Inspiration behind the exhibition: Before I started this series called “Trapped” one of the returning subjects that always inspires me is contradiction. Two opposites that create an interesting tension.
I wanted to show two worlds in one piece. I came up with some ideas to get it done but all too complex.
While writing down some ideas about the fake world that surrounds us I tried to literally wrap a cartoon version around the real version. And link it to daily life where people are comfortable with wearing a mask so we don’t have to show who we really are. Interesting how for example we worship cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse but when we see a real mouse we jump on our chair and start screaming.
From there the Trapped series was born. For me it came at the right moment as I was always telling one story in one painting, and then immediately move on to the next which was always pretty exhausting and I found I got a bit tired of constantly digging into all the things that somehow frustrated me to come up with new concepts
So for now it’s quite enjoyable to focus on this theme and slowly develop new ideas
Inspiration behind the exhibition: Ever since I was a child I was very interested in the apocalypse, sci-fi, comics, and those kinds of things. In the last couple of years, I started getting into cinematography and trying to understand films a little bit more visually. So when I wanted to start changing the kind of work I was doing, transitioning from graffiti characters to more of a realistic body of work, I decided to use my love of film and my love of apocalyptic storytelling as inspiration. Then once the pandemic hit, I feel my work took much of a darker turn as far as the apocalyptic scenery. Like the classic line goes “does art imitates life?” here, life imitates art.
Inspiration behind the exhibition: I’ve always been obsessed with birds in places that they don’t belong. There’s something that gives me great joy about a bird flying around in a bus station or airport. One night I had a dream that I was waiting for a plane and was literally a part of the flock. That’s when I decided to do a huge amount of birds.
The project itself has two meanings. On a personal level it’s about growth and development. Like many people in this world, I’ve had my struggles. I ran from those struggles with alcohol as my running mate and eventually became a person I didn’t even recognize. Through getting sober I have learned that what’s important is me, and my mental health. The idea of using many birds to create one image is a metaphor for all of the little things that need to be in place to have a life worth living, to be the best version of yourself that you can be.
The broader meaning for this project is about finding common ground amongst each other in society. Far too often we are divided by our differences. We have all of the little subsets of society fighting with their opposing subset over the little details and they miss the big picture, that we’re all just pawns in this game and actually have very little control over anything. I believe if we put our egos aside, focus on our similarities rather than our differences, we will be able to come together as a human race to solve the problems that face us and future generations.
Information on visiting Thinkspace Projects
We are offering timed visits each Saturday during the remaining run of our December exhibitions. Appointments can be scheduled by visiting the following link: https://thinkspaceprojects.setmore.com/
Please note that masks will be required at all times and social distancing enforced. There are no exceptions, as we want to assure the health and safety of our staff and patrons.
Video courtesy of Birdman
NEW LOCATION: 4217 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016
Dutch artist Stefan Thelen, better known by his moniker Super A, creates hyperreal murals and studio paintings that explore the world of human contradiction. Through the combination of realistic and surreal imagery, Super A is often dealing in visual metaphor and social messaging, questioning the ideologies and cultural myths we’ve become too complacent at accepting without critique. Interested in the interrogation of objectivity and its ultimate exposure as a construct, Super A combines elements of realism with the free reign of fiction to produce unexpected results.
Apostasy is Thinkspace’s third solo presentation of Super A’s work. His well-established alias is a creative alter identity created to explore more contentious and difficult subject matter as a muralist in the public sphere. His most recent body of works strips cartoon, fairytale, or pop cultural archetypes of their fantasy and veneer, revealing the realistic or historical counterparts beneath them. An apt commentary on the dissimulation of popular cultural mythology, Super A deconstructs its theater.
Super A is a mystery that leans on the art doing most of the talking for Stefan Thelen, taking the viewer into a wonderland walking down a yellow brick road in which Thelen’s figurative and modern surrealist compositions are providing playful puzzles to decipher.
“The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing” Examining the excess of Art Basel Miami week and the Art World at large
December 1 – December 30 Virtual exhibition at Thinkspace / extension of our booth with SCOPE Immersive II
Excited for our upcoming special exhibition inspired by the quote “There are a lot of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing” from well known collector Stefan Edlis (paraphrasing a famous quote from Oscar Wilde).
This December, in lieau of our annual pilgrimage to Art Basel week in Miami, we present close to 100 artists all sharing their unique take on the art world at large. Ranging from remixes of popular contemporary works of art to harsh critiques on auction houses and the art of the flip.
We will share a video walk through of the works via our social networks on Tuesday, December 1 along with a link to a viewing room for the exhibition. All works are 12×12 inches / 30×30 cm.
Whitman Lindstrom
Featuring works from: Adam Caldwell Ador AKACORLEONE Alex Garant Allison Bamcat Alvaro Naddeo Alyse Firefly Amanda Seckington Anthony Hurd Anthony Solano Ashley Macias Atomik Boffo Brad Woodfin Brian Mashburn Bruce Parker Bryan Valenzuela Carl Cashman Cassandra Loomis Kim Celeste Madrigal Charles V. Bennett Charlie Edmiston Chirrete Golden Chloe Becky Clare Toms Cody Jimenez Danielle Schlunegger-Warner Darcy Yates Dave Benz David Cooley David Mueller David Puck Derek Gores Dja Louz Dovie Golden Dragon76 Eduardo F. Angel Emma Carascon Erica Rose Levine Erich J. Moffitt Frank Gonzales Ghost Beard Goopmassta Gustavo Rimada Hola Lou Huntz Liu Ian Robertson Jack Soren Jacob Hicks Jaime Molina Jeff Ejan Jesus Aguado Jesus Aguado Jimmer Willmott Joshua Barrigada Kaplan Bunce Kar Part Kate Wadsworth Kelly Vicanco Ken Flewellyn Kim Sielbeck Kolten French KOZ DOS Lauren Hana Chai Leegan Koo Leiv Fagereng Lhean Stor Loo-cee-us Lori Herbst Mando Marie Manuel Zamudio McKenzie Fisk Michelle Hoogveld M.K. Komins Molly Gruninger Mwanel Pierre-Louis Nicola Caredda Nuri Patch Whisky Rachel Strum Ricky Watts Roos van der Vliet Scott Listfield Sean Banister Sean Hannaway Sentrock Spencer Crossland Spenser Little Steeven Salvat Stephanie Buer Stom500 Tati Holt TMRWLND Waylon Horner Whitman Lindstrom Wiley Wallace Wooden Wave Young Ji Cha Yu Maeda