Description
Shooting Gallery is pleased to present artist Paul Chatem’s latest works, which will be unveiled with his solo show, 'Another Man's Hero,' opening April 14th, 2012 from 7-11 pm. The exhibition is free and will be open to the public for viewing through May 5th, 2012.'Another Man's Hero' is a new collection of paintings which explore perceptions of identity. Within the twenty new pieces, Chatem delves into the idea that however one person sees themselves, their friends, neighbors, or community may see them as something completely different. One man's success is another man's failure; one person's death is another's victory; one person's lover may be another's competition; one man's hero may be another man's villain.
Chatem’s intricate paintings began as loose sketches in acrylic or pen. From these rough compositions the artist crafts incredible finished works, often using leftover wood from construction jobs he has worked. In the studio Chatem is constantly moving, often working on the different stages of several paintings at the same time. This propensity towards motion is shared by the work itself, which is fitted with hand-cut interconnecting gears and handles that viewers are encouraged to turn. The functional gears bring to mind the inner workings of an old pocket watch, blending mechanical simplicity with an organic color palette of earth-tones.
Influenced by the animation of Max Fleischer and E.C. Segar, many of Chatem’s characters have a humorous tone despite the dark details of a world fueled by mayhem.
Paul Chatem was born in 1974 in Bellevue, Washington, but grew up in La Crescenta on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He spent most of his time hunting snakes and scorpions in the Tujunga Wash, exploring ruins of forgotten ranches, shantytowns, and asylums, and ducking punches at punk shows with his friends.
Growing up in an environment where nature, history, and the impoverished were constantly being pushed aside to make room for golf courses and mini-malls, Paul developed a keen talent for representing the rift between rich and poor, the working man and the boss man, in his surreal, often nightmarish, narrative paintings.
More Info
- Link
- http://www.shootinggallerysf.com
- Call
- (415) 831-8035
- Contact Form (account required)
Comments