Preview: THE KID – UNTIL THE QUIET COMES @ ART PARIS 2015
Self-educated Dutc
Marked by early experiences of bullying and violence, through the portraits and sculptures part of the exhibition ‘Until The Quiet Comes’, the young thought-provoking artist highlights the tragic story of society’s fallen archangels, a striking image of a lost generation finding itself at the limit between right and wrong, as both victim and perpetrator: “I guess this is what all my works have in common, despite their youth and beauty my subjects are doomed to fail like a flower is destined to fade, and my goal is to immortalize them in their defining moments, forever caught between innocence and corruption”.
Aiming to confront the audience with the realities of juvenile in justice and question the way society deals with its youth, THE KID takes inspiration from individual case researches of teenagers who have perpetrated or have been instrumental to criminal acts for which most of them have been condemned to life in prison without a chance of parole – there are 2750 minors currently serving a life sentence in the USA. The artist is also influenced by the visual language of Old European Masters’ religious portrayals – in particular the violence of Caravaggio or the dynamism of Bernini – as well as by the social relevance of Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Banksy or Larry Clark and of the American counter-culture filmmaking in general.
The artist is not another one to blame and convict his subjects, but rather believes their actions to be a result of different social conditions and the lack of equal chances. In his vision, society simply assumes the power and authority to annihilate the future of children and the young generation (as many are incarcerated before the age of 18), without even considering offering a way back, a case of irreparable stigmatization haunting them for the rest of their fragile lives as their tattoos forever mark their skin. A product of society though despised by their own creator and no longer accepted as our own, the hated ones are remorselessly abandoned behind bars, always subject of the past and never of the present.
THE KID is a committed supporter of the International Non Governmental Organization Human Rights Watch, which defends Human Rights worldwide, in particular for its fight against any form of social or racial discrimination and inhumane justice or carceral system.
Preview: THE KID – UNTIL THE QUIET COMES
Portrait of a New Lost Generation.
ART PARIS 2015 – GRAND PALAIS
ALB Gallery (Space A19)
March 25th-29th, 2015 Opening Wednesday 25th, 8-10 pm
‘Then I Saw A New Heaven And A New Earth, For The Old Ones Had Passed Away’
2014-2015, Bic biro, L298 x H182 x P6 cm
‘Let He Who Has Understanding Calculate The Number Of The Beast, For This Number Is That Of A Man’
2014-2015, Bic biro, L240 x H182 x P6 cm
‘As Water Reflects The Face, So One’s Life Reflects The Heart’
2014-2015, Bic biro, L182 x H182 x P6 cm
‘Blessed Is The Lamb Whose Blood Flows’
2014-2015, sculpture in silicone and various materials, L160 x H197 x P90 cm
Previous works
‘Bryan & David’
Bic blue ballpoint pen on paper, 2013, H 175 x L 275 x P 6 cm / Private Collection, United Kingdom
‘Dylan’
Bic blue ballpoint pen on paper, 2013, H 265 x L 195 x P 6 cm / Private Collection, Switzerland
‘Endgame number III’
Bic blue ballpoint pen on paper, 2013, H 52 x L 72 x P 6 cm / Private collection, France
‘Eva’
Bic blue ballpoint pen on paper, 2014, H 212 x L 167 x P 6 cm / Private Collection, France
Revealed during ART PARIS Exhibition at LE GRAND PALAIS Museum
‘Ralph’
Bic blue ballpoint pen on paper, 2013, H 185 cm x L 135 x P 6 cm / Private collection, Switzerland
‘Do You Believe in God?’
Silicon, fiberglass, stainless steel, human hair, oil paint, various materials, 2013/ H 105 x L 84 x P 56 cm / Private collection, United States of America
‘Too Young to Die?’
Vinyl, mohair, oil paint, stainless steel, plexiglass, plastic, cotton, various materials, 2013, H 139 x L 115 x P 60 cm
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All images © THE KID