Bortolami Gallery is proud to present its second solo show of Eric Wesley, D'Carts Blanche and New Paintings.
Wesley's continued concern for systems and methodology, executed in the spirit of hobby and pun, are apparent as he implements both the geometrical rules of René Descartes, and the hum... Read more
Bortolami Gallery is proud to present its second solo show of Eric Wesley, D’Carts Blanche and New Paintings.
Wesley’s continued concern for systems and methodology, executed in the spirit of hobby and pun, are apparent as he implements both the geometrical rules of René Descartes, and the humanizing elementary system of primary colors. The artist launches a debate by posing the opposition of “cogito ergo sum” versus “sentio ergo sum.” Or “I think therefore I am” versus “I feel therefore I am”.
The Cartesian coordinates of X, Y and Z are physically represented by three objects/carts (D’Carts) each signifying a direction, from front to back, side to side, and up and down.
Framing the gallery installation, the paintings show X, Y, and Z translated into the three primary colors, and the system continues. Yellow is fear, Red is aggression and Blue is sadness. In the scenario at hand, fear runs, aggression explodes, and sadness streaks. In keeping with his system, the colors are applied with intentional priority. In one instance the explosive red aggression is first, with the blue streaks of sadness in the foreground and yellow runs of fear linger between. A narrative then develops according to a primal and emotionalized method.
Wesley’s realm of what he calls Post-Transgressive Painting is vast, but founded on fundamental building blocks. As the three primary colors are essential for creating all further colors and the Cartesian coordinates are necessary for accessing all points in space, his work grows from such basic devices, with the potential for infinite combinations.
Eric Wesley was born in Los Angeles, California in 1973, where he continues to live and work. Wesley has held solo exhibitions in galleries internationally as well as at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles and Foundation Morra Greco, Naples, Italy. Wesley has participated in group shows at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles; Fundación/Colección Jumex, Mexico; Museo d’Arte, Benevento, Italy; The Prague Biennial in 2007; Institute of Contemporary Art, London; P.S.1, New York; and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
