What a strange man busy in his studio letting something out putting something in, the fracture in his world is the paint
NATHAN BARLEX Tue 23trd - Sat 27th September 2014 12:00 - 18:00 FREE ENTRY Private view Tue 23rd Sept, 18:00 - 21:00
Oval Gallery is pleased to present new works by Nathan Barlex.
Strange Man What a strange man busy in his studio letting something out putting something in, the fracture in his world is the painting. It comes from his shoulder, no, his hips (groin) well maybe his feet through to the crown of his head and in that moment the vessel of his body is lost and vision is all that is present. The thing he thinks is not the thing. Sight might allow for a reduction but the meta is form and content and provides something else. He rambles a little to be sure this isn't a waist of time. The representation is symbolic of a greater truth, unshowable and probably unknowable. In this grand claim a craft is pursued and an event of distinction is sort. But it's strange; a weird vernacular of erotic deceit and dumb wizardry plops about the place. What do you believe? The funny little man thinks cos this is important, what are you doing with your life, and why should anyone care? So he and others like him put on the hat and robe and do the dance, and it's one that keeps things hopeful for the painting, it is a silly soul all out of proportion with its self. A big head and tiny hands wandering along with a limp look as its liver and kidneys and guts float around out there, in there, on the dusty track. Paintings tummy grumbles and hiccups some jizz out of stigmatic valves in lotus configurations. If it's turned upside down perhaps the right hemisphere will insure the correct price. That and other forms of a caldron type body made from jellyfish protein sustain the broth of a practice. Dribble and dip the form, for forward fjords and lords better not end up in the skip of electrical amnesia. The present is obscured and the craft is dangerous for art can change the world.
Nathan Barlex makes awkward ‘psychodylemic’ works that incorporate dialectics of stupidity and profundity. The tipping points of reasonable thought and ridiculous form bother the work into being. Incorporating cultures of alchemy, pleasure and painting into the language of production Barlex experiments with ways to undermine and compound the initial conditions. The enigma that is painting in all its cultural, historic, perceptual and practiced consistencies is a sleep disorder and optical perversion, an untouchable force within the heart of humanity.
Biography
Nathan Barlex (b. 1976, Milton Keynes, UK) lives and works in London. Studied at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art.
Nathan has exhibited widely in the UK and Europe. Shows include; A+B, 4 Windmill street, London (2013), Re-run, Launch at Banner repeater (2012), "De Kooning, De Kooning, De Kooning..." at David Risely Gallery Copenhagen (2011), Diving for Pearls, Munich, Lothringer 13, Stadtische Kunsthalle (2011), The Tyrrany of Grammar, Fishmarket, Northampton (2011) and Virtual Ouroboros, PyramidBiz, London (2011). New Contemporaries (2010) both at the A foundation Liverpool and the ICA London. Fade Away, Transition Gallery (2010) (travelling to North, Newcastle in May 2011).
Nathan Barlex lives and works in London.
OVAL SPACE Oval Space is an evolving multi-use arts and events organisation based in the heart of Bethnal Green in East London. The space was first conceived in the Autumn of 2011, and after extensive refurbishment work, first opened its doors to the public in April 2012. The 5,000 sq ft space is used for everything from still and video location work, live music events, club nights, independent film screenings and art exhibitions in a commercial gallery space. FOR LISTINGS Oval Gallery Presents: Nathan Barlex Artists: Nathan Barlex Exhibition runs Tue 23rd – Sat 27th Sept 2014 Opening hours: 12PM – 6PM Tue - Sat Private view: Tue 23rd Sept 6PM – 9PM Ticketing info: Free entry, just turn up URL: http://bit.ly/OSGalleryBarlex CONTACT For all press enquiries contact
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