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December 14 – February 24
curated by Manon Slome
Opening Reception: Thursday December 14 6-8pm
MICHAEL BEVILACQUA
Drawing under the Influence
Fables of the Reconstruction
Michael Bevilacqua’s first exhibition of drawings, grouped
under the title, DUI: Fables of the Reconstruction, redefine
the traditional relationship between drawing and painting. Traditionally
this relationship has been one of sequence, drawing acting as a
site of pre-composition, a place where elements of the future painting
are studied, mapped, tested. The immediate difference in Bevilacqua’s
drawings is that they are made post facto, after the painting. But
what is most radical about these works is that they are formed through
a principle of recycling. The drawings are constructed from elements
which have gone into Bevilacqua’s paintings over the last
ten years and, as such, function as a veritable mine or reconstruction
of the icons and symbology which frequent his work. Time is scrambled,
imagery is open ended and the surfaces heave and breath like a living
organism.
The drawings are composed of layers that were originally Xerox’s
of found imagery scaled up or down and traced onto the canvas. The
individual “templates” are then amassed on the paper,
overlapping, juxtaposed, some painted in bright acrylics, some black
or white, some left untouched.
In terms of his imagery, Bevilacqua combines a multitude of reference;
personal elements from his everyday life are juxtaposed with iconic
images that can be read by those tuned in to both popular and punk
culture, but each one important to Bevilacqua at various transitional
stages of personal and artistic development. The names of a favorite
band (Sisters of Mercy, The Ramones), an art historical references,
(the early works of Mathew Barney, particularly images from Cremaster
4) illustrations from children’s books (Dr. Seuss or Harold
and the Purple Crayon), symbols of the manufactured dreams of the
media and consumer world, all interact on both figurative and formal
levels to produce a shock of realization – the real world
thrust into the space and gaze of the viewer.
For more information please contact:
Chris Longfellow
Press Officer
The Chelsea Art Museum
Chris@chelseaartmuseum.org
212-255-0719 x 108
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tel 212.255.0719 e-mail contact@chelseaartmuseum.org
fax 212.255.2368
open Tuesday through Saturday Noon to 6pm
Thursday Noon to 8pm
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