Merlin Carpenter

The Opening Merlin Carpenter

London-based artist Merlin Carpenter is probably one of the few artists who posts on his own website negative reviews of his work from various newspapers and magazines. Rather audacious, but the posturing fits in with his series of exhibitions, called The Opening, that lampoons the conventions of the contemporary art world. All paintings at each version of The Opening are actually painted onsite, some proclaiming sentiments like Die collector scum. With essays by critic Caroline Busta and art historian George Baker, the book is a catalog-like compilation of installation photos and reproductions from several years of various Openings, including gallery invitations announcing Carpenter s irreverent, politically charged action paintings.