The David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a collection of work by Marcel Dzama and Raymond Pettibon for an exhibition titled Forgetting the Hand. Dzama and Pettibon began collaboration last summer when Dzama would begin work on some drawings that Pettibon would complete and vice versa. By doing this, they developed each other’s compositions through various illustrations, collages, and writing.
The artists explore notions of desire and temptation with works such as The Circle of the Lustful and Try it, You’ll Like It. In The Circle of the Lustful, a pair of hands is seen coming from the side trying to lure a man who appears miniscule as he descends near the bottom of a swirling vortex, with a red rose toward the top following behind. The hot yellow, orange, crimson, and gold colors featured in Try it, You’ll Like It, truly capture the painting’s sinister and dangerous essence. In the piece, a trio of attractive women (a blonde, redhead, and brunette) are seen standing together emerging from smoke and flames as an arm can be seen coming from the left side of the image balancing a small cube on his finger resembling a piece of cheese.
 |
|
Still from A Flower of Evil (2015) by Marcel Dzama
|
Dzama also presents a short film called A Flower of Evil featuring himself and Amy Sedaris as well as actors wearing costumes by Dzama in the form of red fabric and white polka dots worn over their heads and going down to their waist. Installations of figures that are similar to the film’s characters can be seen hanging from the corners of the walls. Their faces made from yarn that are half gray and half red, wearing a black cape with polka dots.
Marcel Dzama was born in Winnipeg, Canada and studied at the University of Manitoba where he received his B.F.A. His work has been featured in numerous museums and galleries across the country and around the world. Dzama also designed the costumes and stage design for a production of The Most Incredible Thing based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale that will make its debut at the New York City Ballet in February.
Raymond Pettibon was born in Tucson and based in New York. He earned a graduate degree in economics from the University of California in 1977 before joining his brother in the punk band Black Flag contributing artwork for their album covers, flyers, and t-shirts, as well as for their label, SST Records. His work has been widely exhibited nationally and internationally.
At David Zwirner, 533 W. 19th St., through Feb. 20. The gallery is open Tue.-Sat. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
