Trey Reed
dal 21/12/2006 al 30/12/2006
Segnalato da
21/12/2006
Trey Reed
Broadway Gallery, New York
Disposable Life. Although his technique is derived from gestural abstraction, the tactile layers of paint have a quality of lyrical subjectivity and a sensuality of expression that suggests a methodical approach.
Disposable Life
Recalling the romantic notion of the hard life of an artist, Trey Reed’s work is self-proclaimed therapy within a journey of self discovery. Like most, Reed’s biography is complex and, through the exploration of a personal narrative, he questions the greater meaning of life.
Although his technique is derived from gestural abstraction, the tactile layers of paint have a quality of lyrical subjectivity and a sensuality of expression that suggests a methodical approach—in each brush stroke there is dynamism of process. Even works that appear to be monochromatic consist of several variants of one hue, creating a fluctuation of color and texture across a single canvas.
Organic forms make up abstractions that reference both the expansiveness of a universe and the intricacy of biological make up. As if a galactical snapshot, the viewer is drawn into the minute details within a sublime expansiveness. The duality of micro- and macroscopic perceptions evoke feelings of the sublime and also serve as an invitation to contemplate the cause and effect of nature, and of life’s decision-making.
Like the very nature of the human psyche, the works are made up of numerous layers—some stronger than others, but each treated with equal importance. His abstractions often have a focused point from which energetic movement is generated and the swirling of units around this point creates a visual entry into the work. The application of color intensifies the sense of movement and creates an effect that constantly invites and expels the viewer from the picture field. Likened to metrological graphs, the forms suggest turbulent disturbance. The combination of color and the energy of form reveal a shifting sense of emotion.
The physicality of the painting process is emphasized by the fluidity of the mark making. The sometimes frenetic nature of the marks invite the viewer to visualize the bodily movements used in his practice, aligning Reed’s process with that of abstract expressionism. The presence of the artist and creator are thus indelibly present in the work.
For Reed, the magic is in the making. His process is one of meditation through which he finds a kind of mental fortitude that others discover in gardening or relaxing at the beach. His contemplative approach constantly contextualizes and explores varied personal experiences. The intensity of emotional energy is drawn from a rawness available only to the creator’s consciousness and, whilst referring to the unique experience of the artist, it represents a collective, existential pursuit into the meaning of existence.
Broadway Gallery
473 Broadway - New York
Free admission