Is the art world like an ocean? According to Los Angeles artist Alex Israel, it could be. Opening May 24 at Gagosian Hong Kong, Israel is showing “New Waves” an exhibition of new paintings where emoji-like waves fill the artist’s trademark pastel canvases. This exhibition also coincides with the launch of his unisex apparel brand “Infrathin,” which will be set up in Gagosian’s lobby. “I’m not really a surfer but I often think about my approach as related to surfing: I’m on a wave, and I either go with it or I don’t,” said Israel. “In some ways, I find it interesting to let myself go with it, to see where it goes and to see how it works. Maybe that gives me the energy or the fuel to be able to carve into it, or to do tricks on it, or to change things up without fighting it.”
Text by Nadja Sayej
Photos via gagosian.com, alejandradeargos.com
Text by Nadja Sayej
Photos via gagosian.com, alejandradeargos.com
