Wine, Drink it Quickly

About This Work

David Shrigley's 2021 print "Wine, Drink it Quickly" encapsulates his unique blend of humor and existential musing within the confines of a deceptively straightforward medium. As a contemporary artist with a sharp and distinctive voice, Shrigley excels at distilling the complexities of everyday life into seemingly simple compositions. "Wine, Drink it Quickly" is a testament to his ability to capture attention with minimalistic yet evocative imagery, reflecting the absurdity and practicality in life's mundane rituals. The work aligns with Shrigley's broader practice, characterized by his use of deliberately crude line drawings paired with terse, often wry captions. This particular print offers an instance of his signature style: a straightforward directive that hovers between comedy and a deeper truth. The brisk imperative within the title itself might evoke an immediate chuckle, yet it subtly hints at underlying themes of anxiety and existential dread—a hallmark of Shrigley's work. The duality of humor and melancholy is a constant in Shrigley's oeuvre, mirroring life's unpredictable swings between levity and seriousness. Shrigley's background in environmental art from the Glasgow School of Art (1988–91) and his role as an animator, sculptor, and draftsman fuel his multidisciplinary approach, allowing him to traverse various artistic landscapes with ease. His prior ventures, such as the installation 'Life Model' at the Hayward Gallery or the iconic 'Really Good' on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth, display his proclivity for projects that engage public interaction and commentary on societal norms. These projects underscore his ability to create work that is both publicly engaging and privately thoughtful, resonating across different media. Within the collection at Zebra One Gallery, "Wine, Drink it Quickly" exemplifies Shrigley's signature approach to art making: deceptively simple yet intellectually engaging. The piece is an excellent representation of his skill in capturing the absurdity of everyday existence, offering gallery-goers a slice of social commentary underpinned by his characteristic deadpan humor.

About the Artist

David John Shrigley (born 17 September 1968) is a British visual artist. He lived and worked in Glasgow, Scotland for 27 years before moving to Brighton, England in 2015. Shrigley first came to prominence in the 1990s for his distinct line drawings, which often deal with witty, surreal and darkly h...

Zebra One Gallery

Contemporary Art • Hampstead, London

Established 1976 • 50 years of excellence in contemporary art • Professional authentication and provenance research