ALEXANDER KALETSKI
Red Carpet
30 October to 20 December 2014
On 30 October 2014, Mary Boone Gallery, in cooperation with Anna Zorina Gallery, will open at its Fifth Avenue location Red Carpet, an exhibition of works by ALEXANDER KALETSKI.
This new body of work captures the artist’s unique peripheral perspective on an American culture fueled by celebrities, fame and red carpet iconicity. Although riddled with underlying commentary, the work evades conceptual heavy handedness - a testament to Kaletski’s sly wit and refined artistry.
The artist’s formative years were spent in the Soviet Russia where red embodied authority. The color was used pervasively in propaganda to depict dictators with an aura of distinction and dominance. Bold red symbolized devotion to Communist ideology and nationalism. Constantly surrounded by slogans and flags, Kaletski grew bitter toward the ubiquitous color. Upon moving to America, the color took on a different meaning. Red no longer represented dictatorship, but instead symbolized entertainment, sexuality, fame and luxury.
With Red Carpet, Kaletski has produced a collection of paintings that not only are humorous, sophisticated and thought provoking, but also complex and culturally telling. Each painting begins with an abstract form created through the interaction of a drippy white background and the deep red path, creating a diminishing perspective. The resulting passageway is dually suggestive of a journey to nowhere and an entrance into a lifestyle of glamour and success.
After decades of living in New York, Kaletski no longer sees red as solely indicative of political sentiments, but more profoundly as a celebration of American optimism. The red carpet broadens the horizon and lures one to accomplish seemingly impossible goals. His new red emphasizes both the achievement of success as well as the contingencies of life on a pedestal.
The exhibition, at 745 Fifth Avenue, is on view through 20 December 2014 and will run concurrent with a show of the Artist’s work at Anna Zorina Gallery in Chelsea. For further information, please contact Ron Warren at the Gallery, or visit our website www.maryboonegallery.com.
