NYAB Event - D. Dominick Lombardi "Toyota vs Godzilla"

D. Dominick Lombardi "Toyota vs Godzilla"

ArtLexis

This event has ended.

The Paintings: (Tattooed Tokyo Series):

While visiting Tokyo and Seoul last spring, I was immediately struck by how differently and overtly most things were advertised, promoted or just plain experienced. Cute figures, cartoony characters and the obvious popularity of the graphic novel for all ages left its lasting impression. I was also impressed by the overwhelming sense of tradition, and the lack of the younger generations of men to form what we here in the U.S, would think of as normal relations between the sexes. A fact made abundantly clear in the film, novel, comic book and TV series "Train Man," where a 23 year old, male Japanese geek (otaku) finds it extremely difficult to communicate with his dream girl despite the advice of many internet buddies.

For this new series of Graffoo paintings, which combines the destructive/creative approach of graffiti with a tattoo design esthetic, I placed two characters in a series of situations and settings within the streets, restaurants and homes of Tokyo to form a narrative. This narrative for me, is the best way to work through and re-experience the many things I learned and felt while in Tokyo, without loosing my own personal esthetic.

The Sculptures:

Urchins, scamps, rascals, little boys that make mischief are common to all cultures and eras. As the subject of these sculptures, they represent my, and our growing concern for the current state of the world, most notably how the poor economy will effect our children's future.

The Urchin sculptures are composed mostly of sand and acrylic medium, built on an armature of recycled objects which continues my 20+ year obsession with reusing discarded materials as part of the art making process. The placement of the Urchins on books magnifies the narrative aspect of this mischievous subject - a character common to novels and poetry - while the use of recycled objects brings to the fore, the importance of making the most of preexistent resources.

In addition, the sculptures are purposely placed on pedestals which are much lower than what you would normally expect to find in an art gallery. I do this for the express purpose of eliciting sympathy and concern from the viewer based on the sculptures increased vulnerability, which I hope translates into greater sympathy for what the sculptures represent - the expansion of poverty in our towns and cities, and our world.

The Digital Prints:

For this show, I was asked by the gallery's director Alex Rader to submit a number of designs for limited editions. In doing this, I was once again faced with my impressions of the otaku culture, while maintaining a link with my own esthetic and design concerns.

-D. Dominick Lombardi

Media

• Painting
• Sculpture

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