David Shrigley is known for his darkly humorous artworks that reflect on the banality and absurdity of everyday life. This monumental public sculpture was originally conceived for the Fourth Plinth in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, in the immediate aftermath of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union known as Brexit. Characteristic of the self-conscious irony often found in Shrigley’s work, Really good is intended as both a satirical and sincere gesture. A ‘thumbs-up’ here becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; things considered ‘bad’ such as the economy, the weather and society, can benefit from a change of consensus towards positivity.
