Gagosian, Hong Kong are hosting a riveting solo exhibition from Boston born, Los Angeles based artist Jonas Wood for the first time in this thrilling collection of complex and contrasting colour and shape. The exhibition will be available to visit for 2 months until January 15, 2022. Comprising of ten paintings and two sets of drawings, Wood presents the variety of works he has developed over the 2020 lockdown period. He continues with the theme of plants that have always played such an important role in his work and which continue to define his style of abstraction and life, blurring the lines of reality and fantasy.
The influence of pop art on Wood’s works are instantly recognisable, especially when considering his bold use of colour. Drawing inspiration from artists such as David Hockney, and as a reflection of Woods fascination with natural life and plants (from the natural foliage of California to the house plants in his studio) in these works, Wood wanted to explore contrast through colour, by experimenting with bright plant depictions on black backgrounds. The result is a fascinating insight into the artists perception of the relationship between art and life, and similarly, seems to conjure up emotions relating to the contrast of death and life, too.
Using materials including plant specimens and other life sources, as well as magazine cutouts, this stark contrast further encourages the dichotomy within the work; an impressive and striking commentary made with precision, which invites us into his lockdown mind.
Using materials including plant specimens and other life sources, as well as magazine cutouts, this stark contrast further encourages the dichotomy within the work; an impressive and striking commentary made with precision, which invites us into his lockdown mind.
Jonas Woods's exhibition is now on view at Gagosian in Hong Kong until January 2022.
Jonas Wood - Bananas, 2021
Jonas Wood - Bball Orchid with Dots #2, 2021
Jonas Wood - Black Monstera Still Life, 2021
Jonas Wood - Purple Dog-Faced Orchid, 2021
