Avvolte ritornano è il caso del grane Todd REAS James che lo scorso weekand ha aperto all’interno degli spazi della Galería Javier López di Madrid la sua ultima personale dal titolo “Business As Usual”.

Il nuovo show poggia le basi suoi nuovi e passati lavoro dell’ex writer statunitense, Todd REAS James oltre a proporre la sua iconica Vandal’s Bedroom, ci mostra una serie di grandi tele di disegni che si rifanno al tema che da titolo alla mostra. REAS indaga sul concetto di status quo e di come nonostante tutto il fervore di questi tempi, la crisi ed i vari conflitti sull’orlo di scoppiare, tutto in realtà rimanga inalterato ed apparentemente immobile. L’artista elabora questi concetti attraverso il suo inconfondibile stile passando dai marker alla tela con disinvoltura e portando a compimento un interessante spaccato della sua carriera artistica. L’Aereo con il volto sorridente pronto a sganciare le bombe, il militare medio orientale intento a preparare la sua arma, vengono messi in contrapposizione con situazioni di vita moderna e mondana, come la donna nuda intenta a fumare una sigarette o quella in costume da bagno, tutto realizzato attraverso i classici colori saturi e l’inconfondibile tratto diseguale.

Se vi trovate nella capitale spagnola c’è tempo fino al 28 Novembre per andare a visitare lo show, diversamente vi lasciamo con un po’ di scatti dell’allestimento interno, dateci un occhiate e se passate fateci sapere!

In this exhibition, James presents a variety of works from numerous of his series and themes. The title of the show refers to the artist’s perception that, despite recent apocalyptic fervor, the status quo maintains its dominance throughout the world. War machines rumble on, pirates can be seen on the horizon, women lounge poolside, walls get written on… This is James’s milieu, all represented here in the form of large scale acrylic paintings, cut sheets of paper, marker drawings and installation. These works can loosely be seen as a time line of his work, from early subway painting to his gallery and museum work.

The exhibition will include the recreation of James’ “Vandal’s Bedroom”, the sprawling, graffiti filled structure that was a highlight of the ‘Art in the Streets’ exhibition at LA MoCA. This version of the work is equally dense with information. Part object, part installation, this teenage vandal’s bedroom-turned-graffiti-battle-station gives glimpses of plans for an imaginary artistic takeover. Bleeding marker drawings form letter styles from the rough and tumble 1980s New York subway era, combined with re-purposed cartoon characters performing decidedly off-model activity. A clutter of color, slogans, fantasies, and affiliations is all barely contained, ready to spill out of this eat, sleep, and breathe environment. The piece is a celebration of early influences and an exercice of traditions that remain relevant, holding up better than ever.

According to James, both vandals and pirates step over invisible boundaries put in place by faceless power structures. Both also anonymously make claims (to space or to cargo, respectively), and their deeds resonate with David and Goliath undertones. These works force society to confront the undeniable complexity of right and wrong, and to explore the inequalities of the human experience. It is this sense of injustice that informs and energizes James’ work. The fact that James is able to do this with a generous amount of humor is his unique ability.

Galería Javier López
Guecho, 12 B
28023 – Madrid Spain

Pics by The Gallery and Sosm