Lucy McKenzie's Exhibition at Cabinet London Critiques Consumerism Through Anachronistic Art Forms

The exhibition 'Giving Up The Shadows On My Face' by Lucy McKenzie took place at Cabinet in London from 10 October to 7 December 2019, delving into themes of consumerism and totalitarianism. It showcased realist artworks, including Quodlibet LXVII (Dressmaking) (2017–19), alongside two reconstructions of Soviet-era window displays, Arcade 1 and Arcade 2 (both 2019). A mural, also titled Giving Up The Shadows On My Face (2019), addressed repressed sexuality as a critique of Soviet collectivism. McKenzie employed trompe l'oeil techniques to challenge the superficiality of standardized products. The exhibition drew connections between commercial galleries and department stores, replacing mass-produced goods with custom furniture and erotic photobooks. ArtReview reviewed it in December 2019, emphasizing themes of bodily discipline and identity erasure within capitalism.