Scemtovici & Benowitz Gallery opens on Friday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m., “Beaver 1 Plus 1 Plus 1”, a triple collaborative exhibition of contemporary art, marked by the curatorial vision of the visual artist Beaver.
With an intentional inconsistency, already specific to Beaver‘s versatile artistic style, “Beaver 1 Plus 1 Plus 1” proposes a juxtaposition of three unitary exhibitions: “Partly Cloudy“, “It’s nice to be terrible” and “Office graphics/ Wind in my pages“, together with his guests, visual artists Marian Codrea and Alexandru Claudiu Maxim, the other two members of the artistic group Pastila Roz.
The artistic expressions brought together in this collaboration make up the holy trinity of classical visual arts: painting, sculpture, and easel graphics, where individual narratives merge into a collective exploration of aesthetics, meaning, and human connection.
In the personal exhibition “Partly Cloudy“, Beaver presents a collection of paintings in which pareidolia becomes a tool for the assumed exploration of one’s psyche, on the border between sarcasm and cynicism. Clear clouds and backgrounds hide subversive symbolic messages, landscapes mirror emotional journeys and messages hidden in the shadows invite the viewer to examine the complexity of their existence as they find themselves entangled in landscapes that may mirror their emotional journeys. In this collection, Beaver also explores the sense of peace, in clouds painted with meticulous care that evokes awe, reminding us to stop, breathe and find solace in the simplicity of existence.
“It’s beautiful to be terrible” reveals the collaboration between Beaver and Marian Codrea, which defies conventional notions of beauty, entering the captivating world of the aesthetics of the ugly. Through the two classical mediums of painting and sculpture, artists explore dark corners of the human imagination, where the grotesque and the extraordinary intertwine. Beaver masterfully captures the complexity of the human form. His paintings challenge the viewer to confront the uncomfortable aspects of existence.
Each canvas becomes a portal to a realm where imperfections and flaws are transformed into captivating symbols of human cruelty and vulnerability.
In addition to the paintings, the sculptor Marian Codrea models with finesse and intention. The three-dimensional creations evoke an unsettling beauty, revealing a world where the monstrous and the wonderful coexist, inviting us to question our notions of normality. The exhibition celebrates the unsettling, reminding us that the ugly can be a source of fascination and deep introspection.
Beaver and Alexandru Claudiu Maxim’s exploration in the medium of graphics results in “Grafici pentru birou/Wind in my pages“, a dialogue between precision and spontaneity, control and chaos. The rhythmic harmony of Beaver’s graphic compositions converges with the unpredictable energy of Alex Maxim’s works. Through a unique process that involves tying a liner to the branches of a tree and abandoning it to the guiding hand of the wind, these works emerge as a result of a collaboration between the artist and nature itself.
The resulting compositions are marked by their unpredictable patterns, fluid lines, and a sense of vibrant energy that encapsulates the very essence of spontaneity and chance.
“Wind in my pages” invites viewers to witness the beauty that comes from relinquishing control and embracing the chaos inherent in our world.
This duo exhibition presents a dialogue between two strongly disparate styles. Beaver’s meticulous precision and Alexandru Claudiu Maxim’s organic chaos provoke a contemplation of nature, the relationship between intention and spontaneity, and the limitless possibilities that arise when contrasting elements find common ground.
Scemtovici & Benowitz is a young gallery, inaugurated in December 2022, with the mission of supporting the art scene and increasing the value of Romanian artists on the local and international market. The gallery operates with a defined and ambitious artistic program. Prior to the exhibition “BEAVER 1 Plus 1 Plus 1”, Scemtovici & Benowitz Gallery hosted the exhibitions “In Heaven and on Earth”, “HOURS…” and “Colors, Underwater Love”, all curated by Raluca-Ilaria Demetrescu.
The gallery space is spread over the two levels of a building located on rue Jean-Louis Calderon no. 34, built at the beginning of the 20th century, restored and adapted to host contemporary art and events dedicated to the creative sector.
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