The Dairy

Tucked away neatly behind a large Victorian block of flats in the heart of Bloomsbury, there was once a dairy. As of today, this vast and unique tardis is the contemporary art exhibition space of prominent collectors Nicolai Frahm and Frank Cohen.

The opening event was a knockout. Guest were served White Russians in milk bottles from a milk float and gorgeous salted caramel ice cream from Nina's traditional ice cream van.

The actual exhibit that has been selected as the premier for this swanky new art gallery however doesn't quite live up to expectations. John M Armleder was invited to use his pieces in Frahm and Cohen's collections as a starting point to create an installation that filled the Dairy. Some aspects are brilliant and achieve the its aim to 'retransform art into a functional structure, merging aesthetics and function, contemplation and entertainment' the bar that's actually just a piece of art puts the visitor on edge and asks us to redefine the space we are used to, the window that holds the same pattern as the wall through which you can just see tyre plantpots identical to the ones around you indoors juxtaposes what is art, what is design and what is home.

The Dairy's old fridge is quite a masterpiece and it is in this space that the Dada movement which inspired Armleder and led to his association with the Neo Geo and Fluxus art movements can best be seen. Stuff. Shoved on to shelves in some spaces or eerily sparsely placed on shelves, stuff is piled onto the old fridge shelves. A taxidermy weasel, vases of flowers turning to death, fairly lights and TV sets are shown side by side. In this space Armleder has annihilated art and at once created it. These things question meanings of art, collecting and display an if those factors can be questioned- what is even the point of the show? It is an intelligent attempt at existentialism that Sartre couldn't have done better at.

However, the large glitter canvases and disco balls hanging in the reception area really don't add anything to the overall coherence of the installation. They are noticeable because they are unnoticeable. Visible because they might as well be invisible. It's a real shame that something bolder and more thought provoking couldn't have been done with this space. Then again, maybe it's annoyance at the the lack of proportion and awkward placement and sizes of the art in this space that Armleder wants us to feel. It's exactly the sort of thing he's after.

Regardless of the installation, this brand new art space is incredible and well worth a visit.