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| Arkiv "Marvellous Dream (The Fallen Empire)", acrylic and ink on canvas, 2012 |
Indonesian artist Arkiv Vilmansa has new works on display at TAG in Los Angeles in a show titled "The Aftermath: A Journey to Wounderland". The former architecture graduate favours working in a style bound by sweeping calligraphic line work reminiscent of hotrod pinstriping, combined with fields of saturated colour. Within the paintings are his own dreamlike characters, imagined "species" of animals that inhabit the new ecosystem that might evolve from the aftermath of global warming. In "Wounderland" these cartoon-like animals display their plumage and fur in intense gradations of colour - in fact, they positively vibrate off the canvas. But all are offset by a new depth in Arkiv's work, a dark background insinuating the bleakness of environmental disaster.
Alongside the paintings at "The Aftermath" are Arkiv's figurines, limited edition prints, shirts, custom VANS shoes, skateboards, and a really neat tote bag, available for sale at the gallery (some stuff is on the
website too.)
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| Arkiv "Midnight Massacre (Spirituality Unfolds)", acrylic on canvas, 2012. |
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| Arkiv "Luminarium (Turquoise, Yellow, Magenta)", acrylic and ink on canvas, 2012. |
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| Acrylic paintings clockwise from left "Luminaire (Magenta)", "Conformity", "Force of Nature", "Black Flys (The Edge of the Deep Green Sea", "Rise of the Pigeon (Gravity Keeper)", 2012. In the window is "Libertine", fiberglass sculpture. |
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| Acrylic paintings from left "Midnight Massacre", "Automata (Battle for the Sun)", "Genomonic Paw", "Cast a Ribbon", 2012. |
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| Arkiv designed VANS prototypes with other goodies. |
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| Arkiv's "Sumo" vinyl figurine in the foreground with "Empire Strikes Back (A Certain Romance)", acrylic and ink on canvas, 2012. |
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| "Cast a Ribbon", detail. |
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| "Genomonic Paw", detail. |
Arkiv will continue to show throughout Asia for the rest of the year, but next year will hold his first European show in Paris at Seven Gallery. Follow him through his website,
www.arkivart.com
