Lucy By b. (All Photos By Gail, Click on Any Image to Enlarge for Detail)
I’m a Little late getting this review posted, so unfortunately the already short run of this exhibit (which opened on March 7th) means you only have a few days left to see Corrupted Luxury, a fantastic exhibit by Greek artist b., who is showing for the first time at Allouche Gallery on Spring Street. We love this exhibit!
Over the past few years, b. has developed a body of work recognizable by his use of colorful and detailed characters and “sea of objects.” b.’s figures have taken over the urban landscape of the city of Athens. Mermaids, girls with anchor tattoos on their arms, colorful hamburgers and humanlike octopuses constitute the universe of b. and come to life on the walls and broken windows of abandoned houses.
Shit LOL
b.’s work is inspired by the social and political situations that have encompassed Greece’s landscape over the past few decades. Growing up in such a densely populated urban environment such as Athens has been a determining element in b.’s life and work. The artist views the city as an open studio: a big canvas without limits where his creatures are winking playfully to the viewers and challenge them to discover his world.
SOS
The new paintings featured in Corrupted Luxury comment on the dead-end lifestyle of humankind, such as overconsumption of earth’s limited resources, social inequality and failure of the economic system. At the same time, they attempt to inspire the real values of life, such as unity, peace and love.
Detail From Party is Here
When looking from far away at the different works in the exhibition, you may not be able to make out the individual forms and how they interplay with each other, but as you get closer you can see Christmas trees, stuffed animal characters, military tanks, birthday cakes, hamburgers, etc. – anything and everything that people consume or throw away. His paintings introduce this contrast, which his home country faces at the moment, between the superficial and imaginary optimistic reality of its situation, and people’s lifestyle through an imaginary and optimistic world
I Love You
Corrupted Luxury by b. will be on Exhibit only until March 21st, 2015 at Allouche Gallery, Located at 115 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012. Hours are Monday-Sunday, 10.30 AM – 7.00 PM.
Although I don’t see a social injustice theme, I am drawn into the art in various ways: looking at the numbers and then trying to find the sequence, checking out the words amid the objects to see if they create or make a particular statement. Looking at the artistic minutia brings even more detail to my attention.