John Holland reviews two painting exhibitions on view in London: Annie Lapin: Amnesiacs at Josh Lilley (through May 16) and Ann-Marie James: Proserpina at Karsten Scubert (through May 10).

Holland writes that both Lapin and James are artists who "make ostensibly abstract paintings, but who use the art of the past in a self-consciously Post-Modern sort of way. They quote it, in other words, deconstruct it, 'employ it', to use James’ utilitarian terminology, 'as a tactic.' … both artist use the language of strategies, of doing things like reconfiguring our notions of art history and referring, as is more or less obligatory now, to Deleuze…" "Intriguing paintings" happen, Holland argues, when these strategies fail.