HONG KONG.- Over the Influence Hong Kong is presenting Something Old, Something New, an exhibition of still life paintings and sculptures by US-based artist Jonathan Edelhuber. Something Old, Something New, will be on view from 15 July to 27 August 2022. This is Edelhuber’s first presentation in Hong Kong, and his second with the gallery
For this exhibition, Edelhuber exclusively celebrates still life, in both subject matter and style, where the paintings and sculptures are painted very similarly to the isolated skulls or colorful faces that Edelhuber is widely recognized for. Entirely painted by hand, the color choices and physical application are in dialogue with Edelhuber’s oeuvre, while the focus of this series is centered around more themes of curation and art history.
The title of the exhibition Something Old, Something New refers in part to the still life itself being a new version of an old subject matter in painting. It also refers to the mix of elements within the still life, from historical to contemporary. Juxtaposing contemporaries like Dana Shutz with canonical artists like Pablo Picasso and Cy Twombly in Still Life with Sculpture of a Tired Man on Art Books, Edelhuber is visually crafting a narrative inclusive of all these artists all together, including the artist himself.
Edelhuber shares, “The still life in subject was timeless, but the curation of books and the object on top as a sculpture and reference to art history (whether it was from the past or a contemporary object) felt fresh. A lot of my still life paintings and sculptures incorporate a contemporary subject that acts almost like a bookmaker in time to signify my place in this timeline. Mixing art historical references with contemporary references, I was able to create something new. I also enjoy the connection to the artists I hold in high regard. This keeps things interesting for me as an artist and gives my work great meaning personally. It also keeps the curation within my work an exciting challenge”.
Edelhuber’s practice of painting and sculpting has always pointed towards the canon of art history and the artists that inhabit it. For the works in Something Old, Something New, the artist takes a direct approach to the physical and intellectual exploration he is interested in as “curator” by depicting his selection artists, objects, and literature.
The artist decadently weights each of the book stacks with a sculpture, highlighting the lesser known sculptural practice of Matisse, in Still Life with Matisse Bronze on Art Books, as well as important art historical writings, such as “Anne Monahan, Horace Pippin, American Modern.” Edelhuber is clever in his compositions, including an expansive range of artists geographically and stylistically; from color field and process-based artists like Stanley Whitney, dramatic figurative and social realist works of Tilo Baumgärtel, to Lee Lozano’s investigation of the body and gender issues, and Katherine Bernhardt’s expressive subjects of both consumer and pop culture.
Jonathan Edelhuber (b.1984) – Lives and Works in Clarksville, TN, USA. Working in mixed media, Jonathan Edelhuber’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures meld elements of the modernist motifs of Picasso and Matisse filtered through a pop sensibility borrowed from comics and cartoons. An Arkansas native, Edelhuber earned a B.F.A. with an emphasis on Graphic Design from Harding University. He has exhibited in Los Angeles, London, Berlin, New York, Nashville, and Hong Kong.
