Image slideshow
TROUBLE
September 09, 2010 to September 25, 2010
OPENING September 9TH 2010 7PM
Circleculture Gallery, Berlin presents “Trouble”, new works by Aaron Rose, which give very personal and direct insights into the artist’s mind. Aaron Rose is perhaps best known as a curator. With his touring show Beautiful Losers and the documentary of the same name, he brought underground artists to public attention, championing a DIY aesthetic informed by their various backgrounds as skaters, punk rock fans and graffiti writers.
For this show he has a particular obsession: painting on suitcases. “Suitcases from the 50s to 70s were manufactured in such interesting color palettes – these incredible mustard yellows and army greens,” he says. Rose calls the works (some of which are stuffed with surprise goodies for buyers to walk away with) "object paintings," displaying them in the spirit of Duchamp. Art historical references aside, the show’s conceptual slant is psychological, personal even. “It’s my baggage,” says Rose. “The exhibition is going to be very much a confession, what all my problems are.”
Aaron Rose (1969) is an artist, film director, curator and writer currently living in Los Angeles. He was co-curator of the Beautiful Losers touring art exhibit, and edited the collected art book released in 2004. Rose is also the director of the documentary film Beautiful Losers (2008) and recently completed the short documentary film Become A Microscope based on the life of 1960’s artist/activist nun Sister Corita. His publishing imprint, Alleged Press releases hardcover books by contemporary artists. He is also co-editor (along with Ed Templeton & Brendan Fowler) of RVCA's ANP Quarterly magazine.
Artist Statement: Though I work in many mediums, including photography and film, I still very much consider myself a painter. I began painting disused suitcases, guitars, lamps, chairs and other objects because I have always found an inherent beauty in things that society has discarded. In fact, to me, the canvas has always seemed a somewhat pretentious gesture. I love the dimensionality of things, which is why I call my works "object paintings". The different sides of an object reflect the different sides of life and all work in tandem to create the masterpiece that is existence. The works are all very personal to me, they
illustrate my highest ideals and illuminate the darkest areas of my soul. Each piece contains a very specific narrative. There are no accidents here. Even though at times my works may seem masked behind a façade of filigree, the messages are in fact quite direct. They tell the stories of man's search for his soul, the eternal re-definition of character, and a constant search for love.
Visit circlecuture gallery website
www.circleculture-gallery.com/exhibitions/trouble/