Childsplay

You know how, when you were a kid, the best bit about trudging around some mildewy museum was getting to touch stuff? Hell, even if it was a chuck of chalk, you loved it. Lets face it, things haven’t changed that much. Who doesn’t love to cop an (artistic) feel once in a while? Which is why we’re all about art’s recent and delightfully childish turn.

Celebrating 40 years of its brutalist existence, The Hayward is inviting everyone to frolic in a sensory labyrinth, or wallow on a 20ft high transparent pillow as its artists get all structural.

The Tate Modern , meanwhile, is crammed with races and ‘prepared ping-pong’ for the opening weekend of their second-ever history of photography exhibition. And when Tal R paints out seven, rich colours straight from the tube, his simple shapes ring true of pure, crayon-wielding, childish joy.

And finally, with their own big, bright colours and psychedelic swirls, the graffiti artists of War Pen are trying to get into your head by putting theirs on the canvas. Go on, touch it, you know you want to. I dares ya.

Psycho Buildings
The Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX
Mon-Sun 10am - 6pm, Fri 10am-10pm

War Pen
Leonard Street Gallery, 73A Leonard St, EC2A 4QS
Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-3pm

Long Weekend
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Sun-Thurs, 10am-6pm. Fri-Sat 10am-10pm

Tal R: The Sum
Camden Arts Centre, Arkwright Rd, NW3 6DG
Tues-Sun 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-9pm

by SH