David Sweet reviews two exhibitions Robert Holyhead at Peer Gallery, London (through July 7, 2012) and Geoffrey Rigden at Poussin Gallery, London (through June 30, 2012).

Sweet writes that "outside of the issues of art criticism of a formalist sort, one might end up wondering about the contemporary positioning of these two painters and the politics of the different surfaces that each produce. Rigden's crustiness harks back to the rough finish of 20th century canvasses while Holyhead's smooth and shiny glazing evokes the uninterrupted texture of photography and screen based media."