CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY AND THE THEORETICAL STEROID DEFILED MODERNIST CHICKEN

Contemporary Psychology and The Theoretical Steroid Defiled Modernist Chicken: Manuel Ocampo

In a new series of drawings created specifically for the exhibition entitled Contemporary Psychology and The Theoretical Steroid Defiled Modernist Chicken, Ocampo tries to invoke the ghosts of Modernism’s past to ruminate on a culture ready to self-implode teetering on its own false pretenses and the individual’s plight against dehumanizing standardization, the fear of impending doom, self-doubt, and sublime melancholy. Manuel Ocampo’s imagery often fuses sacred Baroque religious iconography with secular political narrative. His works draw upon a wide range of art historical references, contain cartoonish elements, and draw inspiration from punk subculture. In his new series Contemporary Psychology and The Theoretical Steroid Defiled Modernist Chicken , Ocampo demonstrates his remarkable ability to combine a painterly wildness juxtaposed with the allegorical and illustrative. Through this he creates an interesting and broad spectrum in both his own practice and more generally in drawn art today. Born in 1965 in the Philippines, Manuel Ocampo moved to Los Angeles in the 1980’s, where he studied at the California State University. Since his controversial statement for the IX. Documenta in 1992, where one of his paintings featured swasticas, he has largely been known for his powerful symbolism, communicating a conflict of culture and political overlords, throughout history. His works have been shown at a wide range of galleries, museums and biennales all over the world including the legendary exhibition Helter Skelter at MOCA in Los Angeles, and at the Venice Biennale in 2001. His works are also featured in large permanent collections at the Whitney Museum in New York, Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, Paris, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan and MOCA, Los Angeles.

When?: 09/30/2011 - 12:00pm to 11/05/2011 - 6:00pm
Where?: SOD

SOD
Holbergsgade 17C
Copenhagen K DK-1057
Denmark
Phone: +45 201 23053
SOD Space of Drawings is a gallery in Copenhagen which specialized solely in drawing, a fresh addition to the Danish art scene and culture, striving to show current trends in contemporary draughtsmanship more coherently. SOD Space of Drawings is dedicated to promoting both Danish and international contemporary artists, whose artistic practice is rooted in a dynamic approach to drawing, reflecting mixed media expression and thereby expanding the current horizons, to create a lasting contemporary impression, of drawn arts uniqueness. Marie Kirkegaard, BA in Art History and MA in Visual Culture, is the director and owner of SOD Space of Drawings.