 Peter Hendrick DEFENSE! Schroeder Romero is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Peter Hendrick. For this exhibition Hendrick presents an installation entitled "Homeland" in the main gallery along with the related works, "Fear Factor" and the "Offensive" paintings, in the adjoining space. "Homeland" is a composed of eight homogenous totemic forms. Each form, with it's own picket fence and personal cleansing space, stand in resolute defiance like isolated sentinels. Here Hendrick continues his exploration of the "American Dream" from a previous photographic series, shadows of the american dream. This time however it explores the current dilemma of whether or not the dream has been so distorted as to have become our greatest nightmare. The belief that sheer might, scale and "purity" can defend against "evil" seems omnipresent. With this work Hendrick suggests that this, in combination with the obsession of insulating ourselves from perceived danger, may actually leave us both as individuals and communities more isolated and vulnerable. "Fear Factor", a light sculpture, considers the applicability of using color to code perceived danger. The now ubiquitous security alert color code that is being used to translate perceived threats transpires to be more of a barometer through which fear is modulated rather than threat measured. The "Offensive" paintings (I, II & III) consist simply of the word "Homeland" using a font that is typographically informed by that used for the Hummer (which, prior to it's current celebrity status, was originally developed in the United States as a military reconnaissance vehicle). Hendrick considers how "Homeland" is being construed as the 21st century's secular answer to religion, the defense of which can be used to justify all actions. Each painting takes it's own color and form, from the classic military green camouflage to battleship grey and finally, the optically challenging "Offensive III", whose vivacious and lively colors belie the fear-ridden core from which it takes its palette (the Homeland Security Alert System). Peter Hendrick is an Irish-born artist living and working in New York City. He completed his undergraduate studies in Sculpture at London's Chelsea School of Art and subsequently received an MFA from Hunter College in New York City. He has exhibited widely both in the United States and in Europe. His work has been reviewed in publications such as Le Monde, the Boston Globe and the Irish Times. His first solo show with Schroeder Romero was in September 2001. Exhibition: March 26 - May 3, 2004 Gallery hours: Fri-Mon, 12 - 6 pm and by appointment Schroeder Romero Gallery 173A North 3rd St USA-Williamsburg, Brooklyn Telephone +1 718 486-8992 Email lisa@schroederromero.com www.schroederromero.com |
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