Cosima von Bonin's London debut at Raven Row explores failure and humor through plush sculptures and consumer materials

Cosima von Bonin's first London exhibition, titled 'Upstairs Downstairs,' runs through 14 December at Raven Row. The German artist, active since the 1990s Cologne scene alongside figures like Martin Kippenberger and Michael Krebber, presents works that embrace absurdity and self-deprecation. Her installation includes plush, kapok-filled characters such as 'Shoe' (2007), a doglike head on a metal tower, and textile pieces like 'Fence' (2000) with pink candy-stripe bars. Other notable works feature Hermès scarves, a red 'Privato' sign (2010), and tri-scooters in 'Who's Who 1' (2014). Von Bonin's early 'Untitled (Prison Windows)' series from 1993 uses black card collages with parakeet droppings, while 'John James (Loop #2)' (2004) incorporates Minimalist-inspired swing doors. The exhibition critiques art world decorum and class signaling through playful, deflated forms, set against Raven Row's wood-paneled galleries across three floors. Ambient dance music accompanies sculptures like 'The Bonin/Oswald Empire's Nothing #01 [CvB's Vomiting Chick]' (2010), featuring an Arne Jacobsen desk and a velour chick. Von Bonin's work balances themes of failure, taste, and bourgeois aesthetics, challenging viewers' perceptions of value and humor in contemporary art.