'Love nest' (detail), by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

You again

'You again' (detail) by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

you'd do it if you loved me

'You'd do it if you loved me' (detail) by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

How else am I supposed to learn?

'How else am I supposed to learn?' by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

Toy

'How else am I supposed to learn?' (detail)

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

Love thy neighbour

'Love thy neighbour' (detail) by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

secret to a happy marriage

'Secret to a happy marriage' (detail) by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

that's Amore!

'That's Amore!' (detail) by Barnaby Barford, 2011

(Image credit: Barnaby Barford)

ADDRESS

David Gill Galleries
3 Loughborough Street
London SE11 5RB

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Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.