A Distant Closeness
·A·Distant·Closeness·
November 10th to January 6th at The Fridge
ANTOINE WAGNER
(New York, NY) – The Fridge is delighted to announce the exhibition ·A·DISTANT·CLOSENESS·, showcasing a collection of new paintings by the artist Antoine Wagner. The show will be available for public viewing at 31 Great Jones Street, 3rd floor, from November 10th to December 13th, 2023, marking Wagner's inaugural exhibition with the gallery.
Antoine Wagner's series of paintings draw their primary inspiration from the enduring power of nature, a recurrent theme that has consistently influenced his artistic journey.
Wagner's compositions don't merely unveil landscapes; they subtly hint at the ambiance of forests and the intricate tapestry woven by nature. Each piece exudes a remarkable meditative quality and a powerful, almost tangible energy. This is evident in the textured elements of his work, from the way he captures the essence of a landscape to the meticulous stained lines he employs.
His renderings are seamlessly aligned with his two-decade practice of photography. In this series, Wagner employs acrylics, sand, earth and ashes directly onto canvases. The outcome is a series of forms that possess a fossilized quality, as though they are inherently woven into the very fabric of the artwork.
Wagner's artistic vision is defined by a profound emphasis on silence, tranquility, and strength. His paintings suggest anthropomorphic motifs, featuring elements that span from the human form to the organic world— roots, foliage, trees, mountains, and waterways—all cleverly concealed within the textured colors of his creations.
Accompanying these artworks is a limited edition, artist-handcrafted book that delves into the enchanting world of Yakushima Island, Japan.
Artist Statement
In this new body of work, I wanted to explore past memories of the trees, forests and landscapes I have encountered in my life. The aim is to understand how these natural elements have etched themselves into my memory and then project this imprint onto the canvas, much like light on a film captured in silver gelatin.
Looking into the non-reproductive side of the medium of painting i wanted to use repetition in the color palette, the lines, the texture and the intent so the abstract rendition gradually coalesce into a pattern that evokes a musical rhythm.
ABOUT ANTOINE WAGNER
Antoine Wagner is a French-American contemporary artist and film director who works in the fields of sculpture, paintings, drawings, film, performance, photography, sound and installation. His work explores the connectivity between nature, geography, mythology and the sublime as well as themes of resurrection and identity. The institutions that have presented the artist’s work include The Tiroler Festispiele Erl, Austria (2022), Les Archives Nationales, Paris, France ( Nuit Blanche 2021), The National Gallery of Armenia (2019), The New World Center Miami, Florida, USA (2018), The Goethe Institute Tokyo, Japan, (2018), The Deck Museum, Singapore (2018) ,The Voelkerkunde Museum Hamburg, Germany (2014-15), the Collection Lambert en Avignon, France (2014), The Theater of St Gallen Switzerland (2013) and The Palazzo Vendramin Venice, Italy (2013).
Wagner received a bachelor of Arts (2005) in Theater from Northwestern University and a joint Bachelor of Science in Political science (2005) from Northwestern University and Sciences Po Paris. After a continuing studies program at NYU Tisch (2007) Wagner assisted palme d’or winner Michael Haneke. The artist has completed two residency programs: Bob Wilson at the Watermill Foundation in NY (2005) and the summer program at the Villa Medici Rome, Italy (2014). Wagner is the prize winner of the Prix Lyrique Pierre Berge (2013) for his publication with the Verlag for Moderne Kunst Wagner in der Schweiz.
Wagner’s most recent work, the Impossible Forest, is a collaborative platform raising awareness for land preservation through Art.