To see Little Pleasures at the ARB, Cambridge, yesterday. The web site says:
Little Pleasures is an exhibition by [eleven] artists from Los Angeles and Cambridge.
So often we yearn for large pleasures that are hugely desirable, expensive and often out of reach, while all around us lies an array of small pleasures free for the taking. Self-help books and guides highlight how important it is to appreciate the overlooked and become serious about pleasure. Even if our lives are busy and stressful, it is never too late to sit back, relax and get the best out of life’s small pleasures.
Little Pleasures explores deeply personal moments in time. From enjoying the sun to walking in the woods, artists make work about what’s special to them. When visiting Little Pleasures, the viewer is guided to those activities that give us the most joy in our lives and help us rediscover tiny things that can rejuvenate tired bodies and minds. This exhibition illustrates how pleasurable everyday activities can have a psychologically positive affect.
I can’t fault the ideas around which the exhibition is curated, though I’m not sure how well it achieves its aims. Still, there are things to admire and encourage contemplation – I particularly enjoyed work by Alexandra Baraitser and David Leapman. The exhibition runs until 1st November.