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Brandon Vargas: Predators Pray Opening Reception

April 6, 2023 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Open April 6 – May 7.

Art Gym Gallery is excited to present, “Predators Pray“, a solo exhibition of new work from artist Brandon Vargas. Join us for an opening reception on Thursday April 6 from 6-9PM. Thank you to Ratio Beerworks for providing beer for this event!

“Predators Pray is an invitation to observe and play with the ephemeral nature of animals in the wild and the colliding narratives created by viewing an alien experience through the lens of human senses, sensibilities and morality. 

In my work, I like to explore the relationship between observation and identity. This body of work started as a meditation on the lives that are going on around us. Something I find uplifting is listening to the ambient noise of other people living their lives. When I hear my neighbors preparing dinner, or someone in the distance mowing their lawn, it’s comforting to me knowing that others were having completely different days than me. 

The animal subjects in Predators Pray are a further exploration of that dynamic. Seeing photos of animals in the wild taken by trail cams has a humor to me because though we try to understand the animal through the lenses we look at our own lives, it is a glimpse into a life we will never understand. Seeing them in that glimpse became of spiritual essence to me because it was the only evidence of their existence to us, even though they fight everyday to continue to live. While exploring this work, I found humor in the metaphorical symbolism we place on animals as I identified with both the animals eating, and the animals being eaten.

Through deliberate choices in color, rendering styles, and symbolism, I wanted to explore layered narratives of mortality, humor, and spirituality. I purposefully contrast styles of renderings and abstraction to explore the complicated dynamic of anthropomorphising experiences with empathy, snap judgements, and personal representation.”

Brandon Vargas is a Denver-based painter, muralist, and interdisciplinary artist. He received his BFA from the University of Colorado, Denver. Their work has been shown in group shows at galleries including Dateline, Redline, and the Center for Visual Arts along with murals around Denver. Brandon utilizes analog and digital tools to make art exploring layered narratives derived from identity, mythology, and nature. Inspired by aesthetic techniques and symbolism from middle ages portraiture and surrealism, Brandon experiments with deliberate styles of rendering to depict personal and universal experiences through metaphor and narrative, creating vivid and colorful worlds that feel fantastical and dramatic. 

 

Thanks to Ratio Beerworks for providing beer for this event!

Details

Date:
April 6, 2023
Time:
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Event Categories:
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