"Exhibition of Linder's artwork begins at Hayward Gallery, featuring an emphasis on scented modification of displayed images"

In the heart of London, the Hayward Gallery is currently hosting a captivating exhibition titled 'Linder: Danger Came Smiling', running until May 5, 2025. The exhibit showcases the work of Liverpool-born artist Linder, who is marking her seventieth year with a fifty-year multidisciplinary retrospective.

Linder's art is renowned for its thought-provoking and challenging nature. Her work spans multiple disciplines, including photomontages, references to pornography, fashion, ballet, fetish, weightlifting, and art history. One of her distinctive styles is cutting out the heads of her subjects, a technique she uses to protect them and imbue them with a sense of power, often using domestic utensils.

Linder's art is deeply personal, reflecting her experiences and perspectives. She has spoken openly about being exposed to pornography from the age of three by her grandfather and being subjected to sexual assault. These experiences have undoubtedly shaped her art, which often challenges conventional gender roles and turns the male gaze on its head.

Linder's work is not just a critique of society, but also a celebration of the glamour inherent in the representation of the female body. She elevates mundane objects in her work, adding a sense of reverence to everyday items. For instance, her photomontages, which include self-distorted images of herself, are a testament to this.

One of Linder's most significant contributions to the art world was creating a photomontage for the cover of Buzzcocks' debut single 'Orgasm Addict' in 1977. This work cemented her place in the punk and post-punk landscape.

The 'sploshing' photographs in Linder's exhibition are a unique addition to her body of work. This fetishistic practice involves the use of food, and the photographs were created as a cathartic experience. They pay tribute to her late father, who passed away after Linder fed him sweet institutional food in the hospital.

Linder believes that print media is never static, as the technology continues to evolve. She shares a deep love for the materiality, smell, and texture of print, which is evident in her exhibition that features over a century of print media. Despite the rise of digital media, Linder maintains that pixels lack the perfume that print media possesses.

For the opening day of her retrospective, Linder was dressed in a glittering Ashish top. The exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, Linder's first in London, is a must-visit for anyone interested in contemporary art. To learn more about the exhibition and book tickets, visit southbankcentre.co.uk.

"Exhibition of Linder's artwork begins at Hayward Gallery, featuring an emphasis on scented modification of displayed images"