Joachim West: Revelations
Ro2 Art
4 days left
Joachim West: Revelations
Ro2 Art
4 days left
Ro2 Art is proud to present Revelations, an exhibition of new work by artist Joachim West. A window into Joachim West's evolving artistic journey amid a profound cultural and technological transformation, the exhibition "Revelations” unveils a collection of works that challenge human’s simplistic perceptions of nature.
"When it comes to making art, there are no rules."
Joachim West's latest show, 'Revelations,' is whimsical, immersive, and bitingly humorous, challenging audiences' perceptions and preconceived ideas. West, “a lifelong “full-time” artist… has mastered many different mediums and styles and doesn’t feel constrained to any single one, often mixing them together. For Joachim, when it comes to making art, there are no rules.” Joachim’s art has at times captured the attention of the press both nationally and internationally. His work has been featured on CBS News, Yahoo News, Channel 5 News United Kingdom, Artnet, the Dallas Morning News, The Independent, D Magazine, The Dallas Observer, Arts & Culture and numerous other publications. Joachim’s work has been displayed at the Meadows Museum of Art and at various other private and public art spaces nationally and internationally.
Through a dynamic interplay of narrative, social critique, and playfullness, West's creations shift between moments of levity and introspection, characterized by intricate detail and deliberate abstraction. As a dedicated artist, Joachim's portfolio has many pieces that transcend traditional boundaries, thanks to his adept use of mediums and styles. Through a blend of paintings and drawings, Joachim presents a world where humanity is engrossed in creating a fantastical realm, oblivious to the plight of Mother Earth and her inhabitants. Despite their immersion in this alternate reality, humans continue to exploit natural resources for their desires. West's ability to portray social criticism with a sense of lightheartedness results in art pieces that are simultaneously profound and playful. The hyper-detailed compositions in "Revelations" capture the solemnity and whimsy of the human experience, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of contemporary existence through a unique artistic lens.
“This exhibition: “Revelations,” reflects the mind and the practice of Joachim West over several years as the world undergoes a momentous cultural and technological shift. The main body of work featured in “Revelations” is a body of paintings and drawings that attack a common and naïve view of nature where “Mother Earth” is seen as a primarily caring and loving protector and humans are seen as inherently good, noble and peaceful. While Joachim’s work often focuses heavily on narrative and social criticism, it also embraces frivolity.”
' Revelations' includes a series of overwhelmingly maximalist works that are filled to the brim with figures overlapping as they lay, crawl, and walk over each other. Each work is named after a populous city and embodies the scope and density of the human population. These works appear in graphite on paper works, clay sculptures, and a very colorful painting. These illusionistic and claustrophobic works are confined to a corner of the gallery, adding to their immersive nature.
As the name implies, 'Dirty Old Man' depicts an unsavory scene as an older man cartoonishly gawks at a young woman. This work encapsulates West's blending of humorous and exaggerated imagery with more biting social commentary. As his work is a critique of most corners of society, it serves to hold a mirror- albeit a distorted, funhouse mirror- to society. Here critiquing both the older man's inappropriate desire as well as the woman's altered and unnatural appearance.
Joachim West, Dirty Old Man, 2023 Acrylic on paper 41 1/2 × 30 in
Joachim West's works are multilayered incorporating surreal, absurd, whimsical, and critical elements all within the confines of each piece. The composition of his works often spirals and flows together in a mesmerizing way, guiding our eyes through the work to discover new and shocking elements.
Joachim West, Who M I?, 2018 Graphite and acrylic on paper 44 × 35 in