Andrian Ghenie "New paintings" Solo Exhibition

Text/Photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Dates: October 22 to November 21. Venue: Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery, Paris. Andrian Ghenie (born 1977 in Romania) is one of Europe's most representative painters of the new generation. Currently residing in Berlin, Germany, he was the representative artist for the Romanian Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale this year. His creative inspiration stems from the shadow of past totalitarian dictatorship under Nicolae Ceaușescu, interweaving contemporary internet videos and images reflecting art history into his paintings to present the collective consciousness of his generation. The artist states: "Painting the crystallization of history."

This new painting series began developing in 2010, originating from deconstructed collage combinations. Using various forms of self-portraits as the core of his creative development, his unique self-portraits mix historical iconic figures such as Van Gogh, Darwin, or monkeys to express emotion and consciousness. Through deformation and distortion, he deconstructs images, assimilating human facial combinations into a new imagery within an extraordinary landscape, sensibly presenting an expressive personal style characterized by texture, surface quality, and brushstrokes, bridging the figurative and abstract, emotion and consciousness. Social anthropologist and philosopher of science Bruno Latour affirms: "The true alternative to modernity is constructed assembly." Andrian Ghenie’s work questions the construction of history and the self after modernism and genocide, revealing humanity's unbearable visage.

Note: Press release for Andrian Ghenie "New paintings" solo exhibition.