Posted on
2010-11-22
This exhibition takes its title from basketball terminology: used to describe
a player moving within the rectangular and usually painted area below
the net, “hard in the paint” indicates the difficulty in scoring from this
angle amidst defensive pressure. In slang, it is also used to denote a
confident, tough, or aggressive disposition, and as such, it is reflective of the directness of Pettibon’s work. Hard in the Paint presents a wide range of drawings unified by their bold, vivid lines and striking compositions.
Fragments from American society have been singled out and distilled to key images, which often incorporate texts of varying
length from one word to several paragraphs. The selection of texts, which over the course of Pettibon’s career have come to
span a broad array of influences from popular media to Marcel Proust, William Faulkner, Henry James, Gustave Flaubert, and
the Bible, relate both rhythmically and narratively to the visual content of his drawings, although their relationship may not
always be immediately apparent.
Exhibition runs through to December 21st, 2010
David Zwirner
533 W. 19th Street
New York
NY
10011
www.davidzwirner.com
