One of the art world’s smallest but most exclusive galleries is undoubtedly the White Cubicle Toilet Gallery, located in the ladies lavatory of the iconic St George and Dragon pub in Hackney, London. Measuring a mere 1.4m by 1.4m, it was founded in 2005 by the curator Pablo León de la Barra, who is now at the Guggenheim in New York. This most discrete of spaces has played host to an array of major art world names including Terence Koh, Steven Gontarski, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Elmgreen & Dragset, Julie Verhoeven and Wolfgang Tillmans. In the words of previous WC exhibitor Aleksandra Mir, “White Cubicle has become the stamp of approval for any self respecting artist of our generation.”
Imagine my pride, therefore, when the artist John Walter—in between taking his epic Alien Sex Club installation from London up to Liverpool next month—invited me to cut the ribbon at last night’s opening of Courtship Disorder. Walter’s wrap-around installation is the latest show in WC’s tenth anniversary programme. And what a show it is, bathing every surface in a multimedia psychedelic extravaganza celebrating many forms of bad behavior. It culminates in a constantly looped film of multiple salacious toilet encounters—perfect for viewing whilst taking advantage of WC facilities—and a floor covered with Lisa Simpson performing some unmentionable acts on her mother Marge. Trips to the smallest room have never been so entertaining or instructive.
