NANZUKA is happy to current Soldier Of Fortune, a solo exhibition of recent works by American artist Todd James at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND. This exhibition, entitled Soldier of Fortune, marks the artist’s fourth solo presentation on the gallery, his first since his final present in Tokyo 4 years in the past.
Todd James is a celebrated New York artist from the technology following Jean-Michel Basquiat, Rammellzee, Lee Quinones and Kenny Scharf. A mode chief in a number of mediums over a interval of many years, James’ work has been acknowledged since his teenage years writing the moniker REAS. Inside the context of avenue pop, James has collaborated with artists similar to Kaws, Barry Mcgee, and Espo (Stephen Powers), in addition to creating business works in collaboration with Beastie Boys, Iggy Pop, Eminem, Pharrell Williams and different cultural icons, underscoring the super recognition of his work. James, together with Barry Mcgee and Espo, is a co-creator of Road Market, a significant work of the post-graffiti motion that debuted at Deitch Initiatives in New York Metropolis in 2000.
The Road Market set up depicted a whole New York Metropolis block, together with a completely stocked bodega and a automotive service. The clamoring city signage and graffiti was on a large, actual life scale. Road Market was proven on the US Pavilion on the Venice Biennale in 2001, and later traveled so far as the Parco Museum in Tokyo, giving rise to a worldwide sensation. A re-creation of Road Market was the central set up of the LA MOCA’s document breaking Artwork within the Road exhibition a decade later. In 2015, James’ work was as soon as once more featured on the Venice Biennale. In “The Bridges Of Graffiti,” one of many 2015 Biennale’s official exhibitions, James’ work Vandal’s Bed room was flaunted to nice acclaim, and the set up subsequently traveled to New York, London, Madrid, Copenhagen and Los Angeles. James continues to obtain growing worldwide consideration, in recent times rising as one of many main artists to participate in “Past the Streets,” a touring particular exhibition which embodies the rising world momentum of avenue artwork, presently opening in London.
This exhibition, Soldier of Fortune, is centered round a brand new bronze sculpture entitled “Pentagon Pile Up”. This work, which is James’ first large-scale sculptural work, integrates jet fighters and tanks (armored combating automobiles) which have misplaced their fight operate. The warfare machines have melted and fused collectively in a final gasp hoping to battle one other day. They’re deflated and exhausted, put out and squished like a Claus Oldenburg cigarette. This tank totem pole pile-up is a warning, maybe, of the psychological and bodily toll of warmongering. Born out of years of pumped up media warfare porn, “Pentagon Pile Up” serves as an incisive cartoon critique of the army industrial advanced.
The exhibition additionally showcases work depicting tanks and army themes which have appeared in James’ work for many years. In different work, psychedelic snipers in neon camouflage scout out on the frontier of actuality. With a latest return to spray paint on canvas, James unabashedly celebrates outdated mediums in a brand new context. Additionally included within the exhibition are a choice of small works on paper, and a limited-edition miniature work of “Pentagon Pile Up” may also be launched at NANZUKA On-line Retailer.