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From Pure Evil to ‘kawaii’: Four solo art exhibitions in one place
A dripping blot of black under one of Marilyn Monroe’s eyes, as if she’s expressing deep sorrow, and a delicious-looking human skull decorated with strawberries and chocolate ice cream steal the attention at four solo exhibitions held at Art:1 in Jakarta.
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Pure Evil's 'I Dream of Mega Marilyn'. (JP/Josa Lukman)
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epictions of the human body coexist in harmony with vibrant colors and organic curvatures juxtaposed with bold swatches of vividness. The subjects' facial expressions are obscured, yet their bodies are as expressive as the brightest smile.
These paintings are part of English artist Noël St. John Harnden’s latest solo exhibition, "Transformation: Through the Veil", held at Art:1 gallery in Central Jakarta.
The Brooklyn-based Harnden said the concept behind the series of paintings was about “bright colors, form and line”.
“With it being in Indonesia, I thought about using very bright, vivid colors, and sort of combining that with the linear form of the body while also trying to create an interaction between the figure and the background,” he told The Jakarta Post.
Harnden, who received his Bachelor’s degree in fashion design/illustration from the Kingston School of Fashion, said he is experimenting with the meaning of having three-dimensional forms, as well as the difference between the body and the environment.
“I like to juxtapose those and use a lot of colors to really sell the idea of brightness and energy. In a country like Indonesia – where there’s a lot of energy, people and vibrancy – I try to bring my interpretation of that through color and line.”
