Bogus art beyond belief

Craggy mounds of polyurethane foam, canisters containing the same substance and some soiled plastic sheets fill the downstairs rooms of the Lisson Gallery.

Upstairs, a silent video shows individuals in a line. Their backs are turned to us, their heads are covered and each is wrapped in black plastic sheeting, as if they are wearing cowls or burkas.

After some deliberation, a man in a protective boilersuit sprays their backs with the foam, quickly building up the sliding substance. What you see downstairs are the human casts.

The title of the piece, Polyurethane Sprayed On The Backs Of 10 Workers, omits to say that they are Iraqi refugees who have been paid by the artist, Mexican Santiago Sierra.

He is a political artist, but since he uses methods of exploitation to comment on exploitation, his position is a little uneasy in both camps.

He has caused controversy in the past by tattooing prostitutes for the price of their next heroin fix, while, closer to home, he recently paid some unemployed Londoners a minimum wage to stand facing the walls of the Lisson for hours at a time, a purposefully pointless and unrewarding task for the individuals concerned.

This is another piece which raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of exploitation and collusion.

The 'workers' remain faceless, nameless and voiceless, just as they might be in life.

Until Aug 21, Lisson Gallery, 52-54 Bell Street NW1, Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 5pm, free. Tel: 020 7724 2739. Tube: Edgware Road

Santiago Sierra