A Genre-Defying New Exhibition at Peres Projects in Berlin Imagines Opera Through the Lens of the Queer Experience—See It Here
As galleries around the world begin to slowly reopen, we are
focusing on exhibitions at spaces that are now open to public
visitors. Check out this show at a newly reopened gallery
below.
“Richard Kennedy: Street Prophecy”
Through June 12 at Peres Projects, Berlin
What the gallery says: “The group of new soft sculptures, paintings, and busts in this
show depict an opera deconstructed into its various
parts. The term ‘opera,’ borrowed from
the Italian word for ‘work,’ implies a Gesamtkunstwerk (total
artwork) incorporating diverse media, collaboration, virtuosity,
and drama.
Kennedy appropriates and redefines
multimedia modes of production as well as the dramatic tropes of
the ‘highest art form’ of the European tradition to embody a black
queer experience. The works in the exhibition hover between
abstraction and figuration, self-portraiture and lyrical verse, the
historic and the exuberant.”
Why it’s worth a look: A lifelong opera fan,
the artist and performer Richard Kennedy has translated the
elements of a theatrical performance into a fantastical suite of
paintings that reflect his experience. Upon first look, the
lyrical, wildly colorful pictures appear abstract, but there are
words carved into the works. Some phrases, like “black unicorn” and
“street prophecy,” recur throughout.
In another about-face (literally), the three white busts
displayed in the gallery are contorted to varying degrees,
displaying a range of emotion. The sculptures are stationed in
front of the paintings, as if the artist is inserting himself
before each canvas.
What it looks like:
Installation view, “Richard Kennedy:
Street Prophecy” at Peres Projects, Berlin. Photo: Matthias Kolb,
courtesy Peres Projects.
Richard Kennedy, INFINITE TOTAL
FREEDOM (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects,
Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, RUN ME (2020).
Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, Essence (2020).
Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, Prophetess 1
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, Prophetess 3
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, Prophetess 2
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Installation view, “Richard Kennedy:
Street Prophecy” at Peres Projects, Berlin. Photo: Matthias Kolb,
courtesy Peres Projects.
Installation view, “Richard Kennedy:
Street Prophecy” at Peres Projects, Berlin. Photo: Matthias Kolb,
courtesy Peres Projects.
Richard Kennedy, Stun Stun
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, STREET PROPHET
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, Ebony (2020).
Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Installation view, “Richard Kennedy:
Street Prophecy” at Peres Projects, Berlin. Photo: Matthias Kolb,
courtesy Peres Projects.
Richard Kennedy, Prophetess 2
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, Kriss Kross
(2020). Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Richard Kennedy, SHO-NUF (2020).
Courtesy of the artist and Peres Projects, Berlin.
Installation view, “Richard Kennedy:
Street Prophecy” at Peres Projects, Berlin. Photo: Matthias Kolb,
courtesy Peres Projects.
The post A Genre-Defying New Exhibition at Peres Projects in
Berlin Imagines Opera Through the Lens of the Queer Experience—See
It Here appeared first on artnet News.
Read more https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/peres-projects-richard-kennedy-1862424
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