REPORTAGE: John Walter: Capsid - HOME, Manchester

John Walter is a British visual artist, and his latest exhibition, Capsid, is currently on show at Manchester's HOME.

CAPSID - a collection of fine art, multi-media canvases, clothing and film - is the culmination of a research collaboration with molecular virologist Prof. Greg Towers of University College, London.  A Capsid is the major protein cell of a virus, and the exhibition aims to address a crisis of representation or even misrepresentation surrounding viruses especially HIV, and hopes that by visiting this exhibition the wider public will become more aware of and knowledgeable about such viruses and their behaviours.

The exhibits themselves are displayed over 5 rooms, one of which is given over entirely to a video presentation of the film, 'A Virus Walks Into A Bar' which uses actors to visually show how a single capsid can reproduce and infect so innocuously. It's a bizarre film, but with a strong ethical message.

                                         A Virus Walks Into A Bar.

The other rooms display large maximalist canvases, lithographs, watercolours, and small sculptures, as well as many of the 'onesie' costumes worn in the film. A visual overload, as the colours are bold and vibrant, and the designs tribal and repetitive. I have to admit that these artworks did not inspire me - I found them rather naive, but I have to admit that there has been a lot of thought and work gone in to the designing and painting of them. You can also tell that they belong together, works by the same artist in the same 'period' of his artistic output. They are also rather clever, since they convey a social and health message.

In one room alone I counted over 20 artworks, and so this is simply not a small, insignificant event - and neither is John Walker some young upstart hack - his pedigree and CV is quite impressive indeed. For anyone who likes modern art, or wishes to see something a little different - and also learn something about viral biology too - then you'll find this exhibition extremely interesting. 

The exhibition is at HOME until 6 January.

Reportage - Matthew Dougall
on - 22/11/18