 Untitled (Lot 050101), 2001 Oil on linen, 10 x 8" Donald Moffett Stephen Friedman Gallery is pleased to present "D.C.", a new series of paintings by American artist Donald Moffett. Moffett is particularly well known for his delicate and intensely controlled paintings. In his practice, Moffett has made autonomous abstract works and paintings with video projections that he calls "light loops". The result is a poetic mix of densely painted surfaces and deeply poignant imagery. For "D.C.", Moffett has made a new series of projection paintings. All of these paintings are layered with aluminium paint onto which images from Washington D.C. are projected. It is particularly apt for these works to be shown in London, where a complex and controversial political relationship exists between the United States and the United Kingdom. Moffett is fascinated by the palpable feeling of power, anxious security and fatigued tourism in Washington D.C. Similarly, he is drawn to the Brutalist and mundane architecture in the city such as the FBI building, Watergate building and other imposing monuments. Places visited by people during their leisure time such as the National Christmas Tree, a statue of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and an elephant rocking in its pen at the National Zoo are also scrutinised by Moffett. The viewer is urged to consider the narratives surrounding these man-made structures and situations. Political predicaments, moral codes and underlying prejudices are all implicit in Moffett's images. The result is an exhibition where formally arranged and heavily textured paintings are used to enhance and complicate ghostly, historical and monumental landmarks in Washington D.C. Donald Moffett has exhibited widely. His recent solo exhibitions include "The Extravagant Vein", Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York in 2003; "Donald Moffett: What Barbara Jordan Wore", Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago in 2002 and "Mr. Gay" in the USA, Anthony Meier Fine Arts, San Francisco in 2001. His recent group exhibitions include "Image Stream", Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, OH; "Site Specific", Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, in 2003 and "Life, Death, Love, Hate, Pleasure, Pain: Selected Works from the MCA Collection", Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, in 2002. In May 2004, Moffett will participate in Hidden Histories at The New Art Gallery, Walsall. Exhibition: 28 May - 17 July 2004 Gallery hours: Tue-Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 11am - 5pm Stephen Friedman Gallery 25-28 Old Burlington Street GB-London W1S 3AN Telephone +44 (0) 20 7494 1434 Fax +44 (0) 20 7494 1431 Email info@stephenfriedman.com www.stephenfriedman.com |
 |