Bow Bells selector

Zatorski & Zatorski: The Last 3600 Seconds of Wasp, 2001
Fusun Gner|Metro5 April 2012
The Weekender

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This exhibition takes its title from the annual open admission shows that the Whitechapel Art Gallery launched back in 1932, for amateur and professional artists who lived 'east of the famous Aldgate pump'. With some modifications, the event continued until as late as 1998.

With the East End now the hub of an international art community and with so many big sponsors already funding graduate-type shows, one wonders why the organisers are seeking to revive the event, and what, if anything, defines the area, post-Britart.

Selected by judges that include painter Chris Ofili, most of the 22 artists are young graduates. But as for those elusive defining trends - though we know that figurative painting is back and so is a certain level of craftsmanship - it all seems up for grabs.

Olivia Plender opens the show with a 1960s-style graphic storyboard called The Masterpiece. It's one of the strongest works, though there's not much to separate the idea from Tony Hancock's great film spoof The Rebel.

Zatorski & Zatorski show a video of the last seconds of a wasp's life: just as you think it's all over, the wasp goes into another painful spasm of life.

A dizzying explosion of painted plywood makes Sherwood & Davies's piece the most spectacular work in the show. And then there are the paintings with weird subject matter: fornicating puppies, creepy fairies and wonky architecture.

It's a vibrant selection, so perhaps that's justification enough for bringing it all together.

Until Aug 29, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Whitechapel High Street E1, Tue to Sun 11am to 6pm (Thu to 9pm), free. Tel: 020 7522 7888. Tube: Aldgate East

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