Solo Show of Paintings/Sculptures, May-June, 2008

Jonathan LeVine Gallery, NYC, NY

Press Release:

NEW YORK, NY (April 28, 2008) — Jonathan LeVine Gallery is pleased to present The Artist In You, a solo exhibition featuring new works by Tim Biskup. The artist returns for his second solo show at the gallery, having created a series of new paintings on canvas and wood panel. In conjunction with The Artist In You, Biskup will also release a limited edition book by the same title, in which he verbally explores the ideas presented visually in his new collection of work.

The Artist In You expands on Biskup’s well known graphic style and decorative aesthetic, yet also reflects a new direction—his recent analytical exploration of themes surrounding the complexities, contradictions, and separations within the fine art world. Developed through experimental exercises and multiple studies on a subject, the female portrait in his Asylum series and the skulls in his Doom Loop series are taken through cubist, minimalist, florally decorative, and other such variations to achieve subtle manipulations of feeling through transformation and the dissection of form.

Statements made in Tim’s paintings are further elaborated upon in his writing for the accompanying book, a collection of intimate essays and poems, which expose the extremes of his creative process. His personal feelings and thoughts are expressed openly in a style that embraces intellectual art theory while revealing his love and frustration towards the industry itself. Embarking on this project of critical analysis took the artist through stages of emotion and discovery. His original intention, to seek a deeper understanding of the enigmatic paradox that is the art community—ultimately concludes with a revelation of sorts, when the artist accepts his own role within that realm.

Biskup’s work has transcended, becoming more conceptual in recent years—this is evident within the words and images of The Artist In You, which express the artist’s deepened commitment to question and confront his own perceptions and fears, an endeavor towards creative growth.

Artist’s Statement (In Retrospect):

I was having long conversations about the art world and art theory with a few friends that came from a much different background than I did. It was great to contrast the ideas that their MFAs gave them with what I had figured out from my unusual education. What I ended up with was a very raw and direct (and angry) reaction to the art world. I feel like I dove down the rabbit hole because it brought up so many conflicts within me and in my work. I’m glad that I did it, but it was brutally painful and hard. The writing that I did for that show took as long as the paintings. I had a few people pull me aside when I was putting the show together and ask me if I really wanted to put all of this out there. They were worried that I was going to look foolish because I was saying a lot of things that other people had already said and I was formulating a lot of my ideas without enough research. I saw their point, but I felt like it was more important to say everything that I was thinking and let it all out. Looking like a fool was an important part of the experience for me. The title of the show was meant to sound stupid and clunky! It was my way of inviting critical eyes into the show. I really wanted to have a dialogue and even bad reviews would give me a place to start. I had this fantasy that some critic would blast the show in the NY Times or Art Forum, but ultimately the big art world took no notice. The show got great reviews from fellow outsider artists, bloggers and critics.

Links:

Book Download (PDF)
Jonathan Levine Gallery

Reviews and Press:

rightsomegood.blogspot.com
thefoxisblack.com
juxtapoz.com (photos)
popdrawer.blogspot.com
boingboing.net