This year's however did not disappoint. Designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, the large white matchstick like climbing frame is a complete joy. It transcends the boundaries of space, shape and design to present a completely unique approach to the interaction of people and place. You can admire it, climb it, get in it or simply admire it. What's great is how it complements the exact shape of the gallery behind it; you can just make out the outline of the building through the bold white structure. The fact that people are encouraged to climb up it and sit with a treetop vista highlights the sense of play at work in the design.
Inside, sadly, the premiere exhibition of American Sturtevant's work, a retrospective of 1970- now, does not match up to the pavilion. Leaps Jumps and Bumps showcases everything that's wrong with modern and contemporary art, it's boring, uninspiring and not even controversial. Apparently her rip offs of Warhol screen prints and Duchamp doors call into question authorship of art work: the eternally dull question of what is art. The row of blow up dolls in the window should be playful and arresting but instead they contribute nothing to the overall display. Credit where it's due to those responsible of the design and installation of the video pieces in the show. Old television sets stacked on the floor and projectors swirling images around a circular room that force you into the piece as its projected on to you achieve everything Sturtevant does not;a playful and stimulating experience.
I also loved Fischli/Weiss piece, Rock on top of Another Rock. The Norwegian duo have created this witty piece to question both art and nature: where does one end and the other begin. It's rocks, it's outside, it's nature. But it's an impossibly positioned rock, on top of another one. Led by their humour they have cleverly and- it has to be said- beautifully presented the natural as the artificial.
Overall impression of the Serpentine is outside 10/10, inside 2/10.
