nathan james

Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada, Nathan James currently lives and works in London, UK. Exhibiting extensively, James has had shows throughout North America and Europe. His work was also selected to show in SCOPE Miami in 2008 and 2009, SCOPE New York in 2006, and SCOPE London in 2005. James’ artworks, “The Sudden End Of The Misfit' (2008) and “Splank Thru” (2008), were chosen by fellow artist, Stuart Semple, for Semple’s first curatorial project “Mash Ups” in London, over the summer of 2008.

James’ photo based paintings of trendy youths are intervened by helpings of obnoxious neon slashes, cuts and splashes comprising of pop elements such as cartoons, graphics and text, to create his distinctive style. These combinations of techniques and styles collide as cartoon and plastic clash with James’ figurative flesh and bone elements.

With these paintings James explores the notion that mass media materialism can indeed fulfill some of their promises of leisure and enjoyment but at the cost of forfeiting some of the subjects’ humanity.

hynek martinec

Zuzana in Paris studio, acrylic on canvas 130x110 cm 2006-07

Edmund, tempera on board 75x65 cm 2007-8

Born in 1980 in the Czech Republic, Hynek Martinec lives and works in London. In 2005 he graduated from the Academy of Fine Art in Prague. As part of his studies he spent one term at Middlesex University, London (2002), and another at The Cooper Union, New York (2005). Martinec has shown in both national and international exhibitions at venues including Cosa gallery, London, National Portrait Gallery and Prague Biennale. He is represented in numerous private collections in Berlin, Vienna, Miami, New York, Prague (National Gallery) and London (British Museum - Department Prints and Drawings). He is the winner of the BP Young Artist Award in 2007 and 2008.

start thinking

The art of painting had for centuries the monopoly position for portraits until photography contested its place in the 19th century. It seems that photography won the race against painting the 20th century. Painting was demoted, because the photo applied as more realistic and true. One believed that painting could not catch the moment as exactly as photography. A photo emerges in a short instant. A painting takes a much longer time. This is why it is always under suspicion of glorification and idealization. However photography fights against the same upbraids, because of the digital picture manipulation. Thus original pictures of models or film stars gain higher attention than retouched ones.

The artists of this exhibition deal with the portrait in a multimedia way. Not only photography and painting compete but also films claims it place. Who of the three disciplines is most successful to show the personality and inner posture of a human being, if the individual is in the center of consideration?

Not only the face, but also the attitude, the gaze, the surrounding and the clothes provides information of somebody. Who are we looking at? What did this person achieve? Where does he or she live? What do they work? A portrait always questions the social, historical and symbolic context. The viewer searches for answers in the picture. At the same time it reminds him of his own transience and of the limitation of life. In the worldwide museums are hanging pictures of nameless portraits. Nobody knows who he or she is. Their identity is lost, but their picture remains.

Probably this is why myspace.com and facebook.com are so successful. One wants to catch attention. So he or she will not be forgotten. The democratization of new media makes it possible that nearly everybody is able to picture him or others. Everybody turns into a paparazzi and can be „shot“ as well. The digital flood of pictures is shown in these networks. Often people present themselves as they loved to be seen – with friends, fit bodies, on holidays in exotic countries or on a hot party. These pictures reflect the hedonism of our time. This is not about an inner state but rather about representation. In former times only the elite could afford a portrait. But also kings, emperors and Christian leaders wanted their ideal image, if they charged painters to hold down their countenance for the posterity. Nowadays as well in the past one wish seems to unify everybody – to be memorized. The aim of this exhibition is to show the struggle of the individual against oblivion.