Biggs and Collings – They Shall Be Male and Female, Vigo Gallery, 21 Dering Street, London, W1, until 27th April 2016

Tongues,
Biggs & Collings, 2016
(c) the artist, courtesy of Vigo Gallery
This is an intriguing show especially as it is the harmonious product of a husband and wife team who divide the work between them. Emily Biggs is responsible for choosing the colours and also where they go and Matthew Collings paints them on to the canvases.

Paradise,
Biggs & Collings, 2016
(c) the artist, courtesy of Vigo
The results, I am sure you will agree, are remarkable. The diamond grid pattern common to all is playful and engrossing and reflects Emily’s work as a mosaic artist. The titles of the works derive from the Book of Genesis as Matthew explains: “The thing we’re creating in the studio is like life. There’s the peril of chaos, but you’re capable of creating a structure, you’re always trying to, anyway.”

Egyptians,
Biggs & Collings, 2016,
(c) the artist, courtesy of Vigo Gallery
vigogallery.com
Technically very confident. But, is this art or purely technique? This is not exactly ground breaking and harks back to 60s revival of commercials cubism as seen on the underground, without being underground in its vernacular. I question the validity of the titles of the pieces. But then art is so subjective and open to interpretation by the viewer. If the pieces speak to the viewer, then they ‘ work’.. If not they may decorative, but little else. But hey, that’s OK too.