Kelley Hensing “The Animal Within”

Last Rites Gallery

poster for Kelley Hensing “The Animal Within”

This event has ended.

Last Rites Gallery present “The Animal Within”, new work by Kelley Hensing, in what will be her first solo show at the gallery. “The Animal Within” will include 31 oil paintings and 5 drawings that weave together Hensing’s strong sense of narrative with thoughtfully imbued ingredients of myth and the supernatural. Many of these works serve as a commentary on the human condition at its most decisive moments and incorporate elements of irony, history and hyperboles of the past and present status quo. Through these experiences, one may encounter a blur between primal, or animal instincts and human constitutions of compassion and reason.

“The Animal Within” predominantly focuses on two major themes of exploration: the portrayal of women in visual culture and using the splendor and superfluous nature of the carnival as a mask to conceal injustices and excess. Hensing’s compositions that focus on female principals depict women during moments of strength and perseverance. Their animalistic instincts flourish as they become one with the natural world surrounding them, and with confidence and beauty, harness control over their environment or predicament. On the other hand, two paintings within this series feature male figures who serve as allegories for time and death.

The carnival touches on other animalistic tendencies commonly uninhibited in society, such as gluttony, greed and hebetude. Whether as a mask maker, candy man or organ grinder, these performers attract the local children and through temptation, bleed the children dry of their identities, innocence and sense of natural self. Another sense of performance can be seen in Death Comes to Tea as a group of Victorian women sit down to tea unbeknownst of the shrouded death figure amongst them. Hensing humorously paints the women with sheep eyes as she harks to an era of society in which women were submissive, often forced to remain oblivious and serve as performers amongst themselves and others.

All of Hensing’s paintings are thoughtfully framed to further echo her compositions. Her frames become part of the story and synchronize her affection for the old and antiquated with both aspects of modernity and the timelessness of her subjects. Kelley’s visual fables are laden with symbols, stereotypes, mysteries, eccentricities, echoes of life, death, animism and paradoxes. “The Animal Within” highlights the inner beast of humankind in both the light and dark and retells timeless tales through the artist’own heart and hand.

Media

Schedule

from November 22, 2014 to December 27, 2014

Opening Reception on 2014-11-22 from 19:00 to 23:00

Artist(s)

Kelley Hensing

  • Facebook

    Reviews

    All content on this site is © their respective owner(s).
    New York Art Beat (2008) - About - Contact - Privacy - Terms of Use