Almine Rech Gallery: Javier Calleja Still on Time
art, exhibition
Almine Rech exhibition hall ground floor, Still on Time exhibition
Almine Rech, the renowned London-based gallery, has seamlessly adapted to the dynamic contemporary art landscape of today. With an astute curatorial approach, the gallery continues to showcase a diverse array of cutting-edge artists and innovative artworks that challenge conventions and engage with the pressing issues of our time. Embracing technology and digital platforms, Almine Rech fosters a global artistic dialogue, connecting artists and audiences across borders, while maintaining a tangible presence that fosters immersive and thought-provoking experiences.
In the captivating world of Javier Calleja's contemporary art, his expressionistic children with their pale pink cheeks hold profound complexity beneath their seemingly innocent façade. As the Spanish artist's works span paintings, drawings, sculptures, and installations, these characters possess an uncanny ability to evoke emotions and thoughts in the observer, subtly reflecting our place in the modern world. With poeticized quotidian scenes, they slyly mock the absurdities of our time, embracing the zeitgeist with a touch of irony.
In his latest exhibition, hosted at Centro Cultural Fundacion Unicaja in his native Malaga since March 2023, Javier Calleja unveils around twenty new paintings and drawings, offering a captivating glimpse into his ever-evolving pictorial universe. Brimming with both tenderness and casual rebelliousness, his signature characters, though still children or not quite teenagers, stand resilient in the face of life's challenges, donning giant, brightly colored eyes that exude a myriad of emotions – from complicity to disappointment, wonder to nihilism, and even combativeness.
The endearing figures harbor delusional hopes and desires, seemingly vulnerable yet resolute in their pursuit. Infused with wisdom and optimism, they invite the viewer to become an ideal accomplice in their journey. Their punchy, concise messages - "What to do now?", "No problem", "Same old story", "No step Back", or "This is your lucky day" - brim with panache, reminiscent of a child finding magic in the simplicity of a three-leaf clover, half-bewildered and half-delighted. Through the playful lens of Javier Calleja's art, these enigmatic children remind us to confront life with a blend of wonder, humor, and resilience, inviting us to rediscover the joy in the everyday.
✯✯✯
Yinka Shonibare returns to London with "Suspended States" at Serpentine South, his first solo institutional exhibition in over 20 years, featuring two major new works: Sanctuary City and War Library.