NYAB Event - Brian Leo "I Hear The Droning"

Brian Leo "I Hear The Droning"

David Kesting Presents

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In a new collection of paintings, I Hear The Droning, Brian Leo creates a symbolic language based on pop culture imagery contrasted with post ironic wit, executed in a day glow palette of color. The grouping of paintings are exhibited en masse to create a tension similar to a barrage of television channels, non stop news cycles, text messaging, tabloid culture and internet pornography.

Since showing in NYC in early 2000, Brian has always attempted to push the boundaries as to what the content of a painting could/should be. Subject matters range from poignant to bizarre, and ridiculous to precious. Brian’s paintings have always meditated on personal events and social issues. His shows defy singular themes, yet rather reflect his contemplative attempt to understand globalization and humanity. 2013, marks Brian Leo’s debut solo show in Bushwick, a new hotbed for avant garde thought and art.

Born in 1976 in a NYC suburb, Leo recalls the A.I.D.S epidemic in the 80′s when people were unsure of how the disease had been transmitted and spread. The panic and fear spread from distorted, unknown facts by the media and the artist’s respective age at the time proved to form a traumatic existence. Health education classes during freshman year of high school reinforced the importance of wearing protection, all of which is depicted in Brian’s recent work, Jimmy.

In a similar play on ignorance, 9-11 Droning, mixed media on canvas 2013, the Bush era war atrocities of collateral damage from drone strikes, are depicted as absurdist propaganda. Propoganda that mirrors Fox News’ recontextualized clips of Muslims dancing in the streets to the supposed Osama Bin Laden triumphs on the actual morning of Sept.11th, 2001. In, 9-11 Droning, the artist feels that remote controlled airplanes being part of the 9-11 tragedy are as equally hilarious and dadaesque as to the notion of Osama Bin Laden, being the sole mastermind of 9-11.

As part of the showcase, Brian Leo will reshape a 100 square foot back room of the gallery into a replica of his studio. The creation will be akin to Calus Oldenburg’s The Store, 1961, Warhol’s The American Super Market, 1964, Keith Harring’s Pop Shop 1986-2005, and Dieter Roth’s recent studio installation, Diether Roth. Bjorn Roth at Hauser & Wirth.

Brian Leo’s studio installation at DAVID KESTING PRESENTS: will show the intimacies of the artists space in a public setting. The slew of source materials, tables stacked with canvases & paint jars and the constant repeat of Django playing in the corner will give the gallery visitor private insight to the creation process of the artist.