A minigolf course. What do you think of? Windmills, dolphins, loops – the usual obstacles? Well here’s something different. Doug Fishbone is an American artist living and working in London. He has exhibited his work at Tate Britain and created such politically-charged installations as 30,000 Bananas In Trafalgar Square (the bananas were given away to passersby when the exhibition had finished). His minigolf installation, titled Leisure Land Golf, invites nine guest artists – one making each hole – to respond to ‘The Leisure Principle’, where consumer satisfaction is prioritised at all costs. The familiar, cosy world of minigolf is juxtaposed with some hard-hitting political art. The artists include Turner Prize nominee, Yinka Shonibare MBE, John Akomfrah OBE, Hetain Patel, Yara El-Sherbini, Ellie Harrison, Candice Jacobs, Lindsay Seers, Eyal Weizman, Reactor and Doug Fishbone himself.
The artist-designed minigolf course was first shown at the Venice Bienale 2015, and will be available to play on in from April 2016 in the Main Gallery of the New Art Exchange, Nottingham.
The exhibition will transform the Gallery into a playful environment that takes visitors on an amusing and thought-provoking journey. The work invites them to ponder some of the pressing issues of our times while honing their putting skills. There’s very little not to like there from a minigolf perspective.
