Adel Abdessemed's Cri

The David Zwirner gallery in London has opened Adel Abdessemed: Le Vase abominable, a solo show of new works by the controversial Algerian-born artist who now lives in Paris (CLICK). Above is his Cri (2012), a life-sized sculpture inspired by Nick Ut's Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of Vietnamese children fleeing a napalm attack in June 1972. The naked 9-year-old girl in the photo was Phan Thi Kim Phúc, whose back had been burned by napalm (CLICK). Adel's sculpture is excellent, but it is carved entirely from mammoth ivory. Not a good idea. I hope he can prove it is indeed mammoth ivory and not post-1947 elephant ivory, which cannot be worked or sold in the UK under our laws. The exhibition runs until 30 March.