Kehinde Wiley has probably been my favorite painter of the moment. Kehinde Wiley's subject matter consists of inserting modern young African American men into the role of historic Western European works of art. His last 2 "World Stage" shows have really changed my view of fine art and probably changed the minds of many. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to see his latest exhibition "The World Stage, Brazil". This show focused on the third segment of his “World Stage” project where Wiley immerses himself in the culture of a country by taking residence there and “street-casting” it’s inhabitants. As he's done in his prior World Stage shows (China and Lagos), Wiley walked the streets of Rio de Janero and asked young people in their everyday clothes to assume poses found in paintings and sculptures found throughout the city. He then painted them with a Western style portraiture technique against a backdrop of indigenous textiles and flowers. Aside from being aesthetically and conceptually amazing, Wiley's work serves a mechanism to dethrone the monarchs and statesmen of worlds past and uplifts everyday man. His paintings are larger to life figuritively and at times actually larger than life. If you happen to been near Los Angeles from now till May 30th, you should make an effort to see this exhibiton.
Kehinde Wiley “World Stage: Brazil” Exhibition
April 4 – May 30, 2009
Opening Reception Saturday, April 4th, 6 – 8pm
ROBERTS & TILTON
5801 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, California 90232
p: 323.549.0223
[Roberts & Tilton]
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