ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Lyndon Barrois Jr. Interrogates Documentary Authority at Alma Pearl, London

exhibition · 2026-10-12

Lyndon Barrois Jr.'s show, titled 'Desert of Promise', is on display at Alma Pearl in London from 10 September to 24 October 2023. The exhibition delves into the implications of relying on historical and colonial documentation. Among the highlights are three drawings, including 'Celestino (RGB)' (2026), which portrays the main character from Roberto Rossellini's 1952 film 'La Macchina Ammazzacattivi'. The exhibition also features repurposed National Geographic advertisements like 'Aim High', which contrasts home-computer software with a classroom scene. Additionally, the oil triptych 'Unrest (RGB)' alludes to Cyril Schäublin's 2022 film. 'Source Material (Promise)' presents thumbed National Geographic magazines in a grey box on a film canister, while 'To save endangered' showcases a National Geographic camera ad encased in plexiglass. The exhibition text emphasizes its dependence on specialized knowledge.

Key facts

  • Lyndon Barrois Jr.'s 'Desert of Promise' is on view at Alma Pearl, London, 10 September – 24 October
  • The exhibition includes 'Celestino (RGB)', depicting the protagonist of Roberto Rossellini's 'La Macchina Ammazzacattivi' (1952)
  • All works in the show are dated 2026
  • 'Aim High' uses National Geographic cuttings on raw linen with a painted yellow border mimicking the magazine's cover
  • The oil triptych 'Unrest (RGB)' reproduces a sign from Cyril Schäublin's 2022 film 'Unrest', set in a Swiss watch factory
  • 'To save endangered' places a National Geographic DSLR camera advertisement behind plexiglass protruding from a suggestion box
  • 'Source Material (Promise)' holds thumbed National Geographic magazines in a grey archival box atop a cerulean film canister
  • The exhibition text identifies references including National Geographic mining and cinematic history citations

Entities

Artists

  • Lyndon Barrois Jr.
  • Roberto Rossellini
  • Cyril Schäublin
  • Celestino
  • Rita Silva
  • Alexander Harding

Institutions

  • Alma Pearl
  • National Geographic
  • NASA
  • ArtReview

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Switzerland

Sources

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