Wes Lang: Sittin’ on a Rainbow
Chateau Marmont
8221 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywodd, CA 90046
opening: June 23rd, 2011
duration: one night
info…
Sittin’ on a Rainbow, is a one-evening presentation at the Chateau Marmont, of Wes Lang’s intricate drawings, each executed directly onto the Hotel’s stationery. These pieces, all produced during the artist‘s month-long stay in room 34 at the infamous Hollywood hotel, provide a visual journal of his experience there, and reveal the contemplative effect this sojourn had on his work.
Inspired by the history, virtue, and ambiance of the Chateau, and as a tribute to Martin Kippenberger’s “Hotel Drawings,” Lang created a suite of over 30 delicately involved works, each with the Chateau Marmont‘s classic logo visible, and some including small printed text, compliments of the Hotel: “In Residence: Mr. Wes Lang.” With imagery ranging from bird illustrations, reminiscent of vintage wildlife plates as in Time Will Tell, 2011, to meticulously rendered nude or partially nude women, to almost exact replications of the Hotel’s logo in pencil and acrylic, to somewhat morbid depictions including skeletons and skulls, these drawings both demonstrate the artist‘s range of visual interests and his technical aptitude.
Beginning as an appropriation of an existing, coveted image, each completed drawing, regardless of literal subject matter – mortality, existence, eroticism – maintains an essence of nostalgia, and translates a palpable affection toward content by its considerate treatment. Also augmenting the work’s sincerity is the inclusion of hand-drawn text, often borrowed from spiritual teachings, inspirational writing, or song lyrics. Lang’s Chateau Marmont series continues his interest in divergent imagery and reluctance in adhering to a particular artistic style, yet Sittin’ on a Rainbow offers an alternate view of the artist’s oeuvre, and the significant reflex and impact resulting from his stay.
Wes Lang is a Brooklyn-based artist, and this is his first project with OHWOW. His work is shown nationally and abroad, including recent exhibitions at ZieherSmith, New York, NY; Museo de la Ciudad de México, Mexico City, Mexico; and V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark. His work is included in the collections of Deste Foundation for Contemporary Art, Athens, Greece, and The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY.
-from website
more info…
http://www.oh-wow.com
full set of images on fickr…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandonshigeta/sets/72157626918177729/
all images shot with a Canon EOS 5D MKII
