Magali Reus, MFA Fine Art

Graduated from Goldsmiths - University of London

Selected by Candice Jacobs

Breakers, 2008

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A considered and confident aesthetic emerges from the sculpture and video work of Magali Reus. Brightly coloured beach towels, tinted lenses found in sunglasses, Formica, ratchet straps and a video of a guy holding a surf board make up Reus' MFA show at Goldsmiths.

'Fire Storms' is the key work here (a piece that was also selected for Art Futures 2008), made up of multi-coloured lenses found in cheap 1990s sunglasses re-presented on a silver chain. Five lenses sit on the chain that hangs directly from the wall, simulating that of a soldiers 'dog-tag' necklace, similar to the one that Tom Cruise throws into the sea in Top Gun.

Associations of overly sentimental American films and apocalyptic happenings also start to come into my mind when you move to the right to watch 'Drifter'; a film with a dramatic smoke filled stage set, coloured lighting (the same fiery colours as the lenses in 'Fire Storms') and a surfer standing holding his board. Then there's 'Export Forecast Bright', three large orange Formica structures holding folded beach towels, again with similar colours on them, and 'Dive' a blue Formica shelf, folded beach towel and bright yellow ratchet.

It was only when I asked did I learn about Reus' interest in the Malibu beach fires that happened in LA last year and all the media hype that happened as a result. Many of Reus' works attempt to re-stage and replicate found imagery and scenes from the news and papers at the time; 'Drifter' was taken from a photo published in a newspaper of a surfer looking out at the fires, the orange Formica structures in 'Export Forecast Bright' were an attempt at creating sun-loungers; suddenly the Miami and LA references are more obvious, however it intrigues me to learn that a Dutch artist is making references to the Beach when The Netherlands is not a country that one normally associates with 'beach holidays' or 'surfing'? (Candice Jacobs, 2008)