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Jason Bereswill "L’Appel du Vide"
MAKI
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Jason Bereswill
Maki Gallery is pleased to present New Jersey-based artist Jason Bereswill’s first solo exhibition in Japan, "L’Appel du Vide," at Omotesando, Tokyo. In this collection of 18 new paintings, Bereswill examines our relationship with the natural world through three subjects representative of his oeuvre—surfers, ivy, and canyons. Known for his vibrant landscape paintings, the artist captures the colors, light, and energy of the locations he paints. By encapsulating the spirit of the landscape, Bereswill’s work allows viewers to see the world through the artist’s distinct lens.
In Bereswill’s paintings, the emphasis on the landscape over human figuration gives one the sensation of being fully immersed in the greater presence of nature. The Grand Canyon paintings transport the viewer out onto location with the artist by faithfully depicting the grandeur of the geological site while capturing its emotional dimensions. The danger and angst felt in front of the seizing presence—or absence—of the vast emptiness between the billions of years of sedimentary rock formations are palpable. From the sweeping panoramic views of "The Colorado" to narrower scenic depictions like "Tree 1," Bereswill’s Canyon paintings shine a harsh light on the reality that nature is not necessarily friendly or safe. In his more recent works, lonesome figures look as though they are lost in inward contemplation, their minds wandering someplace miles away from the present. The small silhouettes of surfers surrounded by blazing light, although physically close to one another, seem isolated in the boundless sea of Bereswill’s Surf paintings. Vivid flashes that contrast with the darkness of water accurately depict the visual experience of looking into a bright light: a temporary blindness in which glimmering patterns disrupt one’s vision. The viewer feels as though they are standing on the shore themselves, looking out at the mesmerizing reflection of the sunlight on the ocean’s surface. Ideas of sight and blindness play significant roles in Bereswill’s work, and just as the Surf paintings eloquently relay the artist’s fascination with light, his Ivy paintings exemplify his keen eye for color. Inspired by Op Art, Bereswill explores the idea of color perspective through the ivies’ evergreen foliage. He creates depth using color and tone, implying movement while guiding the viewer’s eyes around the canvas. Bereswill frees ivy, widely used for hiding unsightly man-made structures such as walls and fences, from its decorative usage and projects it into the reality of movement and life.
The title of the show, "L’Appel du Vide," or “The Call of the Void,” refers to the sudden and often unanticipated urge to act spontaneously, such as jumping from a high place. Bereswill finds similarities between such morbid phenomena and the creative impulse. Whether highlighting the physical void in his Canyon paintings, the visual void in his Surf paintings or casting ivy out of the void of adornment, Bereswill employs nature as a device allowing viewers to consider the world anew.
In Bereswill’s paintings, the emphasis on the landscape over human figuration gives one the sensation of being fully immersed in the greater presence of nature. The Grand Canyon paintings transport the viewer out onto location with the artist by faithfully depicting the grandeur of the geological site while capturing its emotional dimensions. The danger and angst felt in front of the seizing presence—or absence—of the vast emptiness between the billions of years of sedimentary rock formations are palpable. From the sweeping panoramic views of "The Colorado" to narrower scenic depictions like "Tree 1," Bereswill’s Canyon paintings shine a harsh light on the reality that nature is not necessarily friendly or safe. In his more recent works, lonesome figures look as though they are lost in inward contemplation, their minds wandering someplace miles away from the present. The small silhouettes of surfers surrounded by blazing light, although physically close to one another, seem isolated in the boundless sea of Bereswill’s Surf paintings. Vivid flashes that contrast with the darkness of water accurately depict the visual experience of looking into a bright light: a temporary blindness in which glimmering patterns disrupt one’s vision. The viewer feels as though they are standing on the shore themselves, looking out at the mesmerizing reflection of the sunlight on the ocean’s surface. Ideas of sight and blindness play significant roles in Bereswill’s work, and just as the Surf paintings eloquently relay the artist’s fascination with light, his Ivy paintings exemplify his keen eye for color. Inspired by Op Art, Bereswill explores the idea of color perspective through the ivies’ evergreen foliage. He creates depth using color and tone, implying movement while guiding the viewer’s eyes around the canvas. Bereswill frees ivy, widely used for hiding unsightly man-made structures such as walls and fences, from its decorative usage and projects it into the reality of movement and life.
The title of the show, "L’Appel du Vide," or “The Call of the Void,” refers to the sudden and often unanticipated urge to act spontaneously, such as jumping from a high place. Bereswill finds similarities between such morbid phenomena and the creative impulse. Whether highlighting the physical void in his Canyon paintings, the visual void in his Surf paintings or casting ivy out of the void of adornment, Bereswill employs nature as a device allowing viewers to consider the world anew.
Schedule | Feb 4 (Sat) 2023-Mar 11 (Sat) 2023 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://www.makigallery.com/exhibitions_en/7854/ | ||||
| Venue | MAKI https://www.makigallery.com/ | ||||
| Location | 4-11-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 | ||||
| Access | 2 minute walk from exit A2 at Omotesando Station on the Ginza, Hanzomon and Chiyoda lines. 6 minute walk from exit 5 at Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines. | ||||
| Phone | 03-6434-7705 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it       |
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