Changing faces of the family

There's a definite buzz surrounding the name of Martin Maloney right now and you'll find him in the unlikeliest of places. He not only has a room to himself at the Saatchi Gallery, dominated by his huge vinyl collage of thirtysomething urbanites but he even turns up at the National Gallery in Family Fortunes. The exhibition traces the changing representation of family life through 400 years and his cheery single mothers are a characteristic take on subverting conservative notions of our supposed urban ills.

This is Maloney's first solo exhibition in a public gallery and, spanning almost the whole width of Delfina's generous wall space, the four new canvases are impressively huge. The title, though, is somewhat misleading: these are not paintings but collages and they are not remotely pastoral.

These are heady celebrations of urban living and, though their de Kooning-esque grins are more often menacing grimaces, Maloney's characters clearly like having a good time; never has walking the dog, listening to music or just hanging out, looked so much fun. His choice of material is also a brilliant one; the shiny, light-reflecting surface of the vinyl cut-outs certainly complement Maloney's sharp eye for colour.

So, for once, does reality live up to the buzz? Though Maloney's largescale works in general may tend to remind you of paintings that might once have been commissioned as public murals by some left-wing London council in the 1980s, one just can't help falling in love with them. They fizz with energy and certainly make you feel better for having seen them.

Martin Maloney: Pastoral Paintings
Until Sept 23, Delfina Project Space, 51 Southwark Street SE1, Wed to Sun 11pm to 6pm, free.
Tel: 020 7357 6600. www.delfina.org.uk
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