Epiphytes

Dubai | 30/01/2012 to 29/02/2012

In ‘Epiphytes’, Moerman brings together a collection of works that introduces his intensely distinctive practice to the region. In the way that epiphytic plants grow on other plants, deriving basic support, but not nutrition, his delicate drawing seems to spread organically, virally, and obsessively in harmony with the image or object of which they are taking possession, and yet they grow from other sources of inspiration.

Compelled by the infinite possibilities of lines, plains and voids, Moerman has always granted himself the liberty to sprout up on almost anything. He has spread his billowing networks of black lines indiscriminately over walls, cars, stickers, robots, animals and human bodies, as well as contemporary images of international supermodels and sports stars, and reproductions of classical masterpieces. All these surfaces, in varying degrees, have lent themselves to inspiring and shaping his evolving vision.

On show are a collection of works that use Moerman's typically wide array of supports; the walls and windows of the gallery space become his canvas alongside objects such as baseball bats and aluminum boxes. In focus, eleven works on paper - based on orientalist paintings and iconic 'Top Model' photographs - find themselves reframed and regenerated by his complex circumvolutions: with the weighty heritage of Ingres’ Orientalist nudes and the iconic images of Kate Moss, Moerman draws parallels between the deification of the female form within a religious context and the feverishly secular worship of a 21st century icon. By wrapping the nudes in these black veils of tattoos, articulated through investigations of graffiti and tribal patterning, Moerman alludes to the idea of censorship; honest Orientalist nudes become provocative and intriguing once partially concealed beneath his calligraphic webs.

Jean-Luc Moerman (b. 1967) lives and works in Brussels. Since his first solo show in Germany at Galerie B.A. Mickan in 1995, Moerman has gone on to exhibit internationally in a wide spectrum of capacities. As well as his public space and façade projects, his works have featured in galleries, museums and private collections worldwide, including the Olbricht Collection, Berlin; La Maison Rouge, Paris; Musee D'Art Modern, Luxemburg; Musee d'Ixelles, Brussels; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Calais; MOCA, Shanghai; The Flag Art Foundation, NYC; and the Vanhaerents Collection, Brussels. Additionally notable is his solo project at Art Unlimited, Art Basel in 2005, his participation in a number of biennials, and retrospectives at BPS22, Belgium and Leu Gallery, Munich. In the last year alone he has had solo exhibitions in Brussels, Barcelona, Munich, Luxemburg, Korea and Venice and Dubai.

Please join us on Monday January 30th from 7.30 PM to preview Jean-Luc Moerman’s exhibition ‘Epiphytes’ in the presence of the artist.

Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde
Street 8, Al Serkal Av, 17
Al Quoz 1, Dubai, U.A.E.
+97 1 (0)4 323 5052
Info@ivde.net
www.ivde.net