When entering the exhibiting space at Petzel Gallery in New York, you are confronted with these big, black and white, photorealistic paintings. I couldn’t help but start humming “take me out tonight. Because I want to see people and I want to see life” and simply like that a strong English atmosphere filled the room and with the help of The Smiths my imagination took off.
As I was approaching the works, I noticed rain drops on the foreground, but when I got closer, I realised I was deceived by the tiny sponge holes where the image (originate from a video installation McEwen exhibited in 2013, entitled Escape from New York) was printed. Using the irregularity and randomness of the sponge holes to add a layer of visual trickery and drama, is a very smart idea. The viewer is faced with a similar imagery, that of driving in a tunnel (all tunnels look the same), and sometimes these tiny raindrops accompany you throughout the tunnel.
Somehow melancholic, perhaps it is its dramatic size and strong chiaroscuro that brings back memories, driving to see our loved ones. Or, is it the fact that the viewer is the only witness in these paintings, I am sure you have noticed that there is no other traffic coming in these works. So it is only you, alone.
Midtown Tunnel, 2016
Inkjet print on cellulose sponge
84 x 146 in. (213.4 x 370.8 cm)
Lincoln Tunnel, 2016
Inkjet print on cellulose sponge
84 x 146 in. (213.4 x 370.8 cm)
looks like raindrops
but it is not, sponge detail
installation view
installation view
The paintings (and sculptures, too) are on view at PETZEL
Adam McEwen
Harvest, runs until April, 30th
One more “First Monday of the month”
From New York, with Love,
Dimitria
