Art review: Shonky: The Aesthetics of Awkwardness, Dundee Contemporary Arts

The dictionary definition of “shonky” throws up words like “unsound”, “shoddy”, “of dubious integrity”. But none of these easily fits with the 14 artists in this colourful group show, curated for Hayward Touring by John Walters. His “shonky” is more to do with being lo-fi, maximalist, process-driven, handmade without necessarily being well crafted. The high priest and priestess of this aesthetic are Phyllida Barlow and Kurt Schwitters (neither of whom are in the show). The results are often colourful and kitschy; according to an essay by Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan for the catalogue, it is “the faux leopard skin coat” of art.