Review: Anish Kapoor, Royal Academy of Arts

REVIEW
It's that old debate again isn't it? The "It's in a gallery, but is it art?" problem looms large after the opening of almost every show featuring works by contemporary artists.

And I'm afraid Kapoor's invasion of the Royal Academy stirs it all up again.

He's created a series of big solid statements for the public to react to.

There's the cannon that fires huge wax shells at the gallery wall every 20 minutes with a satisfying thud (Shooting Into The Corner), a massive fibreglass vulva that growing from a huge grey intestine (Slug), some beautifully sculpted piles of coloured dust (Pigment Works) and a huge wax block that trundles its way through three of the Royal Academy's galleries, its form dictated by the shape of the doors it's pushed through (Svayambah).

And if you didn't like all that, there are distorted mirrors (Non-object), a big yellow depression in the wall (Yellow), a huge metal vessel (Hive) and a subtle bulge in one gallery that could easily be missed (When I Am Pregnant).

If I were attempting to interpret these works and find deeper meaning I'd be tempted to start using words like perception and self.

But I'm not sure Kapoor intends his audience to stand around contemplating the hidden and powerful message behind a huge chunk of wax splatting on a gallery wall.

Viewing his works, I suspect he's all about fun, enjoyment and spectacle.

What he's created is a playground for gallery-goers replete with sand castles, a hall of mirrors, a big gun, optical illusions, elaborately piled clay snakes (Greyman Cries, Shaman Dies, Billowing Smoke, Beauty Evoked) and most importantly a great big mess.

And most who visit will delight in it with one frustrating exception. From the moment you see the wax, the metal, the sand, the clay and the fibreglass you want to run your hands over them, feel their textures and get playing.

But it's a case of look but don't touch - especially with the smeared dollops of red wax left by Svayambh.

If it wasn't for the lady screeching "Hands off", and "Don't touch please", the assembled masses would doubtless have been flinging wax at the walls after giving in to the powerful temptation of chaos.

Sadly it seems only artists are allowed to fling mud around in galleries.

- Until December 11. Go to royalacademy.org.uk.