Porkchop Exhibition. La Catedral Automatic translate

Erarta Museum presents the first exhibition in Russia by the American multidisciplinary artist Porkchop — sculptures immersing you in the post-apocalyptic world of a fictional quasi-religion.

• Contrasting images reflecting the conflict between the spiritual and the physical
• A study of Aztec occultism and iconoclasm
• Legendary street artist made famous by murals in New Jersey

The author, hiding under the pseudonym Porkchop, is known as a multidisciplinary artist, but the semantic center of the La Catedral project, implemented by him together with the Erarta Museum, is a series of large-scale objects. The exhibition will feature 14 exhibits - two-meter sculptures and iconographic paintings created using wood, acrylic and gold leaf. From a technical point of view, the works presented are the result of careful design and hand-casting (usually in resin or fiberglass), followed by the application of gold leaf and acrylic paint. The artist also makes molds for casting his unusual figures himself. At the final stage, acrylic and gold leaf are applied layer by layer, and the surface of the work is repeatedly varnished with resin - so the original idea appears in a more expressive form. The choice of colors in which the paintings on the sculptures, similar to ritual ornaments, are created, is not accidental: abandoning the usual multi-color palette in favor of a minimalist set of black, white and gold, the author achieves a powerful expressive effect with a reference to the traditional artistic culture of Central America.

The artist’s unusual creative method and his non-standard approach to the choice of topics are fully reflected in the La Catedral project. It is based on the study of the ancient civilization of the Aztecs and the reflection of their rituals in the modern traditions of the inhabitants of Mexico. The exposition space is transformed into a kind of religious building and will remind the audience of a grandiose basilica.

The idea of ​​the author and the exhibition in Erarta can be divided into several themes: the study of Aztec occultism and iconoclasm - in the traditional and broader sense.

In the concept of the La Catedral project, references to the celebration of the so-called Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) are visible. The holiday, which is celebrated annually on November 1 and 2, has a Christian origin, but includes a number of syncretic elements borrowed from Aztec culture - these are the aspects Porkchop emphasizes in his works.

One of the themes of the exhibition is also iconography: in the works of Porkchop, if you wish, you can find partly parodic references to both Aztec and modern Mexican cult images. One example is the appeal to female forms to embody the image of a male deity. Representing the Aztec deity in the form of a woman, Porkchop thereby calls into question the traditional power hierarchy, performing an act of a kind of iconoclasm.

In the traditional sense, iconoclasm refers to the deliberate destruction of sacred symbols and structures for religious or political reasons. In a broader sense, iconoclasm can be interpreted as the criticism and overthrow of established ideas and dogmas, which also applies to Porkchop’s work. In this sense, iconoclasm can be dictated by both political motives and aesthetic considerations - it is in this vein that the artist rethinks the Aztec and Mexican visual heritage. A striking example of this approach is the key piece of the exhibition at the Erarta Museum — the work “Iram” (2017). Not much different from traditional religious images in technique and materials (wood, graphite, acrylic and gold leaf), the image of the Virgin Mary appears in an unusual interpretation: her face is reminiscent of the masks of the Day of the Dead, and the naked and pierced heart becomes a reference to the Aztec religious practices. The question of whether Porkchop, which departs from the iconographic canon, seeks to question religious dogma or pay homage to the traditional visual culture of Central America remains open.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to sculpture, the artist also works in other techniques and forms, creating paintings, illustrations and texts with equal ease. Not belonging to any particular artistic direction, he combines various types of art in his original work. In particular, the author’s interest in murals and monumental graffiti can be easily seen in the exposition: both the dimensions of the works and the active use of three contrasting colors - gold, black and white - speak of it. Visitors to the Erarta Museum will be able to get acquainted with the work of the multidisciplinary artist and his world of fictional quasi-religion from February 18 to June 19.

About the author:

Porkchop was born in New Jersey (USA) in 1970. The author works in a variety of techniques - from painting and sculpture to graffiti and mural art. The artist graduated from Philadelphia University of the Arts with a bachelor’s degree and received a master’s degree in fine arts with a degree in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Virginia).

Porkchop’s works, in which Porkchop often complements vintage images with darker modern motifs, brought the author commercial success, first at home and then abroad. The large-scale murals, inspired by the theme of the sea, made for the city waterfront in Asbury Park (New Jersey), allowed the artist to reach a new level of popularity: “Ruthy and Andre” (Sunset Pavilion, 2016) and “Untitled I & II” (2015). The artist’s work has also been exhibited at numerous exhibitions in Europe and published in art books, including The Greatest Erotic Art of Today, Eye Candy and I Want your Skull. In addition to solo exhibitions in the American galleries Parlor Gallery and Sansa Art, Porkchop has participated in collective exhibitions in the US and other countries.