"Walt Disney is Dead, David Hockney is Not."
In December 1937, the world was introduced to Walt Disney's cinematic masterpiece, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. That same year in July, the world also welcomed David Hockney, a seminal force behind the 1960s Pop Art movement. By the time of Walt Disney's passing in 1966, Hockney had already had his first solo exhibition at the Kasmin Gallery in 1963. It's conceivable that Disney never knew of Hockney, though the reverse is unlikely. Today, Walt Disney's legacy is fortified with a record 22 Oscars out of 59 nominations, while David Hockney shares the spotlight with Jeff Koons as the world's most prized living artists. Such is the essence of pop: vibrant, iconic, timeless.
Pop art, at its core, resonates deeply. It becomes etched into our collective consciousness, shaping an iconography that feels personal and universal all at once. As these images seep into our memories, they define moments, eras, even entire generations. Disney's wide-reaching influence undeniably outpaces Hockney's in the mainstream, yet in the realm of contemporary art, it's figures like Hockney and other artists, such as Manuel León Moreno, Juan Díaz-Faes, Jaime Urdiales, Ramón Muñoz, Fernando Tinoco, and Amit, who hold their ground.
Perhaps the Pop Art explosion can be traced back to a collective fatigue, an emotional aftermath of enduring two World Wars and then re-living them through art and discourse. Pop art, with its inviting, colorful, and sometimes seemingly superficial facade, offered an escape. Yet, when juxtaposed against today's postmodern world, where narratives are tinged with introspection and skepticism, the movement takes on a different hue. It becomes an exploration of "pathetism" - a term reminiscent of classic theater's melodramatic undertones.
Navigating the iconic pop imagery in today's context can feel both nostalgic and jarring. There's an inherent push-pull, a yearning to reconnect with bygone times while reinventing them for the present. This duality – a mix of nostalgia and aspiration – is palpably present in the works of the six artists mentioned. Their art speaks to a time where everything that glitters isn't necessarily gold, where realities are questioned in the age of post-truth.
As for the exhibition's curation, I make no pretense of being an expert. I've chosen these artists simply because they resonate with me, and there's a certain charm in seeing their diverse works converge, painting verses of a collective narrative.
Exhibiting Artists
Manuel Leon Moreno
Fernando Tinoco
Ramón Muñoz Mulero
Jaime Urdiales Fabián
Juan Díaz Faes
Amit Mendel
Curated by Ana Barriga
Exhibition Dates:
October 9-17, 2022 | 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
