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When photography was invented, painting had to reinvent itself because it no longer served the purpose of depicting reality — a more precise machine could do it now. However, artists quickly started experimenting with this new medium too. And even though it’s still thought of as one of the most reliable sources of ‘truth’ in today’s world, we know it isn’t. Artist Paco Pomet is also aware of this, which is why he appropriates ‘trustworthy’ images and intervenes them in an effort to tell the audience how easy it is to manipulate visual media. In his new solo show at Munich’s König Galerie, he accomplishes that through fourteen canvases.
The Spanish artist has been building an oeuvre based on satire, deception, and appropriation. A painter by heart, he recreates photographs in his canvases, only to twist them in a grotesque yet humorous way. Committed to dethroning the visual as a the ruler of truth, the iconoclast artist uses his work with a clear intention: don’t believe everything that you see. And in a world plagued with AI-generated images, filters, and deepfake technology, it’s a message we must listen and take seriously into account.
On view through March 30th, Brand New Pristine Turmoils has a laugh at contemporary history by adding Mickey Mouse-esque hands-gloves to historical figures, ultra oversized derby shoes on a runner’s feet, elongating arms and legs, or even swapping them from top to bottom (and vice versa). The human-like creatures, who could exist in movies but not in reality, but still reminiscent of our grandparents’ photo albums, make us reflect on the possibilities of visual manipulation.
The exhibition Brand New Pristine Turmoils by Paco Pomet is on view through March 30th at König Bergson, Am Bergson Kunstkraftwerk 2, 81245 Munich, Germany.
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