Authority Problem is a group show curated by Satchel Projects Gallery, hidden at 526 W 26th Street, #913, NYC. Featuring artists Kris Chatterson, James Esber, Jane Fine, David Humphrey, Clare Kambhu, Karimadeebora McMillan, Mira Schor, and Peter Williams, the exhibition rejects Henri Matisse’s notion of “pure” and “relaxing” art from Notes of a Painter. Instead, the work stands against institutional authority, abuses of power, and the role of protest in today’s global shift toward authoritarianism.
Upon stepping into this white-walled, institutional, and conventional gallery space, the spit of saturated colors from the various acrylic or oil paintings and prints places viewers in a space where political urgency collides with formal aesthetics, making it impossible to passively observe. Near the entrance, Jane Fine’s American History X stands out with neon graffiti marks and charged symbols referencing artists like Trenton Doyle Hancock and Philip Guston. Across the room, Mira Schor’s This is Not Political ironically becomes deeply political, simply because there are no right answers.
I agree that the intensity of the work felt like a lot in the space, physically. It was great that the work had a space to be exhibited, but they really needed some more space to shine. What stood out to em the most was the hanging wooden paintings in the corner, (by Karmimadeebora McMillan) which had a backside. As a sculptor it made me giggle and made me a little sad that a beautiful work like that did not get the 360* visuals it deserved. In a revised review I'd be interested to here about where you see themes of power/protest/resisting and how those themes are creating a debate between the works.
ReplyDelete