MAGNUS PLESSEN – RIDING THE IMAGE

Posted on 2012-09-24

Known for his paintings that oscillate between abstraction and figuration, Plessen’s new body of work focuses on rotation as the means of re-ordering the relation of the viewer to the painting.

These new paintings simultaneously feature figurative elements that are ostensibly recognisable – hands, heads, feet – combined with abstract passages that serve to re-structure order and dimensionality within the painting, creating a palpable sense of disorientation. This effect is reinforced by a deliberate illogicality; representational aspects of body parts are fragmented and disembodied, elusive and transitory, unbound by any particular viewpoint or frame of reference. This is combined with added or subtracted sections of paint to imply spatial depth within the image, such as curved bands, which suggest dynamic rotation or movement. As Plessen notes, ‘For me, the key to understanding inner and outer space in painting is the space of the revolving door; at its centre there is no one looking back at you. The line between inside and outside is indifferent to appearances.

Opposite – Pferd und Reiter (Horse and Rider), 2012

Exhibition runs through to November 10th, 2012

White Cube
25 – 26 Mason’s Yard
London
SW1Y 6BU

whitecube.com

   Tweet

GEOFFREY TODD SMITH – LOOKER

Posted on 2012-09-24

Smith employs seemingly simple structures in his work. Common geometric elements, circles, ellipses, ovals and dots – inhabit a tight grid in visually confounding and colorfully explosive compositions. In addition to his signature intricate and intimate gel pen patterns atop gouache-painted shapes, Smith has begun to experiment with a variety of surfaces and paints – adding texture, dimensionality and glossy enamel – in a new series of paintings on panel.

Within Smith’s colorful, fetishistic surfaces lurks a devotion to the challenges of abstract beauty and its ability to confound expectation and provoke desire. Smith searches, meanders and daydreams to find vibrant and colorful discoveries to entice the audience, of which he is also a member. Each composition is treated like a game with self-imposed rules and limitations regarding color and form. Though there is a grid present, its rigid structure and predictability operates as a foe to Smith’s often erratic and unplanned compositions.

Opposite – Fantasy Trance, 2012

Exhibition runs through to October 20th, 2012

Western Exhibitions
845 W Washington Blvd
2nd Floor
Chicago
IL
60607
USA

www.westernexhibitions.com

   Tweet

JOE GRILLO

Posted on 2012-09-24

Joe Grillo, formerly of renowned art collective Dearraindrop, will be presenting his first exhibition as a solo artist in America. With a suite of new works on canvas and sculpture, he will elaborate his hyper-pop, prismatic paint and sculpture mutations. Recent shows at GAD in Norway and Loyal in Malmo have shown the maturation of his technique that last graced New York City when Dearraindrop presented the massive solo show “Riddle of the Sphynx” at Deitch Proejcts in 2004. This show will be accompanied by Grillo’s first monograph.

Exhibition runs from October 10th to November 3rd, 2012

The Hole
312 Bowery
New York
NY
10012
USA

theholenyc.com

   Tweet