With his dryly comic drawings, absurdist installations and sharp observations, British artist David Shrigley (1968) offers a humorous and critical view of life and the art world. In the exhibition What the Hell Was I Thinking?, on view at Kunsthal Rotterdam from Saturday 13 December, Shrigley turns that gaze inward for the first time, giving you a glimpse inside his mind. He provides witty commentary throughout the exhibition, with observations that scrutinise both society and his own work. The presentation shows how he looks back on earlier pieces, reworks ideas, and gives space to doubt. For Shrigley, being an artist is not about lofty genius, but about a process of experimentation and reflection.
For Kunsthal Rotterdam, Shrigley brings together a wide selection of his absurdist works, presented in new forms. Fifty drawings created especially for the exhibition depict animals, people, and everyday situations in Shrigley’s distinctive satirical style. His peculiar universe also takes shape in a three-metre-tall, mechanically moving nude figure and horseshoes forged from meteorite. For the first time, a collection of his inflatable sculptures is presented together, including the iconic Swan Thing, in which an elegant swan transforms into a cartoonish creature.
The art of failing
Playfulness and futility come together in Fluff War, an arena specially reproduced for this exhibition. Tiny tufts of fluff battle it out while competition itself loses all meaning. Another example is Topple the Anvil, a fairground-style game Shrigley created in 2015 for Dismaland, the satirical theme park by artist Banksy. Visitors are challenged to knock a heavy anvil off its pedestal with a ping-pong ball – an impossible task that pokes fun at expectation and celebrates the humour of failure.
The exhibition also highlights Shrigley’s unique relationship with his audience. A monumental wall displays photos of fans who have had his drawings tattooed on their skin – a testament to the cult status his work has achieved far beyond the art world.
The result is Shrigley at his finest: work that makes you laugh, unsettles you, and makes you think. Developed in close collaboration with the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery in London, What the Hell Was I Thinking? reveals the full range of Shrigley’s razor-sharp imagination.
About the artist
David Shrigley (1968, UK) is a leading British artist who works across a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, photography, animation, and print. His absurdist and witty style has brought him international recognition. In 2020 he was appointed OBE for his services to visual art. For the Fourth Plinth Commission in Trafalgar Square, he created a seven-metre-tall bronze sculpture of a thumbs-up in 2016. Three years earlier, he was nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize. Shrigley has presented solo exhibitions around the world, and his work is held in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Tate Britain (London), and the National Gallery of Denmark (Copenhagen).
With thanks to Stephen Friedman Gallery, Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Anton Kern Gallery, and Shrig Shop.
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